The world from my window

One of the joys of being in Corfu - whether you live here or are on holiday - is that it is so easy to take a trip to the mainland. An island-hop of one-and-half-hours gets you to the port of Igoumenitsa where you drive down for coffee in  Syvota ...  ...before heading up the Egnatia Odos , a motorway that goes as far as the Turkish border, and roads leading off it, to places like the beautiful and unspoilt Zagori ...   ...or the ancient site of Dodoni, a magical place I have mentioned before ...  ...or  Ioannina , the largest city of Epirus...  ...or Metsovo , the home of snow, wine and cheese. Well, after an extreme bout of painter and decorator's elbow and oleander pruning fatigue, we decided to take a trip along the highway and beyond, going through Epirus, Macedonia and Thessaly. We've just come back after an incredible five-day journey, visiting the beautiful village of Nymfaio ... ...and then on to Edessa ...

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. No laughing matter 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. Flying the flag 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. Lo...