Sailing into the sunrise
We finally arrived on Monday, after a week's delay. Mr Grigg shaved off his Hemingway beard, our good luck ran out and we broke down again in Italy, the day after a white-knuckle ride through the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
After half a day waiting for Marco the mobile motorcycle mechanic to fix Bella the Beetle, we pressed on, the car coughing and spluttering, lurching and lumbering as it followed Mr Grigg in his Land Rover work-horse.
I said five hail Marys the next morning and the next, even though I'm not a Catholic. I prayed to Zeus, Hera and anyone else on Mount Olympus who was listening.
The flag on the ferry Eleni unfurled as we sighted Corfu.
And here we are.
Lots to do, lots already happening and, one way or another, I'll be sure to keep you posted.
But one of our first ports of call was the daily market in Corfu town.
Oh, and here's the new world from my window.
That's about it.
Love Maddie x
 |
| No laughing matter |
I said five hail Marys the next morning and the next, even though I'm not a Catholic. I prayed to Zeus, Hera and anyone else on Mount Olympus who was listening.
The flag on the ferry Eleni unfurled as we sighted Corfu.
 |
| Flying the flag |
Lots to do, lots already happening and, one way or another, I'll be sure to keep you posted.
But one of our first ports of call was the daily market in Corfu town.
Oh, and here's the new world from my window.
That's about it.
Love Maddie x
Glad you've now arrived at your new home - enjoy X
ReplyDeleteHappy to be here, and looking forward to getting into the swing of things once we've sorted ourselves out.
DeleteSo glad you are finally there! It looks-I've never been to Greece or known that much about it, so I'm looking forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to updating you. It's a magical spot.
DeleteGreat view Maddie, looks inspirational to me!!
ReplyDeleteMeryl
That's what I thought, Meryl. Here's to happy writing times!
DeleteBlow that lot - I'd have sniffed out the nearest boozer. As I write I hear the sound of hammering rain, think I'll go and gaze wistfully at that tent of black we drunkards call the sky!
ReplyDeleteNeeded a bit of wandering around before hitting the Metaxa, RB. But making it up for it now.
DeleteYea! Here's to fun times and a VW that continues to run. Great pictures, I want to be there too!
ReplyDeleteI bet your VW behaves better than mine!
DeleteHello Maddie, It is good to hear that you have
ReplyDeletearrived safely. My VW is an 83 Vanagon and,
while I don't go through many tunnels, I find
it very stressful when going over long bridges.
Which port did you leave from to travel on the
ferry to Corfu? Many years ago we drove, in
another VW from London to Spetse and took the
ferry from either Bari or Brindisi to Patras.
I remember we stopped at Corfu during the night. We had great weather and altho we had a
small cabin, spent many hours on deck. More
recently we have become interested in Paxos and
have been considering driving from the south of
England via Italy and Corfu. We are retired now so we could stop and explore some of those
places we had to pass by because of time constraints. I am interested to hear about your day to day experiences. I do not eat much
meat and would like to know if fresh fish and
vegetables and salad stuff are readily available. I hope your year in Corfu will be
a great adventure and look forward to your continuing posts. Best wishes, Bess
Bess, we went via the Euro Tunnel across and Italy - beware the Mont Blanc Tunnel - so expensive, about 35 euros. We drove then, to Urbino, the most beautiful hilltop town, before heading for Ancona and then Igoumenitsa, from where we got another ferry to Corfu. Paxos is very beautiful - I know a farming couple who moved from Dorset who now live there. Lots of fresh fish and vegetables to live on. You must do it!
DeleteSo pleased u made it, look forward to more posts. Interested in some other book recommendations as well. Cheers JohnT
ReplyDeleteI think it will take me a long time to get through the bookcase here - I didn't mention that, did I? Full of Greek mythology, classics and novels I haven't read yet. Looking forward to delving in, so if come across something Corfu-related and worth reading, I will shout out. I did very much enjoy a book by a lady I know, Maria Strani-Potts, called the Cat of Portovecchio.
DeleteI have just finished lingering on the picture of the olives at the market. If I was there, I would've stood in shock at all those boxes of lovely olives staring me in the face. YUM! I'm the only one in my family who gobbles olives almost every day. It's a food group for me. Green, black, flavored ... I love them all. Now I'm hungry. ☺
ReplyDeleteCertainly lots there to get our teeth into, Chris. I think we should try one type every few days and decide which one is our favourite.
DeleteAgreed! Oh, happy day! lol.
DeleteHoorah!!
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope you have a wonderful gap year..
I will be waiting with baited breath to hear all about your adventures.
After 8 years we are still loving life here on Crete...though I would like it better if my husband had a few more days off in the summer.....
Take care
Jude
x
Jude - it's all down to you that we decided to go for it. I remember, distinctly, you saying in Blogland 'go on, do the gap!' So we did. Enjoy the quieter days of autumn and winter. xx
DeleteWelcome to your home away from home! Hope all is a delight and that there's a wonderful Beetle mechanic on Corfu.
ReplyDeleteWe travelled thru the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel twice this week to get to and from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, USA, and I know what you mean about white knuckles! We had the Chesapeake Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other and then we were under water in the tunnels. Yikes!
Cheers!
I let Mr Grigg drive the Beetle today and he realised I wasn't some weirdo female - it was a really hairy, lurching drive after we had the points done. Had to really rev it hard and go in low gears, so now he knows and it's going to be fixed, yeah!
ReplyDeleteWe went over the Chesapeake Bridge in a hire car once and stopped somewhere near for clam chowder, or maybe it was CALM chowder. Not good with tunnels or bridges. Need to be on solid ground and know where I am, me. x
A belated welcome (and thanks for the mention of Maria's novel). You're in Corfu, we're in Dorset. We left Greece on October 18th. Very interested in all your impressions. Kalo himona!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if my comment went.
ReplyDeleteJust to say, have a great year in Corfu. We arrived back in Dorset on 18 October. Will follow your blog with great interest.
Kalo Himona- have a good winter!
See , I knew it ! Lovely photos of the market . I'll be envious all day ....
ReplyDelete