San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => San Stefanos news and views => Topic started by: valfarrell on July 29, 2022, 06:22:39 PM
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Thought would just send a report of our visit this year. We arrived from Stansted at about 21 evening flight on 14th July, ABIT of a wait at passport control of about 40 minutes, then into taxi about an hour and arrived at Athina hotel. Lovely location, view excellent, nice staff really friendly hotel. We were half board but still managed to have several meals out of hotel. Fantastic meals at Olympia, Zorbas,Nafsika and the lovely Barras. We found resort not to busy or noisy, we usually go June or September. Corfu airport on 27th July was brilliant when we flew home plane on time and good journey. We booked with jet2, the plane was half empty.So very good holiday after 3 years of no hols. Must add restaurants seem to improve year after year.
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Thought would just send a report of our visit this year. We arrived from Stansted at about 21 evening flight on 14th July, ABIT of a wait at passport control of about 40 minutes, then into taxi about an hour and arrived at Athina hotel. Lovely location, view excellent, nice staff really friendly hotel. We were half board but still managed to have several meals out of hotel. Fantastic meals at Olympia, Zorbas,Nafsika and the lovely Barras. We found resort not to busy or noisy, we usually go June or September. Corfu airport on 27th July was brilliant when we flew home plane on time and good journey. We booked with jet2, the plane was half empty.So very good holiday after 3 years of no hols. Must add restaurants seem to improve year after year.
Great information, really good to hear , thank you.
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Thank you!
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We had a wonderful holiday. As usual, Doncaster airport was effortless, and if it closes it will be grossly unfair. Our taxi driver to the airport was on time, helpful, cheerful, in a shiny clean car. Check-in five minutes, security five minutes, thirty yard walk to the gate – boarded on time, and then delayed on tarmac for fifty minutes because of storms at Corfu.
Dimitris, Pippina and Mixalis at Little Prince were lovely beyond words. They gave us the Honeymoon room on the third floor, which had two big balconies and a sea view. Of course, the lift is brilliant. All was kindliness. Dimitris was constantly promoting my book and pointing me out to people, introducing us as though Shakespeare had turned up in the village. Everywhere I went people kept stopping me and saying they’d read it or were reading it or were going to read it. This was a totally new experience for me – people aren’t interested in screenwriters. I signed books at the official signing, on the beach, at LP, Fantasea and Mistral.
The first week was very cool and windy, so we were able to walk up the headland to Akrotiri and Gravia and have a beer at Erriana’s. The second two weeks were hot. The beach is wide this year and the sea warm and a joy to splash about in. We only crossed the stream once for a stroll from our base-camp at Mistral. It was crowded. We prefer the old village side. There’s a nice little community at Mistral, Waves and Manthos. There was a nice fringe of seaweed which deters a lot of people from venturing to that region. It’s not seaweed like kelp and so on around northern coasts – it’s sea grass: Posidonia oceanica, and it’s protected. It’s a vital habitat for marine life and dies in polluted waters. There were some scrapings of it by a digger, but the local authority is discouraging it because it removes a lot of sand: better to keep the weed and the sand!
There’s been a lot of wibble on Facebook about Agios Stefanos turning into Sidari. Our impression was the reverse – Agios Stefanos is becoming more sophisticated. Tribute bands are an exception – personally I regard tribute bands as an abomination – but they shut down around midnight. Food standards were excellent, although portions far too big as always. The new kid on the block, Cicala, is great – beautiful building and appetising menu. People go on about the lack of traditional tavernas, but Agios Stefanos is not an old village. Avliotes is where you find the traditionally Greek.
Gillie wept when we were leaving. We weren’t just leaving the sun - we were leaving the warmth of the people. A minibus took only four parties from Little Prince straight to the airport in exactly the same time it would have taken a taxi. The airport was busy but efficient. Two-hour delay because of a technical problem with the plane and a flight back across a cloudy Europe.
Back in Doncaster, the duty Customs official was friendly and chatty and pleased we were all lobbying as much as possible to keep the airport open. Never known that before.
We hardly argued or bickered at all. We’ve had a great holiday – one of the best – thanks to a beautiful place and its beautiful people.
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Nice one Jimbo, must be sad to be back, especially with this weather....
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Oh I enjoyed reading that Jim, I could picture myself there! So glad you and Gillie enjoyed your perfect holiday! I always cry when I leave there.
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Sounds fantastic Jim.
Did you book directly with Little Prince for your three week stay ?
3 more weeks and we’ll be there.
Can’t wait to get my black and silver wig back on, its a tough life being a Tina Turner Tribute Act ;D ;D ;D
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I'll make an exception in your case, obviously!
No - went with TUI. Actually spotted a TUI rep, which was a bit as likely as spotting an albatross in Barnsley.
Didn't do a lot. It was too hot. Perfect.
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I'll make an exception in your case, obviously!
No - went with TUI. Actually spotted a TUI rep, which was a bit as likely as spotting an albatross in Barnsley.
Didn't do a lot. It was too hot. Perfect.
Sounds fab, i didnt realise tui did 3 week packages ?
I defo want to go to Akrotiri this year, whats the easiest way to get there that doesnt involve hiring a quad bike ?
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Yep. Three weeks is much better than two in terms of cost, and you're bound to get some great weather.
Just select more than 14 days on the drop-down on the menu bar.
Our preferred way to Akrotiri is the track between Yianni&Vaso and 3Ws. Nice steady climb through fields. Turn right at the top for Akrotiri, left for Gravia, straight on for a 300-foot drop into crystal-clear water.
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Great report Jimbo, just wished we could have sampled it ourselves. So glad you had a good time it really is a very special place.
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Great report Jim 39 days till we are back in san stefanos can't wait to eat at cicala and Julie asked any news on when your next book will be available
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I'm sure you'll understand that I didn't get any writing done while I was there. It was too hot, and the sea was too warm. But I did a lot of research. It's dangerous to make ambitious predictions, so the best I can say is the autumn. I'll put all the little energy I have into it.
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On the subject of reps (or as Jet2 now calls them, “ Customer helpers”), can anyone who’s travelled with Jet2 recently tell me whether there is any way of contacting them whilst in resort? We’ve only used them twice- have always been impressed apart from one thing - lack of info about the return airport transfer. Last year the last day of our holiday in Spain was spent trying to phone the only number we had been given, which was a UK number!
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We stayed in Athina, went with jet2. The rep was in the hotel 2/3 days a week between 10/10.30. we got an email sent 3 days before about departure time, although we had ordered a taxi. Haven't got phone number of rep in resort.
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Well, I guess we're now paying the price for our lovely holiday. Gillie tested positive this afternoon, and is in bed feeling extremely tired. I'm negative and just averagely old-fart tired.
The incubation period for Omicron is about three days. That correlates perfectly with our trip back.
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Poor Gillie, hope she is well soon. We have 4 family members, different holidays, who now have Covid symptoms. Came back in the last few days..
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Sending my hugs for Gillie xxxx
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I feel a bit angry. I know that there are many on here who are against masks, but I think the decision to drop the requirement for masks in public places was beyond stupid. The airport departure lounge was crowded, with dysfunctional air-conditioning and scarcely a mask in sight. I have no doubt that was the source.
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Hope you will both be feeling better very soon and agree totally regarding the wearing of masks. I have a friend just returned from Italy who tested positive on her return.
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Sorry to read that Jim, hope you both recover soon. We were definitely a minority who wore masks at airport and on board on our outbound flight. Your post has reinforced we will do the same on our return next week
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I agree Jim..I think masks should still be worn at airports and on the plane.
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Val, thanks for your reply, that’s a relief! Jim, hope you both feel better soon.
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Hope all is well soon Jimbo. On the mask issue, whether intentional or not a decision not to have them has been made. I don’t know if it alone would stop us travelling, but many other factors would (and it would be a minor one). To be honest we can no longer decide if covid is a danger to us or not. Most of our family have now had covid but only one of them was what we would class as ill enough to go to their bed. So I guess we have become a bit blasé about it, which of course could be a bit of a danger. It is certainly on the wane here once again, but there would be no surprises to me if a new strain took off at some point. The long term impact of covid is a big worry as I don’t think we know the half of it in terms of our health, economy and future prospects. For now I'll sit at home growing my veg...
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Fingers crossed, but Gillie has been sitting in the garden for several hours today, and feeling a bit better. NHS response has been very good - call-backs within 30 minutes and we'll know tomorrow whether she gets antiviral drugs. Three weeks in Corfu will have elevated our vitamin D levels, which is vital for the immune response.
I'm still testing negative. Gillie keeps telling me to stay away from her, which I guess is pretty normal after a 40 year relationship. I was going to do some writing, but didn't - partly because I'm not 100% and anyway saved by a pneumatic drill just across the road from my study. Fortunately, the only noise in the garden is bird song.
If Gillie comes through this unscathed I will be very happy. I've tried to keep her safe for two and a half years, and feel a bit of a failure that she has it now. My turn next.
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Jim of course you're not a failure, short of staying indoors forever, anyone of us can catch the virus, as I did a month ago, may have caught it at Tescos! Fortunately John didn't get it, which I'm pleased about, as he is vulnerable. You're obviously doing a grand job, looking after Gillie. Hope you both improve soon. Karen x
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I'm pleased to say that Gillie is well on the way to recovery. She's been up and in the garden every day, and apart from a bit of tiredness (not excessive) she is not suffering at all.
I suspect I have it with a very low viral load, because I've been very tired, but feeling a bit more perky today. With a bit of luck I'll resume working on Almond II on Monday.
NHS have been excellent. Antiviral drugs offered, but decided that Gillie was not so seriously ill as to warrant taking them.
Love to all.
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That's brilliant news Jim, very pleased to hear that.
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Yes, very good to hear Jimbo.
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All the best to you both Jimbo.
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Thank you all. Gillie is starting to get some appetite back. She never has much in the evening, but I served her salmon cooked in the oven in butter and olive oil, French beans, a few hand-cut chips and mayonnaise, with grapes and a glass of milk, in bed, and she ate the lot. I had a sirloin steak and chips, following my doctor's orders to eat more red meat. I take the fact that I could actually be arsed to cook as a sign of recovery. Standards in our little hospital are definitely improving! I do need a better nurse's outfit: T-shirt and tracky-bottoms don't really meet the standards of the food. Where can I buy something cute from the Carry On era?
I'm sad for those who didn't go the Ag Stef this year. It was great, and now I'm feeling better I'm feeling the benefit. I'm sure the massive dose of vitamin D we had from the sunshine has helped, and also the sheer pleasure of eating out and meeting people after the long hibernation.
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Wish I were at your house for dinner, Jim, sounds delicious! Yes we have missed going to San Stef and missed all our friends. So glad you and Gillie are feeling better, take it easy for the next few days.
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Pleased to hear Gillie is on the mend and that you are honing your culinary skills Jim. Last day for us tomorrow then home Monday. Currently 7.15pm and enjoying the last of the evening sun on Manthos beds as there’s a lovely cooling wind today.
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Pleased to hear Gillie is on the mend and that you are honing your culinary skills Jim. Last day for us tomorrow then home Monday. Currently 7.15pm and enjoying the last of the evening sun on Manthos beds as there’s a lovely cooling wind today.
You must just be getting used to it BAJ, it reckons it's still 32c there!
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Pleased to say that Gillie tested negative at last. Big relief.
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Pleased to say that Gillie tested negative at last. Big relief.
That is brilliant Jim and yes a big relief. I hope you are well too.