San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => Out and About => Topic started by: Dupnica on April 11, 2013, 07:57:18 PM
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Perhaps some of us who have been going to San Stefanos for many years would like to share our favourite haunts with our newer visitors.
One of the places I like to go back to every year is Afiones. The younger and fitter ones amongst us could walk there,otherwise drive,leave your car in the village,before the Church and walk up through the old village which is absolutely beautiful just the way you imagine a Greek village should look like,little white houses and blue doors.
At the top are two tavernas,Dionysos and Porto Timoni,we prefer the latter,the food is great and not expensive.The views over St Georges bay are spectacular.If you go in the evening it is magical watching the sun go down and the lights come on around the bay.
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Hi Dupnica
We too love Afionas and feel the magic after parking the quad and weaving our way up past the beautiful houses, stroking the cats and reaching the top! There was a new taverna last year and we sat there watching a silent thunderstorm break over the islands in the heat of a sultry August. It was stunningly beautiful. A few years ago when we first found Afionas we walked along the track to Dionysos and I stood dumbstruck at the view over St. George (no mean feat). So very beautiful.
We ventured to Dukades a few years ago. That felt like a real traditional Greek Village. We sat having morning coffee and the priest came out of the Church and stood talking to some chaps sitting under the old tree. Things got heated (not just the weather) and the Priest started to literally run away - the Greeks were waving their arms and shouting after him. My eyebrows went up as I observed and then all went quiet again - literally in the blink of an eye. And life went on..... However the Priest disappeared! I know not where. There's a superb little tavern in the centre called Elizabeths.. Very traditional Corfiot fare. Our time spent in Dukades was wonderful, just aprt of a village - not a tourist. It has a long drive in to the village from the road - I think would be really good to live there.
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We too love Afionas, we stopped there for a drink/snack at one of the taverna's on our walk to the twin bays (Porto Timoni) after which we carried on to Agios Georgios, it was a very long walk but really enjoyable. We also like to visit Pagi when we have the quad and stop for a drink or two at Jimmy's café famous for the James Bond movie, I believe Jimmy now has a new taverna as well now in A.G.
Debbie, what is the new taverna called in Afionas? We have Dukades and Elizabeths on our list of places to visit this year, just over 7 weeks to go now.
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I'll check it for you - I have a photo!!! On some hard drive....... How far away is Pagi - I NEED TO GO....
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Thanks Debra, always keen to try out new taverna's etc. Pagi is above Agios Georgios, so get to the far end of A.G resort and turn left onto the road and you will go past Theo's hotel on the right and basically follow the steep road up to Pagi and at the top of the road turn left into Pagi, Jimmy's café is down from the wall next to the road, it is only a small village so just ask and someone will point you in the right direction for Jimmy's, last time we went in 2010 the wine was only 80 cents per glass and very nice too. Takes around 10 minutes to get up the road on a quad bike.
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The name of the new taverna in Afiones is Porto Timoni,run and owned by a very pleasant chap called Kostas (what else).
I should have mentioned the flowers,Bouganvilia and geraniums all around the little houses,it's an artist's paradise.
I have photographs but try as I might I can't use Imageshack!!
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How far/how long does it take to walk to Afionas from San Steph?
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Thanks Dupnica will pay a visit.
Teamnickos, the walk via Arillas to Afiones walking at a leisurely pace takes around 45 mins to one hour, also depends on how many times you stop for a vino or two. ;D ;D ;D Some of the walk is up hill but there are shaded area's on the way.
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Once you are in Ariles follow the road along the beach to the end then turn left then right and take the road up through the olive groves till you reach the road junction,take a right again and eventually you will come to Afiones.I would say it's about an hour walk,quicker coming back as it's all downhill.
Well worth the effort when you see the views from the top.
I wouldn't recommend taking the car on this route unless they've improved the road!!
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Lilly - the name of the tavern we went to was ANEMOS - it had been open a few motnhs and a lovely young couple were running it. I'll try and put a photo of the view from there on here!
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oops sorry for typing mistakes!
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Thanks Debra, :)
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We always visit Old Perithia in the Mountains in the Northern part of the Island, the scenary is fantastic and the Taverna food is incredible.
We visit a really old Taverna in the centre of the Village (Rick Stein recommended it on his Corfu Tour) and the food really is special.
Its a bit of a drive from San Stef but well worth it, however, watch the weather because it can be cloudy and is often affected by showers, at 1,000feet it sometimes snows in winter!
We plan to stay overnight sometime, that would be one interesting evening!
Link below.
http://www.old-perithia.com/
Andy
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me too Adny - I want to stay in the Merchants Houses
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If you get as far as Old Perithia you could go the whole hog and drive up Mount Pandokrator,the highest point on the Island.
There is a Monastery and a Church at the top and you wonder how on earth they got the materials up there to build them
before motorised transport and proper road.You are supposed to be able to see the coast of Italy from there but it has to be a clear day.
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If you get as far as Old Perithia you could go the whole hog and drive up Mount Pandokrator,the highest point on the Island.
There is a Monastery and a Church at the top and you wonder how on earth they got the materials up there to build them
before motorised transport and proper road.You are supposed to be able to see the coast of Italy from there but it has to be a clear day.
You will need a 4*4 as its a very uneven track but it would make a good walk, however, it's nearly 2000 feet of ascent so you will need to be fit! Not sure I will get Gill up there!
Andy
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I agree Andy7 it's not for the faint hearted but we made the ascent in a normal car and some brave souls cycled up there,mind you they didn't look
very well when they got to the top!!
Another nice place to visit and not too far from San Stefanos is Peroulades,go through Avliotes and turn left.
Venturing further afield,if you have a car drive along the East coast and visit Kalouri,Kalami Agni.In fact almost every left turn leads to some lovely
shingle cove and the odd Taverna.
The villages in the mountains are places to glimpse the old Corfu,where you will still see the old ladies wearing their traditional dress and donkeys used as transport.
I miss the ladies in San Stefanos in their black dresses and white aprons and headdress I don't think there any left now and the modern generation will never dress like that.Sad to see old traditions die out.
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This year we want to go to climb the steps up to (I think it's called) Angelokastro not to far from Paleokastritsa. Views look as though they are lovely from up there.
We also like Afionas and always visit when we have a quad bike. Lovely little village.