San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu

Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => San Stefanos news and views => Topic started by: Gillywoo on May 03, 2013, 03:13:51 PM

Title: Opening Up!
Post by: Gillywoo on May 03, 2013, 03:13:51 PM
Hi everyone, arrived in san step this morning, no one else about. Loads to report, will give a full update later. Weather is good hazy sun and 27c. Back later! Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: dibully on May 03, 2013, 04:01:07 PM
Looking forward to it Andy lucky you 8)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gillywoo on May 03, 2013, 05:10:40 PM
Hi,

After the longest winter I can remember the temptation to come out to San Steph was just too much so last Sunday we flew out with Easyjet from Luton.

Sunday night we stayed in Corfu Town which was buzzing with pre Easter celebrations, next we booked a Villa in Kassiopi with Agni called The Doctors House, it was lovely although the pool was so cold it was for the hardy only.

The weather has been amazing, one advantage of being interested in the weather is that I knew the spell of hot weather in Corfu was coming so was able to book flights/accommodation/hire car in advance. Every day has been sunny and between 26c-29c, its a bit cloudier today but still 27c.

So this morning we arrived in San Stef and booked into the Little Prince, as always the Apartment is fantastic. Until about 2pm we had the Village to ouselves although the coaches are starting to arrive now.

So whats changed?

The Village

A new Restaurant has opened up where Mamma Mias used to be, it does Pizza, seafood and Steak based meals and looks nice inside. San Stephano car hire has moved to a new building where the old gift shop was and the old San Stephano car hire shop is undergoing some type of renovation.

So far the Little Prince, 2 Stars and Yiannis are open but most of the others are still close. The Greek Easter this weekend is leading to a delayed opening for many Taverna and there is no sign of life at Zorbas or Olympia.

The Beach

Oh dear, what a mess, sea weed everwhere and no sign of sun beds. The beach has lost a lot of sand and is very narrow past the Havana Bar, the local auithority is trying to clear the beach but the wet winter has turned the sand into quick sand so they have their work cut out!

Arillas

Even quieter than San Steph although tourist were arriving as we left, the beach near the Jetty isnt too bad but under the cliffs it has vanished, hopefully as in San Steph the beach will grow and dry out over the coming weeks.

Tonight the few people staying at the Little Prince will be gathering for opening night and I imagine a cosy atmosphere will ensure!

More to follow over the next few days as the Village 'Opens Up'!

Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: diane13 on May 03, 2013, 07:03:01 PM
How lovely to have an update - weather sounds fantastic - can't wait for our holiday.  Any news of what entertainment will be this year?
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Dupnica on May 03, 2013, 07:28:07 PM
Thanks for the update Gillywoo.For the life of me I can't remember where Mama Mia's was.Enjoy your holiday,hope the weather stays good .
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: dibully on May 03, 2013, 09:23:29 PM
Thanks for all the info look forward to hearing more Andy ;)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Waspman on May 03, 2013, 09:26:02 PM
Thanks for the update Gillywoo.For the life of me I can't remember where Mama Mia's was.Enjoy your holiday,hope the weather stays good .

Mama Mia was directly to the right of Zorbas and directly opposite Bar 38
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: romanza man on May 03, 2013, 09:36:13 PM
Nice report Andy
Glad to hear that everything is starting to come to life, and there is new projects on the go.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Dupnica on May 03, 2013, 09:42:20 PM
 Thanks Waspman, I was having a senior moment.I remember now.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Jules on May 03, 2013, 10:36:16 PM
Thanks for that Andy. Enjoy your stay  :)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: D@G on May 04, 2013, 01:19:14 AM
Was mama mia's once (2006 ish) a Mexican?
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Jimbo on May 04, 2013, 02:32:02 AM
Pizza, I think. Then when it closed taken over by Thomson reps as their office. Last year it was empty.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: D@G on May 04, 2013, 02:40:17 AM
Pizza, I think. Then when it closed taken over by Thomson reps as their office. Last year it was empty.

Thanks Jimbo.

I do have a memory of eating a Mexican on the main street circa 2006, was there a Mexican? If so which building was it in?
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: CHRIS NO 2 on May 04, 2013, 08:52:06 AM
Thanks Jimbo.

I do have a memory of eating a Mexican on the main street circa 2006, was there a Mexican? If so which building was it in?
same building was called TEX MEX i think
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gillywoo on May 04, 2013, 10:37:40 AM
Glorious morning this morning not a cloud in the sky.

Spent last night in the Little Prince and had a lovely evening, had about 5 couples all night so it was quiet, there was about 4 people in 2 Stars and a few people in Silver Star otherwise this end of town was very quiet.

Thomas Bay is fully open offering meals and snacks but it was the only place open on the main street apart from Yiannis Giros place.

The Village will be quiet until the next influx of people on Monday and many bars are waiting till then before opening up. Spoke to Spiros at the Havana Bar and he is open but only serving drinks until Tuesday. He has done a lot of work to the Bar and it looks great.

Delfino Blue extension still isnt finished, indeed, the whole hotel shows little sign of life!.

So just enjoying a full English Breakfast before heading out and seeing what else is new, then its a day by the pool.

Its a hard life but someone has to do it! ;D ;D

Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: D@G on May 04, 2013, 10:44:18 AM
Lucky you. It looks like a cracker of a day on the webcam! Keep the updates coming!
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gillywoo on May 04, 2013, 10:56:05 AM
Oh I just remembered, is the Bypass Open?

NO!!!

Its now being used as a coach park, so its the same tortureous journey through Avliotes ::) ::)

Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: debra on May 04, 2013, 11:13:09 AM
Andy - envy just doesn't cover it!  Enjoy ...
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: purpletigger on May 04, 2013, 01:33:59 PM
Can't wait to arrive in June - and catch up with everyone at Little Prince, Yiannis etc!!!  Thanks for your posts Andy, it gives us a taste of what's to come!!!  Enjoy your break :) Happy Easter to all in San Stefanos :)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gillywoo on May 04, 2013, 03:36:30 PM
Had a run over to Arilas cliff path is open but only 9 inches wide in places so rope and ice axe recommended! Minstral and Manthos opened this morning and Olympia is about too. A few more people about now as well and with the weather being so warm it feels like mid summer! You will see by webcam that work is in progress on beach but its a slow process. Just having a Mythos and club sandwich in little prince so must go.... Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gavlah1973 on May 04, 2013, 04:30:21 PM
Scenes in Corfu town this morning

(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9596/img20130504012043.jpg) (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/img20130504012043.jpg/)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gavlah1973 on May 04, 2013, 05:27:03 PM
And another! !!

(http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7618/img20130504022520.jpg) (http://img341.imageshack.us/i/img20130504022520.jpg/)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: debra on May 04, 2013, 05:38:03 PM
Look at the blue sky!
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Dupnica on May 04, 2013, 05:56:49 PM
 I wonder if anyone has ever been killed by falling pots!! Can you imagine Health and Safety allowing that here.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gavlah1973 on May 04, 2013, 11:06:40 PM
I might try throwing a plant pot off my Juliette balcony tomorrow
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Dupnica on May 05, 2013, 02:05:05 PM
 Make sure nobody is standing underneath!
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Gordonc on May 05, 2013, 06:47:51 PM
Nice to hear everything  is opening up. Can't wait now for the 7th of June and another couple of weeks at the Little Prince!
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: mike30542 on May 06, 2013, 12:55:16 PM
Nice to hear everything  is opening up. Can't wait now for the 7th of June and another couple of weeks at the Little Prince!
We'll also be at Little Prince for 2 weeks starting 7 June. Flying from Bristol & we  land around 8pm so I expect we'll get there around 10.30 if we're lucky. Second visit for us & looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: purpletigger on May 06, 2013, 09:22:09 PM
Arrive at Little Prince 14th June for two weeks - can't wait  :)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Jaxbubbles on May 06, 2013, 11:47:13 PM
Gillywoo I really enjoyed your updates can we have more please:)
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: gillyW on May 06, 2013, 11:59:09 PM
Glad to hear we'll have the usual group of the Little Prince fan club joining us in June - our group is split this year between Theodosia, Maria & Peli's and Terezas Today's glorious weather reminds us of sun, sea and friendly chats to come in San Stefanos soon.
Andy thanks for the update, although a little worried to read about the path over to Arillas - I might have to re-think my usual circular early morning walk!!
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: tonyco1 on May 07, 2013, 03:42:29 AM
Thanks Andy - enjoyed your reports.... well done..
Which old gift shop has San Stefanos Car Hire moved into - is it the one next door??
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: IrisG on May 08, 2013, 12:22:38 PM
If San Stefanos Car Hire has moved into Sophia's Gift Shop, I suppose the new souvlaki place will be in the Car Hire place?
And I was wondering, there's a ceramic studio opening, which says it's at the corner of the road to the Athina, is that where the ice cream place was?
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Lesley on May 08, 2013, 02:50:17 PM
At the corner is Hippopots a ceramic gift shop & studio where you can buy/paint and learn to throw.

Next to them is an ice cream parlour also selling crepes.

and then the mini market all next to each other opposite the road leading down to the beach across from Athens Bar.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Andy7 on May 09, 2013, 02:48:02 AM
Arrived home yesterday after a great week in Corfu, the Easter Weekend was quiet in San Stef, many of the locals using it as an excuse (dont blame them) to open a few days late.

The Athens Bar, Tasty Corner and Kalami Bar all planned to open yesterday (Tuesday) and Zorbes on Friday, by the weekend San Stef will be in full swing with the Little Prince full from Friday night onwards.

Hopefully the beach will be sorted soon but they have their work cut out!

We spent all our evenings at the Little Prince but on Easter Sunday we went to a 'Lamb On The Spit' Easter Celebration at the Rose Garden which was a marathon 11 hour eating and drinking session with Greek Music/dancing and loads of fun, Kiki, Pipina and Dimitri were great hosts and it was lovely to see locals and visitors enjoying the celebrations together. Thomas Bay and Nafsika were doing similar events so the Village worked hard to ensure visitors felt part of the Easter occassion.

The weather was remarkably good, I recorded a temperature of 30c in the shade on Monday which is a level normally seen only in July and August in San Stef and under sunny skies it was great lying out at the Little Prince pool which we had mostly to ourselves.

One other piece of news, the old San Stefano car hire is soon to be a Travel Agent selling trips etc while the extended unit will be a Giros outlet, that part of the main street is looking very different.

Prices are the same as last year so its again excellent value with a two course meal with wine in the Little Prince for less than 15euro and even less than that if you go for a special.

Shame we missed opening night in the Athens Bar, Nikos was busy getting the bar ready and was inviting regulars in to 'sample' the drinks in advance of the big opening night, he has lost none of his zest for life!

We spoke to the owner of the Villa we rented in Kassiopi before going to San Stef and told him we were moving on to San Stef North West, he replied "ah yes San Stephanos, my friend has a pizza place there, very friendly people"

I couldnt have put it better myself :)

Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: D@G on May 09, 2013, 10:53:42 AM
Thanks for the updates Andy!

Was there any mention of the sunbeds making an appearance on the beach yet or is there still lots of clearing up to do? Hopefully they will be out by the time we arrive later in the month.
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: dibully on May 09, 2013, 11:34:13 AM
Thanks Andy great to hear how things are opening up glad you had a good time sounds like the celebration at Rose Gardens was hard work but guess you just had to do it to be sociable ha ha
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Andy7 on May 09, 2013, 08:28:53 PM
Thanks for the updates Andy!

Was there any mention of the sunbirds making an appearance on the beach yet or is there still lots of clearing up to do? Hopefully they will be out by the time we arrive later in the month.

No sign of sunbeds yet and the beach is such a mess it probably wouldnt be worth it, however, now Easter is over they should get the beach sorted. I went on May 17th last year and all sunbeds were out so you should be OK.

Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Rover on May 10, 2013, 02:00:33 AM
Given that it is very early in the season, and prices will go up, do we expect any significant cost increase this year?
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: Andy7 on May 11, 2013, 01:39:10 AM
Given that it is very early in the season, and prices will go up, do we expect any significant cost increase this year?

No, the prices are now set for the season.

No increase even in July/August and its cracking value.

Andy
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: D@G on May 17, 2013, 10:43:31 AM
Is there anywhere in the village not yet open?
Title: Re: Opening Up!
Post by: tonyco1 on May 18, 2013, 08:46:34 PM
well done Andy - good stuff as usual... enjoying reading while sunning it in Tenerife...
Tony