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Maggieīs Greek Mix -*Music from Taverna Aries* |
Arriving for the first time
You have just arrived and are waiting for your luggage. Tired after the flight and a little confused. Wondering where to go and how to find the bus outside. No worries, Kerkyra Airport is now very well organized. Nothing can go wrong there and they are very quick with the luggage. There is also aircondition, so the wait is not unpleasant. In the big hall outside arrival, all travellers agents are waiting to wellcome you and show you to the right bus. The busses are parked just outside the doors. When you walk out through the doors
you will get a first touch of Corfu. Itīs warm outside,but a nice heat and the smell is very special for Corfu. My first thought when I step out in the open is always - Oh, I am home!  Pontikonisi Island! The most famous picture from Corfu.Now, depending on where on the island you are going to stay,
you have a short trip by bus ahead of you. Up to the north of Corfu it is 1 hours drive. However a very nice drive and you will have a good view over the island since the main road goes over the hight mountains.  For me it only takes about 15 minutes from the airport
to Gouvia, where I always stay. The busses usually have the aircondition on so the drive is comfortable in big touristbusses. Arriving to the hotel or hotel-apartments is the next step.
That might be a little harder in the heat. Most of the hotels are built so that you need to walk from the bus with your luggage and then wait a while to get your room or apartment. Again this depends on when you are arriving. In the morning, afternoon, evening or in the middle of the night. From Sweden we always fly in the afternoon and arrive
early evenings.Only 3 hours in the air. Perfect! However our apartment have been empty all day, mostly without aircondition or fan so it is hot inside. Really hot!! 
To start unpacking is an adventure, you can trust me on that ;-) The first time we were not prepared for that, now we know. One advice for you is to buy a bottle of water, or 2, from the drinkswagon on the plane before landing. Donīt open them until you get to the unpacking :-) You will need them! I always wonder how tourists from UK manage since they
arrive in the middle of the night and goes home again even later, almost in the first morning light. 
The apartments or hotelrooms are in good standard. Fresh and clean. There is no need to pay for more then normal standard. Unless you are used to luxuary and canīt travel without getting the best. There are a few hotels with all included in all of the villages.  This is a view over Luis Kerkyra Beachjust outside Gouvia. A small village in itself.
We once stayed for 2 weeks at the nearby Gouvino Bay.
Got a house of our own for 5 people.
However without the *all included*.
 Most of them small hotel apartments are run by greek families and they take pride in giving you the best service. They will take good care of you. There might be a small snackbar for breakfast, lunch and drinks in the evening too. However not all of them have a pool since the beach is not far away. I have my favorite at Kalypso-Apartments in Gouvia.
Most of the time we have stayed there. The owner family are so nice and we are treated as friends after coming back so many times over the years. I like to have a small 1 - 2 room apartment with a kitchen or a pentry. That is my choice since it is nice to be able to make breakfast and to have coffee when I want. Gives me a stronger home feeling I suppose. This little article covered the first hours,
I will soon be back with more for you to read. If you need advice about where to eat, do
click on *food* in the left menu on the main page.
One more advice first......... There are mosquitos on the island!! 
Make sure you close windows before leaving your room or apartment and do buy protection in the local store. There is a great little plug-in to buy that will kill everything with wings coming in to your room :-) I am sure your travelagent will fill you in on that one. Grandma Maggie
Margareta Hultgren/Grandma Maggie
Myrtuvevagen 63,
46167 Trollhattan,Sweden
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A Grandma Maggie Page - 2005
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