Shamballa Cruising Yacht Club: Corfu with Pam and Nicole

We had planned to spend a week or so in Corfu checking out various bays and anchorages in preparation for Pam and Nicole’s visit to Corfu mid-May. As it turned out we really only had time for a short sail to Gouvia for fuel supplies and to read up on some places to go in ‘Rod the God’s’ pilot book.

Approaching Corfu

The anchorage at Corfu

Corfu is a great place to pick up guests. The airport is only a 20 minute walk to the anchorage. The long awaited day finally came and we met Pam and Nicole in a café just near their hotel. There were hugs and greetings all around. After they checked in, we took them for the £5 tour of Songster. Then we went ashore with the dinghy mooring in the moat just under the castle. A tour of the town and refreshing cold drinks then back to the boat for sundowners and dinner. Pam and Nicole had been up since 3am to catch their flight from Luton so it was an early night with plans for their first sail in the morning.

Our view with the hotel on the right

The first sail for our non-sailor guest was a short run to Kalami Bay about 10 nm north of Corfu Town. It is a charming little bay and we had a bracing swim, lunch on board and then a very nice sail back to Corfu town for dinner at the Rex restaurant while the migratory African swallows swooped around darting in and out gathering insects to feed their noisy young in their mud nests nestled under the eaves of the old buildings.

On our way to Kalami Bay

Pam and Bob playing silly hats

The next day was a land day to explore the castle, do a bit of shopping for the elusive perfect sandals and another pleasant evening on the boat with sundowners, dinner and games.

Pam looking out over the northern bay of Corfu

The next day was to be the overnight excursion on Songster. We headed south to Petriti, a pretty sandy bay and village about 15 nm south of Corfu Town. Another swim off the boat, Spritz in the cockpit and then went ashore to explore the little village and have a fantastic dinner at one of the waterfront tavernas.

Having lunch while underway

Relaxing while sailing along

Dinner at Petriti

The next morning Pam made us her perfect pancakes for breakfast before we motored (no wind) back to Corfu Town for another swim, dinner ashore. The next few days were devoted to land travel, seeing the sights around the island. A short walk from the girls’ hotel is Mon Repose, the birthplace of Prince Phillip. A lovely spot but as in so much of Greece in need of a bit of TLC.

Mon Repose, birthplace of Prince Phillip

View from Mon Repose

Picture of Corfu harbour from the 1860's

We took in the castle, of course, and had a tranquil walk through the British cemetery.

Castle walls

St Georges chapel at the fort which use to be a British barracks

Tranquility of the British cemetery

Tortoise at the cemetery

We drove north to Kalami Bay where the White House restaurant is located. This was one of the houses that the Durrell’s lived in during their stay in Corfu in the 1930’s. The restaurant is filled with books written by the Durrell sons and memorabilia from their time here. Then on to a lovely holiday spot of Kassiopi, had a nice lunch while watching the coming and goings of the tripper boats and tourist.

The Yellow Submarine at Kassiopi

We then circled around to Benetsis where the Achillion Palace is located. What a magnificent palace built by the Austrian Princess Sissi in the mid 19^th Century and after her death bought by Kaiser Willhelm II. The audio guide was very well done and we spent hours in the house and gardens.