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Happy New Year

Just off to the kitchen to create something new with left-over turkey. The price to pay for having got one of our sons to bring an extra large one from the UK in their suitcase!
Susan.

It's that time of year again, and I know I have blogged about this before, but it's only when it actually happens that I remember that I really must try to solve the problem.What am I on about? My tree lights! We have three separate sets on the tree in the house, one set on a plant arrangement I have made, one set in the window next to the front door, one set over the kitchen windows and three sets on the outside tree. As long as we leave them switched on there is no problem and the lights shine steady and still, but the indoor ones we turn off at night and every single time I switch them back on again they start in flashing mode. If you have ever seen a tree with three sets of lights all flashing in different sync. I can assure you that it is enough to send you to a lunatic asylum. I've tried counting the number of times I need to press the button in order to get them back into static mode, but it is different every time, and the one that really drives me mad is the one on slow fade, so that by the time you realize that it is fading you have already left the tree and gone upstairs to the kitchen. So if anyone does know how to adjust the little boxes so that the lights just shine - no flashes, twinkles, half on and half off rubbish - please post on The Corfu Grapevine. I will be forever in your debt.
Susan

21st December. Winter Solstice and the shortest day.

Here in Corfu we are being treated to day after day of wonderful brightness. The nights are cold, and there is frost and mist in the valleys in the morning, but the days are warm and almost hot if you sit in a sunny spot. Listening to the weather forecast on the radio where they report storms and severe weather conditions "throughout Greece" it is another of those occasions when we realize that Corfu, whilst being thoroughly Greek in most respects, is from time to time part of another, more western part of Europe.
Susan

Optimism for Greek tourism and property

This is part of an article in 'A Place in the Sun' property magazine which links some interesting statistics on tourism, to the increase in prospective property buyers, although worth noting is their mention of a 31% reduction in 'mainstream real estate prices' which refers primarily to Athens - island and coastal properties have largely suffered much lower reductions.

'A boom in Greek tourism has led to an upsurge in Greek bargain-hunters, according to property industry sources.

One of the biggest travel groups in the World, TUI, is set to bring an additional 300,000 tourists to Greece in 2014 compared with this year, exceeding two million visitors.

Tourism professionals are already talking about a new record of 18 million foreign visitors to Greece next year, provided no significant domestic or international developments have a negative impact on Greek tourism.

September and October 2013 also appear to be particularly good, in the wake of a record-setting summer. Some three million arrivals are expected by air in total for these two months.

While tourism booms, mainstream real estate prices in Greece have dropped to 31 per cent below their market peak.

This has led to an upsurge in bargain-hunters, report several sources.

According to the property portal Rightmove Overseas in its 2013 Consumer Survey, Greece is the third most popular destination for people buying to relocate abroad is Greece – not USA, Portugal, Australia or Canada.

Maybe less of a surprise bearing in mind the drop in property prices there, Greece is the fourth most popular place for those buying with investment the main priority – beating Italy, Turkey and Thailand.

In spite of the country’s economic difficulties and those of the eurozone, Greece and its islands offer sun, sea and sand and a unique charm.

Greece is also getting a lot of interest from non-Europeans seeking a fast-track route to EU residency.Greece is giving speedy residency to buyers of any property from just €250,000 ($329,075) and gave out its first property-tied residency to a Chinese man on 8 August 2013.

The cost of living in Greece is substantially lower than in Britain and there are many low-cost flights to the country. And Greece offers something for everyone, from party animals to nature-lovers to people who just want to sit and watch the sunset with a glass of ouzo.'
Diana

According to our local informants the north west is on the up and up! New design-oriented bars and tavernas are opening up in Arillas and the neighbouring villages and resorts, and up-market clientele are booking villas overlooking the sunset for their Corfu holidays. Land prices have increased as more and more buyers are tempted by the sandy beaches and more laid-back style of the west coast north of Agios Georgios. We have been looking around to find new property to show to clients arriving shortly in Corfu and today we discovered that there are plenty of places to stop for coffee and cakes, and a wide selection of supermarkets within an easy drive of Arillas, Agios Stefanos and the neighbouring villages. We have also met developers in search of land to buy in order to increase the villa stock in this up and coming part of the island,

The picture shows Villa Ionia, located between Arillas and Afionas, shortly to be added to our websites.
Susan

We have been moaning about the rain for the last couple of weeks (funny how we have already forgotten the wonderful late October/early November days) but today everything has turned around yet again. Wonderful sunshine, clear blue sky - everything looks so much nicer, and the fishing boats unloading, with the sea and the mountains in the background make one of those iconic Corfu pictures, complete with the first winter snow on the mountain peaks on the Greek mainland. These days always help to remind me of why I'm here!
Diana

We have been getting more enquiries than ever before about property in the south of Corfu. As Diana, our resident "southerner", will tell you, there are many advantages to the gentler, quieter south of the island. One of them is that the narrowing shape of Corfu makes it really easy to pop from one coast to the other in search of that ideal beach, or favourite taverna (fish is especially good). Lefkimmi - a lovely unspoiled mini-town - is worth exploring, and the recent sightings of pink flamingos on the salt flats has also increased awareness of this normally less popular part of Corfu.

If you are tempted, take a look at this stone villa with pool. Close to the beach, peace and quiet guaranteed, and it can certainly give the better known villas in the north east a run for their money.
Susan

Bureaucracy is alive and well in Greece

The other day I bought some paint and as usual when I got it home my other half told me it was the wrong paint. So I took it back, where the shop happily changed it for me. However, the replacement paint was 6 euros cheaper than the original. I was going to look for something to take up the 6 euros but the cashier insisted on giving me the refund. Only problem was, it took ten minutes and the issue of five separate sheets of A4 paper, and two signatures from me, in order for him to hand over the cash. Lots of things are changing here, but the endless paper trail is definitely nt one of them - the computer era just seems to mean that more paper can be churned out!
Diana

This is an interesting little article

For the last couple of years easyJet flights to Corfu in early and late season have not been the bargains that they used to be. Part of the reason for this seemed to be that they had already sold a chunk of seats to UK tour operators and therefore did not have as many to sell, so could hold to higher prices. Perhaps this will make a small difference?

EasyJet cools on deal with Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook has not made clear whether it will be reducing its capacity next summer or sourcing flights from elsewhere after easyJet revealed that it would not be flying as many of the tour operators customers in 2014.

EasyJet managing director Carolyn McCall announced in the airline's results presentation on Tuesday that it would continue its deal with Thomas Cook next year, but not on the same scale.

An easyJet spokeswoman said this was because blocking seats for external companies created too much complexity for an airline that likes to keep its business simply, and also because summer is one of the busiest times for easyJet so blocking of seats "needs to be at the right price".

This year easyJet is believed to have provided 3% of Thomas Cook's flights, or roughly 80,000 seats.

Thomas Cook issued a statement saying: "As far as Thomas Cook is concerned, the agreement is ongoing and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with easyJet."
Diana

After a day of storms, and another of mixed rain and sunshine, the combination of disappearing cloud and setting sun was truly magical last night.

Today we were treated to another brilliantly bright and sunshiny day.
Susan

We all thought the flamingos would have moved on by now, but here they are (even more I think) sitting comfortably on Lake Korission, in the south-west. The owner of Alonaki Bay Taverna told us that towards the end of the season his restaurant was busy every day with people coming from all parts of Corfu to see the flamingos.
Diana

Some people catch on really slowly

The Greek Tourism minister has just announced that the Tourist Board will be promoting Greece as a year round destination, as if this is a great innovation. Has anybody not told her that we have been trying to do this for years?

We who live and work here know that as a short break destination, with flights and properly structured prices, Corfu has so much to offer. Up until today we could still be described as a late season sun destination (although of course we all know it can't be guaranteed) but virtually all year, whatever the weather, Corfu can offer a wonderful break for people who like to walk, cycle, wander around Corfu Town and its villages, and enjoy local food and hospitality.

After all, no one says they won't take a winter break anywhere in the UK, or the rest of northern Europe, because the weather might not be nice!

Diana

After weeks of the most brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures - with thick fog either in the valleys (see photo) or on the mountaintops, we have finally had some rain. A storm woke us in the middle of the night, causing us to crawl bleary-eyed from bed to unplug the computers, phones, and TV aerial. It's still really warm, though and I cannot remember ever lasting through to November without needing a duvet on the bed. Sunshine is forecast for the rest of the week, though, and news of low temperatures in Britain makes us feel very lucky to be in Corfu in November!
Susan

Despite many rumours to the contrary, and stories of practically give-away apartments in Athens, much of Corfu seems to be riding the storm and house prices have remained fairly stable, especially in coastal areas. However, once in a while we are asked to reduce the price on a property - usually for fairly specific reasons - ill-health or the new property tax which specifically targets multiple home-owners. Villa Athina is one such property. It was intended for the use of its present owners who live in a larger home and were hoping to downsize. Over the years their circumstances have changed and they no longer wish to complete the project, choosing to stay put in their existing house. Evropouli is a small village within easy reach of Corfu town in one direction and the Marina at Gouvia in the other. The house has long distance country views inland and easy car access just off the road through the village. Now for sale at well below cost, this large property is a bargain indeed.
Susan

Always recognizing the glory of a full sunset, the mountains of neighbouring Albania, seen here bathed in reflected light from the setting sun to the west, come a pretty close second.
Susan

No superlative would be too much to describe September in Corfu this year. Glorious, bright, wonderful sunny days with that special sort of light that you get once the fierce heat of summer has passed and the first rains have washed the dust from the atmosphere.

Over a long weekend we had friends visiting from New Zealand, who had spent most of the summer on the island of Seriphos in the Cyclades, so we were particularly pleased to be able to show off our own island at its absolute best, taking a leisurely trip up the north east coast and stopping for coffee here in Kouloura, lunch in Avlaki and then home for dinner - outside on the terrace, with just a lightweight cardigan as proof that the evenings are now cooling down.
Susan

How about this one?

Lakeside Villa really does have a lake at the bottom of the garden and no mosquitos either because the fish eat them!

Already reduced, the owners will accept an even lower offer for a quick sale.
Susan

The arrival of visitors, apart from encouraging us to finish all those little jobs around the house - patching up chipped paintwork, hemming the pinned-up curtains, etc. - also persuades us out of our working routine and onto the beach.

Two separate arrivals of various family members and partners has thrown our household into a wonderful state of holiday making. At the same time we need to continue with the watering, cleaning, cooking (for 7 every day, and 11 at the weekends!) and better not forget my more than full-time job at Corfuhomefinders, where things are really busy.

One of our visitors has not been to Corfu since childhood, so we are trying to fit in as many different activities as possible, visiting the sandy beaches of the west coast as well as the fishing villages of the east, Corfu town at night, hillside walks, villages, caves, an endless list of things to do. In between all this we have celebrated a very important birthday, eaten our way through numerous splendid feasts, and imbibed vast quantities of retsina, good wine, ouzo and tsipouro.

Corfu comes into its own as the setting for this sort of family get-together, and those of us who are lucky enough to live here all the year round are able to look at our familiar surroundings with the delighted eyes of a newcomer, re-discovering forgotten coves, tavernas and fiestas.

Our own preferred haunts are not necessarily the ones chosen by our visitors, and I would always choose a beach without sunbeds and umbrellas in preference to Kontogialo - pictured here, though this west coast beach is the favourite of many of our friends. I wish it could be like when we first came to Corfu - sunbeds were stacked at the back of the beach waiting for a customer who would pay and take, or have the sunbed taken, to their chosen spot.
Susan

Taking replacement photographs recently made me look with new eyes at a lovely old manor house to the south of the village of Skripero. We have had the house - once the summer home of one of the old families of Corfu - on our books for quite some time and it has not been lived in for more than the odd week here and there for many years. With a huge amount of land, and the house itself covering three storeys, this property is crying out to be a boutique hotel, eco or agro-tourism centre, riding or cookery school - or maybe just a huge family home. Whatever its future, it certainly deserves to be restored, loved and lived in! The climate in this part of the island is excellent - dry and healthy, and if the house were in Tuscany or Umbria it would have been snapped up long ago. There is something, however, about being on an island that makes everyone want to buy ON the sea. The hidden interior of Corfu is well worth exploring - away from the noise and bustle of tourism and yet only a few minutes drive to beaches in more than one direction, sand to the right and shingle to the left. The village is within walking distance, with local shops, cafes and tavernas as well as schools and a chemist.
Susan

When I planted some Morning Glory seeds in the spring I hoped for a lovely bright display all summer. The plants grew very fast and I have my colourful display, but I hadn't considered the reason they are named "Morning Glory" - they only flower in the morning! So now I drink my first cup of tea in the garden and enjoy the flowers.
Sarah

Could this be the prettiest property at present on the market? Felicia House, high above Nissaki with wonderful views and a private garden with pool, certainly must be a strong contender. Its present owner is planning to upsize - and has priced her stone cottage in Corfu to sell quickly. Apart from its exterior appearance, the colour schemes and general décor are outstanding. Well worth viewing!
Susan

For all lovers of Corfu

Today we received this email, and are more than happy to pass on the message. It is so nice to hear of people like this and I am sure there many Corfu fans who will want to see the film and learn more about Steve Ford and his work for Corfu charities. More details of Steve's work are also on the Corfu Grapevine on Facebook.

'My name is Kevin Baker and I once lived on Corfu. I have a passion for the island. Last month I was on Corfu (one of my many annual visits!!) and made a film about a chap called Steve Ford who has a property in Pelekas and has written an eBook about Corfu villages. All profits from book sales go to Corfu charities. It’s a truly fascinating book and Part One of a series of three to be released over the next two years. He wants to get as wide an audience as possible for his book in order to maximise sales – thus donations to various Corfu charities '.

Diana

Not every day turns out to be how you imagine. A recent client had asked to see several large villas on the north east side of the island, so I had prepared and dressed for an up-market kind of outing. It started out very well - a glossy magazine style villa was first on the list - wonderful location, designer "dressed" by its owner with a selection of one-off items of furniture and co-ordinating colour schemes throughout. Our second stop, however, was at Villa Paskalya - almost on the sea, with footpath access to a virtually private beach, and I was expecting more of the same. The key had been left - according to an earlier arrangement - in a plant pot next to the front door, so imagine my surprise when, upon arrival at the villa, the sight that met my eyes did not include the possibility of "next" to the front door as an option for a hidden key - quite apart from the huge chasm between the drive and our only access to the villa. I am quite sure that the man who recently crossed the Grand Canyon on a length of wire would have remained undaunted, but I - in my smart estate agent gear, don't forget - was extremely daunted! A search of all plant pots that could be remotely described as being next to the front door eventually revealed the key, but the plank-walking access to the villa remained our only option to view the property. Luckily - how extremely luckily - one of the gentlemen clients sprung to the rescue and volunteered to walk the plank, providing one of us stood on the nearest end to stabilize the wobble. With one person finally inside, it was an easy matter for him to open a balcony door on the seaward side of the villa so that the rest of us could get inside. Thank you a million times (William, you know who you are, and I forgot to ask if you were once a Boy Scout!).

Villa Paskalya is on the market - fully refurbished with new windows in the basement (hence the chasm that had been dug) and a brand-new dining room extension - for €1,650,000. Please click on the link to see what the villa really looks like.
Susan

I have to say that generally in my part of the island there are plenty of good restaurants but after a while the meals, whilst excellent, can seem a bit predictable. (We always seem to order the same particular dishes depending on which restaurant we are in such as swordfish at Prasoudi, squid in Boukari, meatballs at 75 Steps, pepper steaks at Zac's etc.) This saturday we ventured onto literally our own doorstep, around 200m from our apartments in Moraitika, to a restaurant which opened during the 2012 season but where somehow we never got around to going.

"Lava Grill" is the new project of Makis Kritikos, past owner of the Courti Estate and well known years ago for his superb restaurant set in the gardens of the Courti Manor House. After a long spell in England, Makis has returned home to Corfu and opened a restaurant featuring classic Greek cooking, yet with an imaginative with a twist to make it just a bit more interesting. And it is! Grilled mushrooms, aubergine baked with mince and cheese, tender chargrilled calf's liver with a side of bacon and onions, and a wonderful seafood spaghetti. Next week we'll go an try something else, maybe piri piri chicken, prawns or stifado en croute, who knows?
Diana

A brand new property on our books has a wonderful position near Kassiopi and is right on the sea. The pretty garden leads down to a gate which opens directly onto the beach at Imerolia, Kassiopi.

The same house in another, inland, area would most definitely cost a lot less, but with so few properties on the sea we are sure there will be plenty of interest in this one.
Susan

A last minute sweep of our covered terrace prior to setting the table for Easter lunch uncovered two hens eggs deeply hidden under the jasmine. Our neighbour's hens have not visited us for quite some time, so I was fairly certain that these were several months old and picked them up in order to throw them away. Mistake! One of them, as it lightly touched the other, literally exploded in my hand. Up to then I had thought that rotten eggs were occasionally found whilst making an omelette, but I now know how rotten an egg can get. Suffice it to say that I needed a shower, my clothes had to be discarded and a liberal amount of bleach splashed on the paving stones to rid the whole area of the disgusting smell. Even after all that I kept getting whiffs of nastiness throughout the day!

Susan

Wandering through the old town, we came across an exhibition of Byzantine icons in the now disused Catholic Church of St. Francis on N.Theotoki Street. The artist, Stergios Giannoulas, who comes from Grevena, is amazingly talented and we stayed far longer than we had originally intended looking at all the icons on display. Well recommended - even for those who are not normally interested in religious painting, the exhibition is open from 10.00-14.00 and 18.00-21.00 every day and closes next Sunday (St. Thomas' Day) 12th May.
Susan

In the old town on Friday evening the bulbs in the street lanterns are changed to purple - just for the one day - to mourn the death of Jesus.
Susan

If you are planning to live in Corfu town one of the best addresses is The Liston. Even better if the apartment has a balcony, and even better still if it has a humungous terrace and is a penthouse!

Well, there is such an apartment for sale with us at the moment: In need of renovation, it stretches from front to back of the building and therefore has light from all sides. On Good Friday, when the town is buzzing with visitors following the "epitafia" through the narrow streets, and the marching bands play the sombre music appropriate to the occasion, we decided that it would be a very good time to arrange a viewing of the apartment. After all, we thought, it would certainly show off the terrace at its best! The photo was taken looking west towards the old town.

Susan

Feeling quite proud of my efforts to produce a May Day garland this year, I thought I'd share my photo. I'm going for the rustic natural look. One of my colleagues (she knows who she is) makes a garland which always looks more professional and tidy than mine!

Happy May Day, even though we are officially celebrating it next Tuesday after the Easter celebrations.
Sarah

Summer has arrived with a vengeance and the marching bands and school kids were really suffering under the hot sun as they paraded through Corfu on Sunday morning dressed in their long-sleeved uniforms. The Palm Sunday procession, marking the beginning of the Orthodox Easter celebrations, commemorates the miraculous deliverance of the island from the Plague in 1629, when St. Spiridon is believed to have saved the people of Corfu. All 18 philharmonic orchestras parade through the streets of the old town, with the mummified body of the Saint accompanied by the Bishop and many priests, bringing up the triumphant rear. And so begins Holy Week, a true Greek mixture of feasting and fasting, music and ceremony, religious and secular, all taking place under a bright blue sky, with the scent of wisteria, jasmine and orange blossom filling the air.
Susan

Not this time though!

To celebrate our first sale to a client from a co-operating estate agent in Thessaloniki, the Managing Director of Halkidiki Properties brought with him to Corfu a selection of goodies from northern Greece. We have saved the wine for later, but made short shrift of the boxes of cakes and chocolates! Days in the office should always be like this.

Susan

There are some days when estate agency is just another job, loads of paperwork, hours on the computer etc. and then there are other 'isn't this a great job' days. Earlier this week we had one of those, when we went out on a catch up day out to see properties new to us, and a property which has had quite a few changes recently.

We began at Tranquil View House not far from our office, and it turned out to be along one of those roads that you always knew existed, but never actually been on. As we wound up the hill we had no idea what to expect, and found a lovely light, airy house, with wonderful views over cypress and olive trees, right down to the sea.

After that we went north to Kentroma, to see Kentroma Cottage - a house which Susan and Sarah remembered from its 'before renovation days', and they were amazed at the transformation. The house is supremely pretty - just the way everyone expects a renovated cottage to look, with a spacious living room, nice kitchen on the entry floor, and two bedrooms, good size bathroom and study area downstairs. Add that to a traditional 'bodzo' style veranda, virtually an outside living room, with sea views, and you have the perfect village house.

We then drove up to The Hamlet in Santa where the owners have recently completed some extensive work (and some inspired landscaping). This is an unusual property, some houses have been completely renovated and are in pristine condition, while others remain in their unrenovated state - an ideal 'change of lifestyle' opportunity for someone wanting a comfortable home while they complete the remaining renovations.

Add to that blue skies and stunning scenery with acres of flowers - all in all an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable day's work.
Diana

Visiting this area in the hills above Nissaki on the north east coast on Saturday to take some photographs of a plot of land we have for sale I took this photo of a cruise liner leaving Corfu on its way to Italy.

Corfu has so many wonderful views like this one, but I have to admit this is one of my favourite parts of the island.
Susan

We are marketing a really lovely villa on the outskirts of Corfu Town - with a riverside setting (how rare is that in Corfu?) and potential to moor a boat and be at sea in just a few minutes. Whilst the house is stunning enough in its own right, the feature that really caused us all to stand with open mouths is the - dog kennel! Admittedly the dog himself is on the large side (a St. Bernard named Mahler) but the kennel has to be the dog equivalent of Buckingham Palace.

Check out the photo and you will see what I mean. It has its own wood burning stove, cool tiles or a sofa to choose from for when it is too hot to be outside in the sunshine, and a view in three directions to the river, the garden and the swimming pool. Who says Greeks aren't animal lovers?
Susan

Another No-Smoking Taverna - Tried and Tested

Yesterday evening we visited Corfu Town and after the wonderful service (every Friday evening until Easter) at the Church of Panayia ton Xenon (the priest has a stunning voice) we wandered through the old town and happily fell upon the first day opening of the taverna Bellisima in the little Lemoni Square. It was busy with tourists and a large party of Greek teenagers (so well behaved they were a credit to Greece). Best of all they have large NO SMOKING signs and nobody did. We ate grilled prawns, taramasalata and beetroot salad accompanied by a basket of warm pitta bread and a little bottle of a particularly nice ouzo (Matarelli from Lesvos, which is quite hard to find). This is a friendly family-run place and we will definitely be visiting again. Walk down Nikiforou Theotoki from Liston, and keep looking to the right - the signs are visible from the road.
Susan

Corfu Gets A Real Greek Breakfast

How nice to see something positive, especially in terms of food. For so long the Greek hotel breakfast was dry toast, plastic cheese and ham, and a slice of cake. Anyone who has stayed in one of the traditional hotels virtually anywhere in Greece in the last few years will have experienced a breakfast made with some of the ingredients below and it really can be something special, so it's encouraging to see that that the hoteliers are trying to adapt this type of quality as a general policy - and publicise it which is something we do not seem to be very good at! You can read the article here.
Diana

Rats on Benefits

Having discovered lots of hollowed out oranges under our tree, we managed to trace the likely culprits - with the help of that very useful Facebook page "The Corfu Grapevine", and my other favourite source of local information, The Corfu Forum - to the local rat population. They are not called Fruit Rats for nothing evidently, and they are very happy at our house, since our cat has only one eye and obviously misses a lot of what is going on around him. We have also very kindly built a rat palace for them to live in, which was intended to be a rather superior garden shed built to house our water pump and olive nets when not in use. Our nets are now lying between the olive trees to protect them from rat droppings and the rats are breeding away with free housing and free food!
Susan

Tourism, Corfu, 2013 season

There's a lot on the radio, and local television stations and in the press at the moment about the future of tourism in Corfu. Some of us went to a talk in Corfu town given by Dr. Heather Skinner, head of the School of Marketing at Glamorgan University.

Dr. Skinner has been given a research grant to assist and advise on the re-branding of Corfu. She hopes to find ways to encourage more tourists (particularly from the middle market) to visit Corfu this summer. So I was interested to be sent an email from Aegean airlines which goes right to the heart of the matter - getting people here in the first place!

We all know that there are many Russian tourists wanting to visit Greece, and Aegean seem to be recognizing this fact with their new programme of flights to various Greek destinations, including Corfu.

If there are plenty of affordable flights from many and varied parts of the world tourists will at least be able to get here. After that, it is up to us in Corfu to make sure that they have a good time, that the roads have as few potholes as possible, that the rubbish is collected regularly, that prices remain stable, and lots lots more. I hope after tonight's meeting there will be a huge long list of suggested improvements that we can all take part in implementing.

Susan

We are not alone

'Pothole Problem' is one of today's headlines on Sky News. Isn't it cheering to see that we are not the only ones suffering this blight of potenetial car and tyre wreckers!

Diana

After all that rain how about reminding ourselves that this is Corfu in the spring. Photo taken this morning at Alonaki Beach House on the west coast.
Diana

Taken from a travel website

Greece is back (but look at the last line for a worrying trend).

Greece is making a big comeback, according to the latest trends update from Thomas Cook.

The destination has climbed from the third most popular destination to the second in the operator's latest Holiday Monitor.

Sales, marketing and e-commerce director Mike Hoban said: "Greece looks to be making a really strong comeback this year with online and offline enquiries significantly up on last month.

Searches for Santorini have doubled as have those for our specialist Greek tour operator, Manos, and other Greek islands including Crete and Zakynthos.

"As people put a holiday abroad at the top of their shopping list, it appears to be stalwart favourites, like Greece, that are in high demand this year. Our customers are moving back to tried and tested destinations they've visited previously, whether they're looking for an authentic Greek experience or a value for money all-inclusive hotel with great facilities but still in a beautiful location.

January is traditionally the busiest single month for summer holiday bookings, particularly the family market and early booking indications to Greece are very positive with some of our members reporting booking levels not seen since 2009. However, if bookings are to hold strong it is essential that Greek suppliers do not respond to these positive signs, as they have in past years, by increasing prices."

The survey of Thomas Cook customers also found:
- 47% said a holiday would be their most important purchase this year
- Over 32 million searches have been made on Thomascook.com so far this year
- 50% of all Thomas Cook's charter packages sold in 2012 were all-inclusive.

This is perhaps the most worrying part of the article, It is all very well to have tourism, and we greatly appreciate all visitors, but the charm of Greece has always been in its family businesses - small tavernas on the beach where granny grills fish, local bars where you meet other travellers and the locals instead of drinking warm beer from plastic cups all inclusive style, interesting local shops instead of bland hotel gift shops. Greece is all about making discoveries for yourself; there is no need to come here AI, we have accommodation and facilities to suit all people, on all budgets; this is the way Greece captures peoples hearts and these people in their turn are the heart of our tourism.
Diana

Greek News in English

Here is another link for daily Greek news in English, just begun by one of the country's main daily newspapers Eleftherotypia. It gives a brief synopsis of political and economic news and is definitely worth a look for people interested in the general situation in the country, not only the long lists of reforms/not reforms, taxes/not taxes etc. which feature in headline news every day.

Diana

Welcome to our brand new website

We have spent a good part of the winter re-designing our Corfu Premier Property site, which features top-end and other particularly lovely property in Corfu. This may be why we have been a bit slow at blogging recently, but hopefully we are now back to normal. Do take a look at the site in all its glory.
Susan

Whilst being shown this little house above Paleokastritsa we met the owner, and got talking about this and that, as you do. He showed us a large white scar on his hand - the result of a serious electric shock several years ago which almost killed him. He told us that at the same time as being aware that he was almost dying he realized that the electricity that surged through his body had given him a special ability - and he is now an expert water diviner. As we left he promised to show off his skill whenever we want! We'll take photos of the event when it happens.
Susan

With all the news in the UK at the moment about horse meat finding its way into beefburgers and ready-made lasagne, I find our local butcher’s shop very reassuring. When I first came to live here I was horrified at the old fashioned wooden butcher’s block, the carcasses hanging in the windows dripping blood all over the floor, and the rabbits with their tails left on to show what they are. I’ve got used to it now, and to not seeing a display of meat to choose from, rather having to ask for a piece of meat to grill/stew/roast or whatever I want to do with it.

And how I appreciate asking for mince and seeing the butcher select a piece of beef or pork and put it through the mincer in front of me. They even trim all the fatty bits off first!

As for ready- made meals and frozen beefburgers, I missed these the convenience of these in the early days, but now I prefer to spend the time and make my own and at least know exactly what has gone into it.

Sarah

Right Move / Wrong Move

We have recently decided not to advertise any longer on the Rightmove International website. A few people have sent us emails worrying that maybe the house they are planning to visit has been sold, so we would like to inform all our clients that they will be able to see all our properties as usual on our websites: corfuhomefinders.com corfupremierproperty.com greekbargainproperty.com and corfuvilladom.ru/

Rightmove sent us almost 1,000 enquiries over the past year, but sadly only one is progressing towards a sale and only a handful of these enquiries even led to viewings. The cost of advertising is simply not justified. We regret the decision mostly for our vendors who liked the kudos of a big name operator, but in the end it does seem that small is beautiful and we can operate efficiently without the Rightmove name.

We still continue to co-operate with, and advertise on, a number of other websites - A Property in Greece and The Greece Buying Guide to name just two.
Susan

Blogging South Corfu

I am sure that lots of people already read this wonderful blog which is of particular interest to me as it extols the virtues of the area where I live.

So many visitors and locals never seem to venture south of Corfu Town and it is definitely their loss, as the south has so much to offer both on east and west coasts. After the two Corfu series in 2012 ('A Tale of Two Islands' and the infamous 'Kavos' series) both completely edited out the lovely parts of central and southern Corfu, it is nice to find something positive! Give it a read!
Diana.

I am just back in Corfu after nearly two months away and I do always find it a bit of a culture shock. This time the holes in the road are fairly spectacular and it will require several trips to and from Corfu Town to learn where they are and automatically avoid them - although I heard a radio interview the mayor assured everyone that a team was travelling around the island filling in the holes!

Having been rude about Corfu roads however I did actually rent a car in the UK, and driving around some fairly busy roads in the London area, I decided that our Corfu roads do not compare all that badly. I also occasionally for the first week get withdrawal symptoms about the proximity of shops etc, and generally miss the bustle in London. Then I start my morning drive to work, all along the coast, and when I see blue sea, blue sky, fishing boats and the contrast with the snowcapped mountains on the mainland, all looking so beautiful, then I start to appreciate all over again what we have here in Corfu.
Diana.

The clear skies have given us a lovely view of the full moon this last week, and confusingly it has still been there at sunrise. So looking east I can see the pink sunrise and to the west the moon setting – very beautiful and extraordinary.
Sarah

My family and I don't seem to be very lucky with flights this winter. Today my daughter was booked to fly on the morning Olympic flight to Athens with another afternoon flight booked to France. The flights linked up beautifully and she should have been in Marseille in time for an early evening glass of wine. However, the low cloud in Corfu this morning, coupled with very strong winds, meant that the flight was cancelled, and so now she's got to wait until Sunday for the same French flight.

In November I very cleverly (I thought) booked my son and I on one of the last cheap Easyjet flights to Gatwick, so that we could return a week later on the last one back to Corfu. This outgoing flight was also cancelled due to the low cloud, and we actually left more than a day late, eating into our week's break.

One of the disadvantages of Island life!

Sarah

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