The Corfu Blog

You can still do it

2012-01-26T18:14:00.003+02:00

From yesterday's Greek daily paper Kathemerini.

Thousands of people who own illegally constructed homes have applied to legalize their properties in recent weeks. Failure to do so would coerst them the right to pass on the property to others unless they pay much higher fines, as foreseen by the law. In contrast, the fees charged under the current amnesty program, which is set to continue until the end of February, are considerably lower.

If anyone still has a property where there are illegalities - anything from just a 'closed in' balcony to much larger anomalies, people can still apply to legalise their properties. If they do not they run the risk of much larger fines, or the possibility of not being able to sell their property on, or even pass on as an inheritance, so it really is important to obtain advice on this from a civil engineer or lawyer.
Diana

Corfu still takes the prize for some things

2012-01-25T04:53:00.002+02:00

We are in London doing some bits and pieces of work on my daughter's flat, which is five years old. When we bought it, it came with washer/dryer etc. which all seem to have died at the same time (do things really only last 5 years in England - my Corfu washing machine is about 15 years old and still going strong, ditto dishwasher and most other kitchen stuff).

I found a washer/dryer which was available within 10 days, but only if you install it yourself (if you want installation god knows how long you wait) but we needed it within 5 days. I had to go through five websites before I found one that could supply within the 5 day time limit we had. I also wanted a Dyson hoover but I couldnt have it at the same time because it came from somewhere else, etc. etc.

So I finally ended up with washer from Tesco, delivery period 7.00 am to 7.00 pm Tuesday and hoover from John Lewis, hopefully Wednesday morning before 10.30 am (extra, extra charge but never mind if it works).

At 10pm last night (Monday) I had a call from Tesco to say yes, Tuesday between 7.00 and 10.00. I got up early to wait for the delivery. At 9.50 they arrived, heaved the new machine up three flights of stairs and dragged the old one down the stairs.

When we took the cardboard off the top was smashed to bits! Drivers swearing; phone call to delivery service who said it wasn't their problem as it was OK when delivered to them; phone call to Tesco who said was I sure it was damaged on arrival; and when I said 'absolutely' they agreed to replace it - only not today of course as the paperwork all has to go through again - Thursday between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. I mentioned it was our last day and that we were leaving on Friday, but no use, Thursday is the earliest; although they are supposed to call me tomorrow to give me an idea of what time. So, fingers crosed.

Corfu's not like that is it? I go to Sotiris at Euronics, pick something he has in the store, or at the very worst he orders it and it comes the next day. George loads it in the van, says "I will call you when I am near the house" so I can let him in, and usually by end of the day it has been delivered and installed - no charge for either the delivery or the installation.

When something goes wrong I don't call a 'help' line which costs a fortune and subjects you to dreadful music. I ring Sotiris who sends George to have a look, or the agent for whichever machine is playing up, sometimes with as much as a whole day's delay, but usually the same day, and thats it. ' If it has to go away for repair, he lends me another machine, no argument. ' I wish I could do that here!
Diana

New Year - New Idea (well to us, anyway)

2012-01-17T07:29:00.003+02:00

The Corfu Croquet Club has been in operation for several years in a splendid location at Gouvia Marina thereby ensuring plenty of entertainment on hand for non-players in the form of bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as childrens' play area and a swimming pool.

Croquet is a game that suits all ages, and after our conversation with the Club's owner we are quite enthusiastic about getting involved. Check out the website.

The photo shows the renovation in progress of a rescued abandoned kiosk shortly to be used as a store for players' refreshment - fridge for cold drinks, coffees, etc.
Susan

What next?

2012-01-17T07:26:00.002+02:00

We are all sitting waiting to see if the Greek government might just come up with some useful ideas to breathe life back into the economy and tourism in particular. (Good job we are not holding our breath isn't it?). I recently read an article in the Sunday Times about buying homes all over the world, and, wouldn't you know it ...

Turkey is relaxing its restrictions on nationalities permitted to buy property there (although another article I saw earlier in the week comments on considerable cost of living increases in Turkey) whilst Cyprus has decided to abolish stamp duty on new build homes and halve the tax on resale properties. Spain too has been trying to inject some life into its property market to shift some of the thousands of unsold homes with half price VAT on new builds, whilst Greece, what is Greece doing? Nothing useful as usual!

Good job there are still people who love Greece and really want homes here, but how long can we expect that to last if all the government does is try to bleed people dry. Still, everything has been mismanaged for so long, why should we expect it to be any different now?

There is a sliver of light in the tourism tunnel, where there is talk of concessions on social security payments by employers for their employees, which whilst not in itself a great help, is a major breakthrough in the state of mind of the Ministry of Tourism. Maybe other ideas will finally dawn on our esteemed politicians instead of just worrying themselves about the next elections.
Diana

Christmas in Corfu

2012-01-02T08:35:00.000+02:00

There are slightly fewer Christmas lights in the streets this year - an indication of straitened budgets, and hard-times, but it's Christmas after all, and the Christian spirit will out - we probably need some divine intervention right now anyway, so better play it safe and honour Him, even if He does get sidelined most of the time.
Susan

What a Christmas!

2012-01-02T08:31:00.003+02:00

We started off the festive atmosphere with a coffee, mince pie and mulled wine morning in our Dassia office. Everyone - old friends, clients and passers by welcome. Next year we must try to invite more people personally, because although lots of people came there were lots who didn't hear about it until too late. The intention is for this to be a yearly event, so if we didn't see you this time we hope that we will in 2012.
Susan

A blog that might be of interest

2011-12-18T09:23:00.000+02:00

Here is a blog that might be of interest, written by a lady with zillions of years experience of Corfu from all perspectives - work, tourism, kids, you name it, if it's Corfiot she knows about it. Keep an eye on it for interesting bits and pieces!
Diana

Happy Christmas

2011-12-18T09:20:00.002+02:00

We would just like to say a very Happy Christmas and New Year to everyone.

Although 2011 has been somewhat grim it is not all gloom and doom, and although I think virtually everyone is moaning about taxes etc. they didn't manage to take away our sunshine, our blue sea, and our basic way of life, so at least we have that to be thankful for!

From all of us at Corfuhomefinders and Corfu Premier Property - all the best for 2012. Susan, Sarah, Helga and Diana.

Please read and pass on

2011-12-14T09:05:00.000+02:00

This article should be given as much publicity as possible.

With many thanks to Simon Baddeley and his Democracy Street Blog for bringing this to my attention, for Grecophiles everywhere this - at last - gives a different and more positive view of Greece's part in the financial crisis. It's long, but well worth reading to the very end as practically every word written by journalist Nick Malkoutsis rings true.
Susan

Great minds!

2011-12-12T18:52:00.000+02:00

I've just been chuckling to myself reading Susan's blog "Corfu Hillbillies".

I, too, have just returned from a trip to the UK, visiting my parents in Devon. They live in Paignton, where the average age must be about 80 and you are more in danger of being run down by a mobility scooter on the pavement, than crossing the road. Nevertheless, I still felt out of touch and had to carefully scrutinise my money before handing it over, and constantly put my debit card into the machine upside down. Public transport for me is a nightmare, train travel in particular as I can never figure out which carriage I'm in and where I'm supposed to sit.

So, returning to Corfu yesterday was a great relief to me, even more so now that my internet has finally been connected after just over three months! I have moved to a very out-of-the-way spot, and the lines which were previously connected to my house have been trailing up the side of the track for about a year since a concrete lorry passed and dragged them down, tilting the poles to a very jaunty angle at the same time. On my return home I was very excited to see new poles and proper lines, not the temporary arrangement for a phone which I've had for the last few weeks.
Sarah

If you are not busy on Wednesday morning...

2011-12-11T05:16:00.002+02:00

We are having a mulled wine and mince pie morning in the office, to celebrate the Christmas season - all welcome, any time between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm. If you happen to have any spare 'grocery' food around and can bring it with you, we are collecting for Joanna Papageorgious' food collection to help people who are in difficulties over the Christmas season with basic foodstuffs. Every bag of macaroni or rice or tinned tomatoes all help, it just needs to be stuff that will keep. We will pass it on to Jo. Hope to see a few people on Wednesday, otherwise we might have to drink the wine and eat the mince pies ourselves!
Diana

Thank heavens for Ryanair

2011-12-08T22:37:00.001+02:00

How nice to see that Ryanair have added extra routes to Corfu for next summer. It wasn't long ago that we were happy that Easyjet were sending us a couple of flights a week from Gatwick, now they have expanded their routes but Ryanair is rushing ahead with more regional airports from the UK (Luton, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Glasgow). They also now offer Gothenburg, Oslo and Billund for Scandinavian visitors who until recently have only had a once weekly Norwegian flight, and apart from that have been fairly dependent upon a small amount of expensive charter seats.

One of the reasons many people were dubious about buying property in Corfu used to be that in the winter we are dependent upon flights via Athens, which are both time consuming and generally more expensive than direct flights. Even that is now less important with Ryanair continuing flights until the end of November this year and beginning again in early March - maybe one year we will actually get a year round flight, but at least this helps.
Diana

Back to (our) Reality

2011-12-02T08:41:00.003+02:00

Thank goodness for the old style shops and craftsmen that you can still find in the backstreets of Corfu town. There are numerous tiny shops where you can find someone, usually a lady but sometimes a man, sitting behind a sewing machine making alterations and creating new outfits.

I needed to get a leather strap sewn back on to a handbag, so I had to find a specialist with a heavy duty sewing machine. No problem! A simple enquiry at the heel bar led me to this amazing treasure trove of a workshop behind the Ethniki Bank and my bag was fixed on the spot for practically nothing.
Susan

Corfu Hillbillies!

2011-12-01T16:37:00.004+02:00

Taking advantage of Ryanair, we recently visited friends and family in England. The flight was full - in both directions - despite it being the end of November, and a bit like a works outing, there were so many familiar faces travelling together. More leg room than on a charter flight, and excellent in-flight food service. I would guess there is a good chance that next year Mr. Ryan may decide to carry on over the Christmas period. Fingers crossed! We paid less than 150 Euros return for both of us including suitcases. The good weather en route and in England was a bonus.

We have decided, however, that we are real country bumpkins. Obviously living in an olive grove is beginning to get to us and we are rather out of touch with life in the fast lane. I have only just got over the embarrassment of a previous visit to London when I tried firmly pressing my palm over the pad at the turnstile entrance to the underground (following the example of the man in front), only I didn't have an oyster card! This time I avoided any major booboos but I'm sure the sight of a very obviously English person peering at coins before paying the bill and putting my debit card into the chip and pin machine the wrong way up must have caused a few comments.

There is altogether too much traffic moving far too quickly to start with, and as for trying to follow the AA routing through the centre of London in the dark, avoiding the congestion charge area, and swapping glasses each time I needed to read either a road sign or the map, well..... next time we are taking the bus!
Susan

Energy Saving

2011-11-28T09:45:00.002+02:00

Here is something dear to all our hearts, particularly in these straightened times - energysaverstore.co.uk

This is operated by Mitch Conyard, a local Corfu resident who is highly experienced in this field. So if anyone is building a new villa or renovating an existing property and looking at energy saving fittings, here is a place to start.
Diana

How many people does it take to make out a bill

2011-11-22T09:21:00.001+02:00

The Greek public service has always been known for the principal of 'how many people to do one simple job', but in fact they are not alone.

Today we went to buy some bits and pieces of furniture from a hotel which is being refurbished. We chose our goods and expected just to pay the man who showed them to us. No such luck.

He made out a bill and calculated the total, 358 euros. He made a phone call, then walked us through the bowels of the hotel to an office where someone else made up a bill and printed it off, 358 euros.

Then he took up up to the top of the building where a lady typed the bill again, added it up, hand wrote an invoice, added that up, got us to sign, and sent us to the man at the next door desk to pay. He added up the amounts again, 358 euros. We paid, then we went back to the first lady. She wrote a receipt, attached it to one of the many print-outs, and we left. Seconds later she was chasing us, having given us the 'wrong copy'.

Reminds me of TEBE (the employers social security office) where I went once to get a statement. When I asked the lady if she could provide me with one immediately she said 'Of course, we are all computerised' and printed off the statement. I then had to go to three different people to get it verified, stamped, the stamp stamped etc. Unbelievable.
Diana

What a Gift!

2011-11-21T10:10:00.001+02:00

Sitting outside in the warm (hot?) sunshine yesterday morning, relaxing over a leisurely breakfast we began to wonder if someone or something was trying to cheer us up. Whether or not you believe in God, and whether or not you have been personally affected by the financial difficulties in Greece, at times like this it is hard to believe that this is not one of the best places in the world to be. 20th November, sitting outside in shirt sleeves, watering - not only the pots - but part of the proper garden as well - paradise on earth.

We re-remembered the old joke about God dividing up the world into countries and giving them out to all the nationalities on a first-come-first-served basis. The Greeks were late (!) and when they arrived to take their allotted bit of land there was nothing left. God looked slightly annoyed (a little like Angela Merkel, probably) and then finally relented "Oh, go on then, you can have the bit I was saving for my retirement".

Whoever, or whatever, thank you very much for these glorious days of very late summer.
Susan

Property legalisation issues

2011-11-15T15:28:00.000+02:00

Just for information - anyone who has a property where they have minor illegalities such as basements used as living space or uncovered balconies built in, have only until the end of November to begin the legalisation process.

Without this, it is not possible to include these areas in an EOT tourist licence for rental, and there will also be difficulties in selling or passing on the property as inheritance.

Where there are major legalisation issues, applications can be made up until the end of December.

These issues need to be dealt with as it will become very difficult to sell these properties. It is of course possible that these deadlines will be extended, but it would be wise for people to begin the work within the time frame.
Diana

Time for a joke!

2011-11-15T15:24:00.002+02:00

It's not often that I laugh out loud, but I did when I read the following email that was sent to me last week:

Some years ago a small rural town in Italy twinned with a similar town in Greece.

The Mayor of the Greek town visited the Italian town. When he saw the palatial mansion belonging to the Italian mayor he wondered how he could afford such a house. The Italian said; "You see that bridge over there? The EU gave us a grant to build a two-lane bridge, but by building a single lane bridge with traffic lights at either end this house could be built".

The following year the Italian visited the Greek town. He was simply amazed at the Greek Mayor's house, gold taps, marble floors, it was marvellous. When he asked how this could be afforded the Greek said; "You see that bridge over there?"

The Italian replied; "No."

Although this particular joke originates from outside Greece it does appear that we (I'm including myself in this as a Greek) have an ability to laugh at ourselves. There are a number of TV programmes along the lines of "Mock the Week" and "Have I got News for You" and the following is doing the rounds of the internet via Twitter:

Five Days without a Government and during this time:

1) They have caught Psomiadi (big time swindler on the run).
2) Seized the assets of Mr. Lavrentiadis (banker/businessman suspected of tax evasion).
3) Caught harbour officials who were selling drugs.
4) Uncovered ministry officials on the take, and the most important....
5) THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE AUSTERITY MEASURES ANNOUNCED!

Obviously Mr. Nobody really is the best Prime Minister!

Anyway, we are all hoping for better things now that we have a "more or less" non-political Prime Minister with a background in economics.
Susan

A few suggestions for our new rulers

2011-11-14T09:07:00.002+02:00

Well, we finally have a new 'sort of' government and now we have to wait and see if there are any improvements. A few suggestions for our new rulers...

1. A tourism minister who actually knows something about tourism and who doesn't think that an increase in the number of cruise passengers setting foot on Greek soil for maximum half a day, represents an increase in tourism. Perhaps a minister who is actually available to members of the tourist industry for their input.

2. Review and change the ridiculous illogical requirements currently in place for EOT licences, to encourage owners to pay for a licence, let their properties, and pay reasonable taxes on their profits.

3. Review and change the new tax laws as applied to foreign property buyers - in some countries these are fondly known as 'investors' ie. they bring money into the country (but of course Greece doesn't need money). Encouragement to these people should be a major priority.

4. Incentives to existing businesses in the tourism sector, to improve their scope and services, such as tax concessions and allowances for modernisation and refurbishment, in order to drag Greece into the current century and compete with more recent tourist destinations. These occasionally do exist, more often than not their terms are so prohibitive that few businesses manage to gain any benefit. The whole tourism and related industry needs constructive, practical assistance.

As always, I doubt very much if any of the above will happen. Greece seems so hidebound in its ways, with blinkered vision, that we all just stagger on in the same old way and rely on the beauty of the country and the warm personal welcome of its citizens to foreign visitors to sustain an industry which could be a major factor in the gradual recovery of the country.
Diana

The end of an era - fingers crossed

2011-11-10T08:12:00.002+02:00

So Mr. Papandreou has resigned. Definitely the end of an era and no doubt many people are hoping that things will start to improve. This week we have had the C4 programme doing a somewhat biased comparison between the UK and Greece for workers and income. I suppose it isn't interesting television to say that most of the population work very hard, for far less money that comparable British workers, they have virtually no social security/unemployment safety net or supplementary benefit, and that many private sector workers, such as those employed in hotels, do not get paid on time, if at all - and no one helps them. As I say, that doesn't make for fun TV viewing does it?

There is no doubt that Greece's problems are deeply rooted in the past, with massive tax evasion and corruption (and many of the politicians shouting so loudly now against the Papandreou measures were in place whilst this was going on) and no government has seemed to be able to get to grips with it, but it is unjustified to put the blame on 'the Greeks' as a whole. Still, let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for better times.
Diana

EOT Licences

2011-11-10T08:08:00.001+02:00

Most villa owners are aware that if they wish to let their property to tourists they must have an EOT licence from the tourist board, but many of them do not know the way to go about getting the information as to whether their particlar property qualifies for a licence and what costs are involved.

At Corfuhomefinders we have an EOT licence consultant who can advise owners if their property qualifies for a licence, the paperwork necessary to obtain one and the procedure which must be followed. In the past many owners who only let their properties for a short period of time did so without obtaining a licence. In the last year it has become obvious that EOT and the tax authorities are making a major effort to track down those people letting properties without a licence and fining them accordingly. If anyone would like to be referred to our consultant please call or email us for information.

As with many other things in Greece, there is little logic behind the reasoning for eligibility (or not) for the licences - wouldn't you think in the current crisis the authorities would be loosening the regulations in order for more people to license and therefore have a business which is paying tax and therefore contributing to the economy. Of course not. The regulations are complex, and in many instances totally illogical and stupid, which of course is no surprise. This is why we have someone to look at each property individually and assess the best way forward.
Diana

From The Daily Telegraph

2011-11-02T16:01:00.003+02:00

This article appeared recently in the Daily Telegraph, one of the UK’s most influential newspapers. It begins by talking about the influx of Greek buyers for prime London property, but then goes on to discuss the property market in Greece. Its opinions are much the same as ours, although when the writer mentions that rental yields are unattractive we would disagree – on holiday villas the returns should be seen as reasonable, especially since so many buyers of holiday property are not using it purely as an investment, but factor in the costs of their own family holidays.

If wealthy Greeks are snapping up property in London like there was no tomorrow, it might seem rather perverse, on the face of it, that British property-hunters should be training their eyes on Greece, scouring the Aegean for bargains. But in the whirligig of the world property market, one door often opens when another closes.

Greece may not be a blue-chip investment financially, but it remains reliable in other ways. However dark the clouds gathering over the eurozone, for lovers of the eternal trinity of sun, sea and sand, the Greek islands have an imperishable charm. High-end buyers may be hesitant about investing, given all the economic uncertainties, but those on smaller budgets are not being so diffident.

“We have certainly seen an upsurge in bargain-hunters interested in resale properties,” says Spyros Mantzos, owner of the Kent-based estate agent A Property in Greece. “If the market in investment properties is stagnant, holiday homes and retirement homes are more popular than ever.”

The cost of living in Greece is substantially lower than in Britain, there are more and more low-cost flights to the country. If you cannot find an island to suit you, it is probably because you have not looked hard enough. There are islands for everyone, from party animals to nature-lovers to people who just want to sit and watch the sunset with a glass of ouzo.

Property prices generally in Greece are falling. House prices in Athens fell by 6.71 per cent in the 12 months to June 2011, according to Bank of Greece figures. Across the country as a whole, the cost of apartments fell by 4.45 per cent over the same period. But the picture is not uniformly grim.

The fall in property prices in the islands has been significantly less than in Athens and other mainland cities – only one per cent in the last year. A whitewashed villa in Mykonos, with views of the Aegean, is not about to rocket in price, but neither will it plummet. The market in holiday properties is reasonably buoyant, certainly compared with other sectors of the Greek economy.

For investors, rental yields on apartments are unattractive – around 2.8 per cent in Athens and 3.5 per cent in Crete, according to the Global Property Guide.

Investors also need to factor in the fact that, because of austerity measures introduced by the Greek government, new taxes are being levied on high-end properties, of the type traditionally beloved of yacht-owning millionaires. But for those willing to take the long-term view, there are far worse European countries in which to buy property.

Central Athens may be risky in the present economic climate but, in ever-popular Crete, you can get two-bedroom villas for not much more than £100,000. Other islands where you can get value for money include Rhodes, Kefalonia, and Corfu.
The economic crisis will pass. The glory that is Greece is eternal.
Diana

Nothing logical about it - but do it anyway!

2011-10-27T02:32:00.005+03:00

I have just read Victoria Hislop's account of buying a house in Crete in the Sunday Times. She articulates so clearly the reasoning (or lack of it) behind the desire to buy a house in Greece - the reason that we all love to live here even though we complain and mutter and protest and strike from time to time!

This is what she says:

"There was nothing remotely logical or rational about buying in Greece. We could easily have continued to go each summer and rent, or stay in a hotel. Even at the time the whole exercise was irrational and not an entirely 'sensible' thing to do. The property market in Crete has slumped; there are many houses that have been waiting for buyers for years". She goes on to list the new taxes to be paid and the ones that haven't even been thought about yet. She knows that her house is probably worth less than what she paid for it four years ago and then....""All that aside, at this minute........ I have few regrets. When I opened my laptop .... my screensaver reminds me why we took this huge decision. There in front of me is a picture divided into two: half of it is deep blue and the other half bright blue, the lower half is the sea and the upper half the sky. Even when I am not there the existence of this and all the summers we have enjoyed there is in the back of my mind, and the image of the view is ever present."

Well done Mrs. Hislop! This is how Greece can claim you as its life long admirer, how it gets under your skin, and how you will forgive (almost) anything when you look at your favourite view, listen to your favourite music and eat at your favourite taverna. It is also the reason why prices remain reasonably stable - in Corfu at any rate - though there are always bargains to be found!
Susan

Great idea and well done!

2011-10-12T07:27:00.002+03:00

Freestyle challenge: swimming from Albania to Corfu
Susan

Breakfast in Corfu Town

2011-10-09T13:34:00.004+03:00

One of the many cultural differences between Great Britain and Greece is breakfast.Everyone knows the meaning of a "Full English" and most people who have connections with Greece will be able to tell you what the Greek equivalent is - Greek coffee (or espresso at a pinch) with a piece of dry toast (frigania - which actually more resembles what we would call a rusk) and a cigarette.

Now that our office is located solely in Dassia, we have to plan our excursions to Corfu town very carefully - making sure that we don't forget any of the tasks we have to do. Before, in the days when we also had a town base, we could nip to the solicitors' office, pop to the bank, visit the accountant at the drop of a hat. Now we have to plan everything a bit like a military operation and, of course, breakfast (or a second one) is part of the picture.

Strangely, it is almost impossible to find a café serving coffee that also provides anything resembling a continental breakfast as we would like it to be, that is a choice of croissants and rolls with jam and butter, maybe some plain cake and a good hot cappuccino. Coffee you can find - a huge variety of it, what's more - but usually the cafes that serve it will only provide a small biscuit on the saucer if you are lucky. In the past few years we have managed to locate a few cafes that do have a small selection of something sweet, but these are few and far between. This is particularly strange since Corfu is full of take-away patisseries where you can buy a vast variety of croissant-type goodies.

Problem solved! Choose your favourite location, order your chosen coffee and request permission to carry in from the nearest pie shop. We have tried this in a number of town establishments with great success - the photo shows our latest "time-out" moment between jobs.

2011-10-02T10:48:00.003+03:00

My daugher very generously offered to accommodate five of her University friends this August, and while they were staying at my house, one of them wrote this article which has appeared in the Stirling University newspaper. Yet another different view of life in Greece!

The European Dream: Relaxed and Groovy

David Devereux
Opinion Editor

As I write this article, I’m sitting on a balcony in Corfu, an island that for some reason hasn’t thought to set a legal maximum temperature, which you’d think would be common sense when you’re living half a mile away from the surface of the sun. Apart from the non-sensical heat, my experiences here so far have left a wonderful impression of a fairly laid-back place that’s literally hundreds of miles away from stressed-out Britain. This relaxed and groovy attitude has made me realise that in Britain we are far too serious. I worked this out within 10 minutes of arriving here: rather than crossexamining my passport, they just made sure I had one. While on the road, people were riding scooters and motorbikes at questionably quick speeds with no helmets. We managed to cram six people into a fairly small car, which was uncomfortable, but a fun experience nonetheless. If a health and safety inspector came here, he would explode within seconds. Admittedly, I am talking about Greece, a country where you can retire early if you work in a dangerous profession, one of which is hairdressing. As well as this, train drivers allegedly earn an extra 420 euros a month for washing their hands (how they enforce this is beyond me). Then there’s the economy, which I’ve decided not to dwell on as it turns out they’re rather sensitive about it, even if you do make a joke about reducing the public sector down to 300 Spartans. However, it’s not just the Greeks. There were many Italians on the Corfu beaches (some of them even had clothes on) and it’s the same kind of easy-going, chilled-out kind of vibe. They just enjoy life more than the British. I visited Milan earlier this year (it sounds like I travel a lot, doesn’t it?) and everything seemed quite relaxed there as well. Again, we had the scooters with no helmets, relaxed airport security, and on top of that they even had vending machines with beer cans in them, which I only realised after using all my change to buy a stupid can of orange juice which wasn’t even that nice! And while we’re on the topic of alcohol, the Greeks have wonderful alcohol laws, or indeed a lack of alcohol laws. I ordered a drink at a bar while we were there and not only was I not ID’d (I’ll freely admit I look like a 12- year old) but the drink the barman slid across the bar to me was pretty much three quarters-full of alcohol with a pitiful amount of mixer. When I mentioned the fairly lax airport security, the more safetyconscious of you (and, by definition, more stressed-out) probably hollered, “But we need to protect ourselves from terrorism!” Well I’ve sort of got that covered too. I know all the many thousands of billions of security measures in British airports are there for a very good reason, but whenever there’s an attack and a new one is put in place, it makes me feel that perhaps the terrorists are winning in a way. Sooner or later it’s going to be protocol to walk through airport security on your hands, completely naked, stopping for random arse checks (as you could quite easily hide a bomb up there). Then the terrorists will be laughing, as they’ll have caused paranoia, unrest and ageneral lack of dignity for all involved. The overall impression of life here in Corfu is that it’s optimistic, relatively worry-free, take one day at a time for the local people as well as the tourists. My point is that in some respects Britain should be more relaxed and groovy like other European countries, and not just so that airport security is less of a trial. British people go to places like Corfu to get away from their stress-filled lives for a bit, but it doesn’t happen the other way round.

Sarah

"May you live in interesting times"

2011-09-28T21:25:00.001+03:00

Whether or not the above wish is Chinese in origin or not, it is most definitely intended as a curse, and most definitely very relevant to life in Greece at the moment!

When I first came to live in Greece in 1974 I used to scour the British newspapers for items about Greece and NEVER found anything at all. It was as if Greece simply did not exist. This situation continued even after Greece became part of the European Union. Any comparative tables of life in Europe almost pointedly omitted to mention Greece so that we never could work out how well, or badly, we compared with the rest of continental Europe.

Now that Greece is constantly in the news how we wish for a return to the peaceful days when nobody cared about what was going on here.

One of my favourite articles recently compared Greece with the front bumper of a car about to crash into a brick wall. Favourite because, for once, someone seemed to be spreading the blame a bit and suggesting that there are other countries out there in a pretty bad state as well. I suppose it shouldn't be comforting to think that worse is to come, but we are all rather fed up of being the world's whipping boy/scapegoat/bad guy.
Susan

The very very long, short season!

2011-09-12T06:52:00.004+03:00

Does it seem to anyone else that this season seems to have gone on for ever and yet seems to be quietening down at possily the earliest date ever? All of sudden the island seems to be more peaceful and perhaps to have reverted to being Corfu again, not the frantic non stop traffic jams we have had for the last six weeks.

I am hardly in a position to complain - the reason that I haven't contributed to the blog for what seems for ever is because I have been caught up in the family villa and apartment rental business, and life seemed to consist of running backwards and forwards with laundry and defusing potential disasters.

We have had all nationalities of guests, the majority absolutely wonderful, and some true disasters including people booking for 4 people, adding a 5th, and arriving with a 6th (and then raucously disturbing the entire neighbourhood); people not realising that the villa is booked as soon as they themselves leave and wanting to stay in residence until 2.00am because that's when the ferry leaves; people expecting the same TV channels they get in their home countries (whichever country they live in!); expecting us to 'do something about the mozzies'; or to 'do something about the seaweed on the beach'; expecting me to change mattresses in their villa instantly because they are too hard; using the jacuzzi as the kids pool and then letting the kids do unmentionable things in it; others throwing up all over the outside furniture and into the jacuzzi.

Plus the gem of receiving a call from a guest in the apartments at 3.00am to say that the lady next door was screaming for help, at which point we went to see what was happening and I spend a happy 10 minutes on the phone to the Benitses police trying to explain where the apartments were (next village, turn left 100m after the petrol station, not rocket science) and they NEVER did get it, at which point we told them not to bother. Good job it turned out not to be that serious and all the other clients had a sense of humour. (Same fighting couple win my 2011 award for how to trash your holiday accommodation.)

It has all been a bit of a new experience for me, even though we have been letting villas for over 20 years. The bulk of guests are wonderful and we keep in touch with many of them. This year also, 95% of them have been fabulous but I suppose it is the 5% disasters that stick in the mind and today the final straw of some incoming Italians who threatened to call the police because they insisted they had booked a villa when they had actually booked and paid for an economical studio. I offered them my phone and the number of the police station, refunded their money on the spot and suggested they go and find a villa at the same price. Then, with great relief, we switched off our phones for two hours and headed off to the beach!

There is still more of the season to go but somehow this time of the year is gentler, more relaxed, and I look forward to more occasional quick trips to our candidate for 'best beach in Corfu' (in the south, of course). This genuinely is one of the times of the year when it is easy to discount some of the national problems and remember why we came to live here and still stay. And why so many people are still keen to change their lifestyle and move out here, either for as long holidays as possible or permanently.
Diana

Ryanair flights in November

2011-09-12T06:50:00.003+03:00

Anyone looking for a quick Corfu "fix" in November might find it worthwhile checking out Ryanair. Flights continue right until the end of November and the twice weekly option means that a mid-week or long weekend break is entirely feasible.

Prices are still very low (though increasing daily - I have been checking). Carry on hand baggage allowance is restricted to 10 kilos, but for those able to travel light it should be just about possible to avoid paying the extra required for a suitcase, and the rather inexplicable admin fee for each case which can double the cost of the original quoted price.

Obviously the above also applies for those of us living here who would like to visit Britain on the cheap in November, though Christmas shopping might be difficult without paying for the extra baggage allowance!
Susan

It's a Dog's Life

2011-08-25T15:51:00.003+03:00

We quite often use the well-known catch phrase "location location location" about properties in Corfu - there are, after all, numerous stunning views and wonderful settings, but today we saw our first Five Star Luxury Doggy Pad.

How about this for the perfect location for a dog basket? Two very contented labradors have their home in this amazing property which is for sale with Corfuhomefinders.
Susan

Gripe of the week!

2011-08-18T18:59:00.000+03:00

Why is it that the drivers in the Jeep Safaris think that they cannot be separated from the car in front of them, even if it means driving dangerously or inconsiderately?

This morning I had to wait while about fifteen jeeps drove round two cars which were parked on their side of the road. It was my right of way and would have been very easy for one of them to wait while I drove past instead of my having to wait for all of them.

Roll on the end of August and the end of the "silly season"!
Sarah

"It just gets better every time"

2011-08-17T17:14:00.001+03:00

Monday night's Panayiri (fiesta) in Spartilas was very well attended, as it usually is. With the money raised used to support the village football team, most of the village turn out to support it and a good share of visitors and tourists joined in the fun too.

I sat at a table of "clients" who have now become good friends, all of whom have bought, or are thinking of buying, a village house in Spartilas. One of the nicest comments I have heard came from someone who bought and restored a village house about five years ago. He said, "It just gets better every time we come over - we know more villagers and I've had so many people come and shake my hand tonight, it's great!" This, for me, is village life at its very best.

In Spartilas, they seem to start them young. As this picture shows, seven year old Maria is celebrating her name day by performing an enthusiastic "hasapiko" dance, much admired by the crowd who gathered to encourage her.
Sarah

Oh ye of little faith ...

2011-08-02T15:22:00.001+03:00

This year for the first time we are renting some of our apartments privately.

We have been working with the villas for years and the questions from potential visitors are generally the same - temperature, pool temperature, mozzies, shops, restaurants etc.

This year with the apartments it is so different. I have had questions about EXACT size of the balcony, EXACT view from each bedroom, size of french doors, plus from a few nationalities 'How do we know that if we pay you in advance you will give us the apartment?' Also of course the usual 'The apartment says it sleeps 4, there are 7 of us can we have extra beds?' and today's gem which was 'Are the pictures on the website real pictures of the apartments'. No. of course they are not, we want you to come, be totally disappointed, write to Trip Advisor and Homeaway and complain so we lose our advertising and therefore our income!
Diana

There's unusual, and there's very unusual

2011-07-30T12:01:00.001+03:00

Showing one of our more remote properties to some clients last week instigated a conversation about the differences between being an estate agent in Corfu and in the UK.

We parked our car on the side of the road, and prepared to set off across the olive grove and terraced land. "Preparation" in this context involved putting on wellington boots (temperature in the shade was in the region of 32C), and arming ourselves with bottles of cold water.

Ten minutes later as we climbed up a stone wall, and pushed past some particularly prickly plants, our clients asked us if this was the best example of unusual properties that we show in the course of our working day.

We had to admit that it was certainly the most hard to get to but not actually the most unusual. That honour has to go to a recently restored village house that we were shown by a colleague from another agency. It is a small property, basically one up and one down, whose owner is keen to sell in a hurry. Having seen it we can understand why - there is no toilet! The other agent had actually not noticed this lack of a fairly basic facility, but considering that there is no garden either and that anyone living in the house would have to scoot across the lane and hide behind the neighbour's wall ....... need I say more? I think not.
Susan

New look website

2011-07-23T19:32:00.003+03:00

After months of work, we have finally got our new website online. Actually I should probably qualify that somewhat - the new Corfuhomefinders website is up and running, with the aim of giving a better service, clearer photos etc. However, due to unforeseen circumstances we had to change over to the new site at rather short notice, hence please bear with us if there are a few glitches. In fact if anyone finds glaring errors please do let us know - we keep checking and rechecking but with so many properties on the site there are definitely going to be gaps and mistakes. Fingers crossed that, when all the teething problems are sorted out, it will prove to be clearer, faster and generally better than the previous version.
Diana

Greece - or not Greece?

2011-07-23T10:23:00.003+03:00

Susan

Seriously good value

2011-07-18T14:44:00.002+03:00

One of our favourite houses has just been reduced in price. Recently featured in the July issue of Dove (an Italian travel magazine) this house has one of those sumptuous Corfu views that are so common from the village of Evropouli - just a few kilometres from Corfu town and Gouvia Marina. Named The Captain's House because the first time we visited there were sea charts spread out on the coffee table, we really really like this simple, stylish house.
Susan

Another sort of Panigiri

2011-07-04T14:50:00.002+03:00

The monastery just below our house marked its annual "name-day" with a low-key but very moving celebration starting on Friday evening and going on all day Saturday. In the morning of Saturday there was a church service attended by most of our village, young and old alike. Apart from the three monks who reside in the monastery, there were so many visiting priests in the sanctum (iero) that at one point we couldn't help remembering that old joke about how many Italians fit in a Cinquecento, or was it Frenchmen in a 2CV?

This year there was an additional prayer of thanks for the new roof only just finished in time last week, and a note of surrealism was provided by the teenager in front of us whose T-shirted back bore the legend DE PUTE MADRE KILLER - but at least he was in church!

A huge feast was served in the pergola covered courtyard - with at least 65 people enjoying pasta, chicken, tsatsiki and plenty of wine. One long table was peopled entirely with monks and priests, who punctuated the meal with frequent songs in praise of the young monk in charge (who, quite incidentally, was in our son Alexander's class at school here in the village).

Later on, in the evening, a further church service was held when the local brass band accompanied the main icon around the church and courtyard.
Susan

Village life

2011-07-03T13:52:00.000+03:00

Yes, life is going on as normal here in Corfu despite the gloomy news and negative reports in the national press. On Saturday evening we were expecting some Serbian guests to arrive for our villa. Travelling by car, I had given them very clear directions but had forgotten the fact that one of the villages they had to drive through was having a fiesta that evening and the chances were that they would get caught up in it. We went to meet them on the motorbike, explained that there would be crowds of people up ahead and then negotiated our way through in a convoy. They were very impressed by the local display of celebration and no sooner had they dropped their suitcases, than they turned around and went back to join in the festivities.

We were talking about the British equivalent of a village "panagiri" and could only come up with a village or church fete. I wonder if we held a fete in the evening with cheap alcohol and live music if there would be quite the same atmosphere as our village "panagiri"? Somehow I can't imagine British teenagers getting up and dancing with Grannies and Grandads!
Sarah

Safe as houses (no pun intended)

2011-07-02T11:25:00.002+03:00

God bless the international press! For the last week I have been inundated by enquiries from clients who have booked holidays in our villas, with 'Is it safe to come to Corfu?'. I end up sending a reply along the lines of 'There were riots in Belfast last week, if I had booked a holiday in Cornwall, should I worry?'.

Yes, Greece has dire financial problems, and yes, we have had some power cuts (although the power company very kindly posted times/areas of cuts on their website which was helpful) and yes, the public servants have been on strike (hard to notice the difference there in some cases) but the bulk of Greece, and certainly the areas with tourism, have carried on as normal.

I had some Russian clients who were caught in the short airport closures the other day, and whilst their own travel agent in their own country and their airline were TOTALLY unhelpful, Aegean Airlines who were only operating one of the five flights they were using, spent considerable time changing and rebooking all their reservations and made a point of asking them which were the most convenient times for them as they had a young child.

I think the fact is that we are all conscious that the idiots causing the violence in Athens are damaging the rest of Greece beyond belief. Everyone who is concerned about how the country is portrayed to the rest of the world is trying very hard to redress the balance and make people realise that 99% of Greece and Greeks are continuing to live and work as they always have, with humour (albeit black humour at the moment) and a welcome for visitors to their beautiful country.
Diana

Good news for pet owners

2011-07-02T11:23:00.000+03:00

Nice to see that the UK government is finally catching up with technology, and from January is dropping the need for a blood test for pets and also lessening the waiting time to 21 days. It will help people who want to adopt some of Corfu's stray animal population but who have been deterred in the past by long waiting times.
Diana

Is this the explanation?

2011-06-25T10:00:00.000+03:00

Why Greece is in such a mess...

We were having one of our regular conversations about what can/should be done to solve the financial crisis into which Greece has plunged. This time we were driving towards the airport from the north of the island and every single traffic light changed to red just as we approached it. This does sometimes happen and we made our usual "why does nothing ever work properly" comment whilst watching two, three, four cars drive straight through the red light. In the context of the on-going discussion it occurred to me that we were experiencing a perfect analogy with the financial situation. Namely, the system doesn't work properly, frustration sets in and the man in the street feels entitled to break the law. Because, of course, no-one can deny that the Greeks are a nation of tax-dodgers, but equally no-one can deny that the system is hugely unfair and those of us who live here know how extremely hard it is to run a small business totally legally and actually make any sort of profit at all.

Doesn't solve the present day problem, but I wish someone would explain all this to the increasingly smug sounding northern Europeans who criticize so freely.
Susan

At last, something almost positive

2011-06-25T09:57:00.000+03:00

Since all we are seeing at the moment on TV and in newspapers is totally negative, it was interesting to read this on a specialist travel website.

With a fresh round of protests, Paz Casal, Travel and Tourism Industry Analyst at Euromonitor International investigates the impact of further social unrest on Greece’s travel and tourism industry.

Economic strife continues
According to the European Commission, the Greek economy is expected to shrink 3.5% in 2011, after a 4.5% contraction in 2010. However, despite two years of decline in tourism revenues as well as recession, international tourism demand is expected to increase in 2011 thanks to economic recovery in its key source markets and conflict in competitor destinations such as Egypt and Tunisia.

Taking into account that tourism accounts for almost 18% of GDP, the government has introduced initiatives to draw visitors and help with financial recovery, such as the cut in value-added tax for hotel stays from 11% to 6.5%, a reduction in ferry ticket prices and the waiving of landing and taking-off fees at airports outside Athens.

In an effort to boost cruise shipping and tourism, the government passed a law in 2010 which allowed non EU-flagged ships to travel round the Greek islands.

Internet marketing boosts numbers
New marketing campaigns have resulted in increased arrivals from core countries such as the UK and Germany and newer markets like Russia, Israel, the Balkans and Ukraine. Some of these campaigns include the "You in Greece" website, particularly in Russia, as well the marketing of Greece on websites such as Facebook, Expedia and Twitter.

Russian visitors on the increase
The lifting of visa restrictions for non-EU citizens from Turkey, China and India has also benefited the increase in tourists over 2011. The government is also working on simpler visa procedures for tourists from the Ukraine and Russia. Russian visitors are expected to exceed 500,000 in 2011, an increase of 50% over 2010.

Tourist arrivals at Greek airports accounted for a total of 1,147 thousand in the first four months of 2011, an increase of 5.6% over 2010, with tourism officials forecasting a record number of arrivals this year.

International arrivals to reach pre-crisis levels in 2011
According to the UNWTO, in terms of receipts, Greece has seen an increase of around 5% in the first 4 months of the year. Based on early bookings, the hotel federation expects that arrivals will rise about 10% to 15.9 million and revenue by as much as 7% this year. Thomas Cook also reported that summer bookings for Greece were 13% higher than last year. Furthermore, according to Expedia, for the first time ever, reservations have been made for as late as November.

Limited impact over the long term
Foreign governments have been very moderate in their travel advice regarding Greece, with no travel restrictions in place. According to the UNWTO’s General Secretary, Taleb Rifai “recent protests in Greece, notably in the capital Athens, are not expected to impact tourism flows to the country in the long term”.

However, as long as social tensions remain high there is always a risk that Greece’s reputation as a stable destination may be undermined. Fortunately, to date tourists have not been involved in the country’s internal conflicts and it is still perceived as a save country to visit.

I do find this quite encouraging, particularly since this week I had an enquiry for a villa for a holiday in August from some Bulgarian travellers who asked me first of all how they could get to Corfu and secondly 'Is it safe?".

Whilst no one can deny that Greece is in dire straits, for whatever reason and whoever's fault it is, it is nice to see that there is a positive side and that the Government, previously worse than useless in the promotion of tourism in Greece, does seem to be taking at least some beneficial actions.
Diana

Just what we need

2011-06-20T09:50:00.001+03:00

'Friends newly back from holiday in Corfu said two things illustrate the grim plight of Greece more than any other: nobody accepts credit cards and the auto-teller machines don't dispense cash. This tells you the ancient Greek custom of not declaring income is still thriving. No credit-card receipt means no paper trail, so no tax for you Mr Receiver - capiche? The lack of ready hard currency simply implies the banking system is kaput.'

This is a quote from an online newspaper - strange that I ALWAYS use a variety of cash machines to take money from the bank to run our business, and similarly I invariably pay by credit card for most of my shopping. I will say that the ATM at Agios Georgios South is probably the most unreliable on the planet (thank you very much Agricultural Bank) but it is simply that, it breaks down on a regular basis, and is certainly not part of a larger conspiracy! Nothing like jumping on the bandwagon to knock something when you dont actually know what you are talking about, is there? We all know Greece is in a dire financial situation, but there is a lot more to it than some businesses not accepting credit cards, or a cash machine not working.
Diana

Not just radio stations

2011-06-20T09:48:00.000+03:00

On the subject of Susan's experience with our cell phones and car radios thinking that they have changed countries, a few years ago, before satellite TV, we used to have terrestrial TV in our house on the west coast at Halikouna. During the winter we could receive a variety of Greek channels, where programmes usually had English subtitles, but once the hot weather arrived those channels promptly disappeared and we could only tune in to Italian channels - very useful since all our clients were English!
Diana

What Country am I in?

2011-06-17T06:52:00.000+03:00

One of the things we get used to in Corfu is the fact that as you drive around the island you "change countries" without actually leaving the island. Noticeable both in mobile phone signal and radio stations, we dip in and out of Italy in the north west of the island and even more regularly in and out of Albania as we drive eastwards up and down the coast.

I have learned to switch off the roaming facility on my mobile in order to save the extra - not inconsiderable - expense of making and receiving phone calls via a foreign country without having left Corfu. This means that there are times when I have no signal or a very weak one, but I know that in a few minutes the situation will improve again.

Recently, though, I have discovered something really strange. I have two favourite radio stations for early morning listening as I drive to work. Twice in the last week one of these stations has become Italian! I have not been in the north west, not deviated from my normal route, nor altered the automatic selection on the radio, but the programmes have most definitely been in Italian, with Italian music and presenters. Later in the day, on my way home at lunchtime, Greece is back where it belongs.

How weird is that?
Susan

Olympic Flame in Corfu

2011-06-15T13:51:00.001+03:00

I had to nip into Corfu Town quickly this morning and found many roads blocked, it seemed that I couldn’t get anywhere near the Liston by car. I later found out that this is because of the impending arrival of the Olympic Flame for the Special Olympics 2011. It’s due to arrive at the Palace of St Michael and St George this evening at 7.30 pm - everyone is invited to join in the run.
Sarah

A Tale of Two Countries

2011-06-13T17:16:00.000+03:00

The average "Greek in the streets" is having a pretty hard time of it at the moment. Prices of essentials (petrol, electricity, food) are increasing monthly if not weekly, and incomes are diminishing as the Government tries to gather enough ready cash to pay back the National debt by reducing still further the salaries and pensions of government employees. This, in turn, has a knock-on effect on the private sector as fewer people are spending money on clothes/holidays/cars/household repairs, etc. Businesses are closing down on a daily basis and the number of unemployed has ballooned. A pensioner was interviewed on the evening news last week - an ordinary, pleasant looking gentleman in his late sixties. His problem is simple - a pension of 680 Euros per month and his rent alone is 320 Euros. Luckily, he said, my son helps me out otherwise I would not be able to manage.

Contrast this with an example from Britain. A couple of almost retirement age who have recently returned to the UK from many years living overseas. One of them is claiming unemployment benefits, the other has registered as medically unfit and is claiming disability benefit. They have a council house. They also have a son who is something huge in banking and could actually afford to buy them a house and pay them a "salary", but does he? No sir.

From the sublime to the ridiculous - except that both are ridiculous.
Susan

Duo Armande at Holy Trinity

2011-06-11T06:08:00.001+03:00

Sadly, due to previous commitments, we were able to attend only one of the musical treats last week at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Duo Armande, two talented young ladies playing clarinet (Claire Hawkes) and viola and violin (Shulah Oliver) entertained a full church hall to "Music from Around the World".

(I've just re-read the above and realized that it sounds as if we lead a full and active social life, so I should probably point out that one of the commitments was to the watering of our vegetable garden and the other was babysitting for our daughter and son-in-law, so not very glamorous!)

The church event was lovely, however, with wine and ample snacks provided by the stalwarts who always turn up trumps at such occasions. I wish more people would support this part of the church's activities - apart from the religious, Holy Trinity really does provide a vital service to the community.
Susan

Holy Trinity Church (2)

2011-06-02T05:56:00.005+03:00

There is lots going on in the next few days at Holy Trinity and support is needed if the church is to keep open. If anyone is around in Corfu town please try to attend as many of the following events as possible.

Summer Festival at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Corfu
Thurs 2nd June to Sat 4th June

Thursday June 2nd - Duo Armande - 8.00 pm
The Duo's repertiore includes the unusual combination of both clarinet and violin and clarinet and viola. Their discoveries into this repertoire have led them to a variety of works ranging from Bruch's well-known and beautiful Clarinet and Viola Concerto to the delightful but lesser known music of Busch, Jacob, Hindemith and Rebecca Clarke. The repertoire also includes arrangements of works such as Mozart's Sonata and Beethoven's 3 Duos originally for Clarinet and Bassoon. Claire and Shulah also have an eclectic selection of popular classics and folksongs. The Duo are actively involved in making music accessible to the community. Their programme for the evening will feature music from around the world, popular classics and folk music.

Friday June 3rd - Art Exhibition and Bazaar - 11:30 am to 3.00 pm
Exhibition of paintings from five Corfiot artists; Demonstrations of silk painting and patchwork quilting; Sale of organic foods, plants, cakes, preserves and local crafts.

Friday June 3rd - Jazz Evening - 8.00 pm
Immerse yourselves in the Jazz music and vocals of Jim Potts with Raoul Scacchi on Bass. Jim Potts is well known on the island and is esteemed author of "The Ionian Islands and Epirus, A Cultural History". Jim and Raoul will perform a selection of classical and contemporary Jazz and Blues music including many of Jim's compositions that you can preview here. Jim and Raoul have played in the past with other musicians in Corfu including Rob Sherratt and Christopher Holmes, seen here.

Saturday June 4th - Art Exhibition and Bazaar - 11:30 am to 3.00pm
Details as above.

Saturday June 4th - Ionian Academy Evening - 8.00pm
Saturday evening sees the return of friends from the Department of Music academy at the Ionian University, including teachers and star pupils performing Greek and classical music from the Ionian repertoire in Corfu. Our event at Holy Trinity Church falls within the "Ionian Concerts of 2011" for the Ionian University. The first part of the evening features cello and violin pieces, and the second part of the evening features piano and flute pieces.

Admission and Tickets
Tickets in advance only, 15 Euros per evening. Proceeds to fund the English Church. Included in the price is a plate of delicious buffet food, and a glass of wine.

Please email Rob Sherratt for tickets or phone 26610 90360.
Susan

Holy Trinity Church (1)

2011-06-02T05:50:00.003+03:00

The following is extracted from the monthly church newsletter.

"HOLY TRINITY CHURCH CORFU NEEDS YOU! The question is, do YOU need Holy Trinity Church?

The chances are that sometime during your life on Corfu you will need Holy Trinity but, the time is fast approaching when it is very likely that Holy Trinity Church will not be here for you. There will be no more Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals!

Think about this …:

. 10,000 (approx) English speaking residents living on Corfu

. 55 members on the Electoral Role

. 48 (average) regular Sunday worshippers

. 15 people attended the AGM in April (8 of whom were members of the Church Council)

The budgeted expenditure for 2011 is 60,000 Euros

So, where is our commitment?

Contrary to popular belief, Holy Trinity Church Corfu is not funded by The Church of England or by any other Ecclesiastical body, WE have to fund it ourselves. From the regular Sunday collections we pay the expenses of having a chaplain here (salary, UK pension fund, accommodation and transport) as well as all expenses pertaining to the running costs and maintenance of the church and building.

Our Treasurer has always kept a tight control to minimize expenditure but year by year, month by month, week by week the cost of keeping Holy Trinity Church open to all has become more and more difficult to the point where time is running out and it is only if we can increase our church’s income that we can guarantee Holy Trinity WILL be here for you when you need it."

Susan

Bargain

2011-05-20T19:36:00.001+03:00

Consistently the second most looked at property on our whole website, Garden House in Makrades has just been reduced yet again in price. Surely someone must be tempted now? The estimate for finishing the property is a mere 30,000 Euros.

Bargain indeed.
Susan

Business - Corfu style!

2011-05-20T19:16:00.001+03:00

I wasn't much looking forward to my appointment yesterday evening to go with some clients to "snag" the new apartment they are buying in Barbati. Although they are very excited about their purchase and looking forward to future holidays there, "snagging", especially with the owner present, isn't the most pleasant job and we didn't want to offend the owner who is very proud of his work.

I arrived with my clients promptly at 6pm, to find the owner had laid a table on the balcony, barbequed a few chops, and brought along a bottle of his (very good) homemade wine to wash it down with!

"Snagging" was delayed until we had all eaten and toasted their happy future in the apartment. When we got down to work and consulted our lists, it was in good humour and without disagreement.
Sarah

Cheap Land for sale

2011-05-19T19:19:00.002+03:00

This is an amazing plot of land - around 2,000 m2 in size - located just to the south of the main Paleokastritsa road, well away from traffic and with excellent views in all directions.

The owner really needs to sell and the price is an incredibly low 10,000 Euros. What's the snag? Well, there is one of course. It is not legally large enough to build on (due to the restrictions of the area and access road).

If there is anyone who would like to have a beautiful flower or vegetable garden and pitch a tent on it, please contact our office.
Susan

Rainbow or Rainsplodge?

2011-05-19T19:15:00.001+03:00

Taken from our house last week, this interesting result of the weather conditions was rather alarming at first sight. Looked a bit as if the sun was setting in the south!
Susan

Perfect planting

2011-05-12T15:07:00.000+03:00

Much of my free time this spring has been spent gardening at our villa and I have put in a lot of effort in planning and planting a large new flower bed. Carefully choosing drought-resistant shrubs and a "hot" colour scheme, I have high hopes that the results will be rewarding in a year or two. Maybe I should have just left it to nature... On a recent walk within a few hundred metres of my carefully planned bed, I came across this beautiful display. With buttercups, wild garlic and blue hairbells, this was just perfectly planned.
Sarah

Wish I had written this

2011-05-09T07:39:00.003+03:00

Sometimes you read a book or an article or a poem and really really wish that you had been able to express yourself so well. This article from Kathimerini is a classic example. Nick Malkoutsis so exactly expresses what is going on in Greece that I can thoroughly recommend clicking on the link to read what he has to say.
Susan

How business is conducted in Corfu!

2011-05-09T07:35:00.002+03:00

Yesterday I had to go to our new houses and install the internet connection, since we have clients arriving on Wednesday. Note, that I have to install it, the engineers left a connection on an external phone line inside the electricity box housing, and then the phone company simply gave me a box and some codes. Consequently I had to establish myself, my laptop, and the instructions, as close as possible to the router box (inside the column on the left of the photo). Whilst I was trying to do this, and battling with the wind, our adopted cat (she adopted us, not the other way round) kept trying to sneak her new kittens into any of the houses. The more I put her in her box in the house next door, the more sneaky she got and I was terrified of smothering a kitten with cushions, or making one inside a bed, so I spent the morning rushing between the laptop doing the internet connection, phoning OTE because of course it didn't work the first time, and chasing around after a cat and kittens. If you look hard at the photo, just to the left of the front door and aircon unit, you will see the cat planning her next move with the kittens! They don't say women can multi-task for nothing do they?
Diana

Slipping Standards!

2011-05-09T07:32:00.001+03:00

Did you ever see a swallows' nest like this? We keep trying to find explanations - laziness / first-timers / mental or physical problems? Who knows, but it certainly won't win any Ideal Home prizes.
Susan

And one for the office, And one for my daughter!

2011-05-03T11:30:00.001+03:00

Two more garlands came off the production line on May Day - one for the office in Dassia and one for our daughter, who lives just down the road and is up to her ears in looking after her two little girls.

The origin of May Day lies in the Roman festival of flora. The garland represents the goddess of spring and the renewal of life.
Susan

May Day

2011-05-03T11:24:00.001+03:00

Following local tradition, our May Day garland or wreath has been hung on our front door bringing luck for the coming year. Ours was added to the "Volvos" or large bulb which has been gracing the door for a couple of months, also supposed to bring luck to the inhabitants of the house. Hope they don't cancel each other out!
Susan

The Wedding

2011-05-03T10:55:00.001+03:00

Can't NOT blog it, really, can we? The Wedding! Whatever your views on the monarchy and/or its alternatives, Friday's marriage ceremony which joined two happy young people was a wonderful celebration of love. Lucky William to be welcomed into a normal everyday sort of family. Not so sure whether Catherine is lucky... I thought definitely not, until I had spent Sunday cooking, washing up and doing the housework and realized that whatever else she might have to do, she won't ever have to do that sort of thing!

Sarah and I watched it all on the BBC, via satellite, at her house here in Corfu in the company of lots of ladies of different ages. We enjoyed the various comments coming from all sides almost as much as the ceremony. Diana watched the CNN coverage and said it was nicely irreverent.
Susan

Perfect Easter!

2011-04-25T19:50:00.004+03:00

Wonderful, spring-like weather made this year's celebrations particularly special. It was not too hot for the crowds milling around in the centre of Corfu town during the pot-throwing on Saturday morning to become claustrophobic, and not too breezy for our candles to blow out either during Good Friday's Epitaph procession or when we all poured out of church at midnight with the "holy light" of the resurrection.

As usual our own celebrations were twin-centred on Corfu Town and the village, picking the best from both. The excitement of Corfu Town takes some beating, but the religious aspect is more moving in the smaller confines of the village.
Susan

Pot-throwing in Corfu Town. 11a.m. on Easter Saturday.

2011-04-25T19:47:00.002+03:00

If you have never experienced this amazing sight it is well worth braving the traffic and having to park half-an-hour's walk away from the centre of town.

In the photo, note the large blue and red pot in mid-flight!
Susan

My Scented Morning Walk

2011-04-23T08:00:00.001+03:00

At this time of year my morning walk with the dog is a delight. Starting off with the jasmine that liberally covers the verandah we then pass the wisteria climbing up the garden wall. Next is our orange tree - at this time of year bearing fruit as well as abundant blossom, and finally when we reach the top of the drive, there is the yellow gorse blossom on either side of the road.
Susan

Thanks Helga!

2011-04-20T07:41:00.001+03:00

We all had a nice surprise this morning when we arrived in the office – before setting off on holiday, Helga had left us all with Easter eggs decorating our keyboards.
Sarah

Royal Honeymoon in Corfu?

2011-04-11T08:01:00.007+03:00

Various ears to the ground have picked up additional local information to add to the rumours that Corfu is one of the favoured destinations for William and Kate's honeymoon at the end of the month. Activity has been noted that might... just might... mean that our island is to host one of the events of the year!
Susan

Opposition grows to proposed Wind Farm on Pantokrator summit

2011-04-10T09:53:00.000+03:00

Last week we attended a meeting, organized by opponents of the planned wind farm to be built on the mountain top near Spartilas, and supposedly to spread both east and west from there. It was sparsely attended, but there were some interesting presentations from speakers who were able to pass on facts and figures and not just the rhetoric which various local politicians produced towards the end of the evening.

It appears that there is considerable opposition to the proposal and that the local council has so far stepped in to prevent the continuation of the plans. The evidence presented certainly seemed to question the effectiveness of wind as an alternative source of energy and presented some alternative solutions. The main points of opposition seem to be:

1) that basically there isn't enough, reliable wind to justify the expense of constructing the huge turbines.
2) that the noise level is likely to cause far-reaching disturbance.
3) that the destruction of natural, unspoilt countryside is not justifiable.
4) that there are much better and less environmentally intrusive alternatives.

As I understand it, the scheme - if it does go ahead - will be up to 80% financed by EU funds, but all signs at the moment point to strong local opposition - enough to block the project completely.
Susan

Orchids in the British Cemetery

2011-04-10T07:35:00.001+03:00

This morning my mother and I visited the British Cemetery in Corfu town. It's a few years since we've been there, and this is the time of the spring when the orchids are in flower - the cemetery is said to have a very fine collection of wild orchids. In fact, we were probably about a week early, as there were only a few varieties in bloom, but they are so lovely, and right underfoot. George, the keeper of the cemetery and the gardens, puts sticks next to the orchids to try to stop visitors from stepping on them.

As usual, the whole garden and cemetery is a peaceful haven in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Corfu town. The gardens are really beautiful, although looking a bit overgrown these days as George struggles to keep the beds tidy all on his own. He's not so young any more and could probably do with a bit of help - we were itching to pull up a few weeds!
Sarah

Spring Newsletter

2011-04-09T07:59:00.003+03:00

We have just sent out our latest newsletter featuring properties from our portfolio which have summer letting potential.

If you are not on our mailing list you can see the newsletter here.
Diana

Ryanair to fly to Corfu!

2011-04-08T17:52:00.002+03:00

Ryanair has just announced a new route from Stansted to Corfu starting in July.

Not perfect for anyone north of Watford, but somehow it seems as if it may be the start of something good for the island and for all of us who like to travel on a budget.

I had overheard a radio interview just last week with the head of the Association of Corfu Travel Agents suggesting that there were talks in progress with low cost airlines to fly to Corfu both from the UK and Germany, but there have been so many such promises that have come to nothing in the past that I didn't allow myself to become excited. Now I am!

It's up to us now to make sure that the venture is supported (even if we secretly don't really like the Ryanair concept). This sort of competition is just what the existing charter airlines didn't want, and must surely have a knock-on effect on prices.
Susan

Back to blogging

2011-04-04T08:50:00.002+03:00

Apologies, we seem to have been a bit 'blog less' recently. Part of this is due to the massive damage to our website, which has taken us to weeks to put back to normal (and even now we are finding wrong prices, wrong photos etc. so continuing apologies). Quite amazing really how something like that can happen in this age of technology and no one at all seems capable of actually working out what happened. Still, we live and learn!

In between trying to rebuild the website, and getting ready for spring and summer, we have had some days out looking at properties. However, we do seem to be jinxed on some occasions. One day Sarah and I went with an owner to just take new photos of the view from a house now that the olive trees have been trimmed, as the owner said it is now absolutely stunning. The weather was a bit unsettled some days, so we waited until it was beautifully sunny and off we went towards Kassiopi. The sun lasted almost to San Stefanos where the sky immediately got darker just above us and the minute we arrived at the house down came the torrent. (Corfu style, as if someone up there turned a bucket upside down). Three of us huddled under an umbrella but we were determined to get a photo of the view and indeed we did. It's just that it's a bit hard to see which is grey sea and which is grey sky. As we left the area the sky cleared and the sun came out - naturally.

A few days later we had another north Corfu day planned to look at property and take photos, so we thought to have another try at the view from Kouloura View House. The day was one of those clear glorious spring days until we got to the house, when lo and behold the sky darkened yet again and we thought we were going to suffer the same fate. But whilst we were collecting some lemons (with full permission of the owner of course) fortunately the sky cleared enough to take more photos. However, they still don't reflect how amazing the view really is now and what a difference trimming just a few olive trees has made.

That day we saw some more real gems. A large stone house high above Kassiopi, which when renovated could be one of those real classic Corfu properties, plus a pretty plot of land where three small villas are about to be constructed, making them economic properties in the Kassiopi area where the word 'economic' hasn't really applied for many years. Also a small stone cottage, just across the road from the sea on the outskirts of Kassiopi village,
Diana

2011-04-03T12:28:00.003+03:00

Despite the mini-kitchen, this three storey property in the centre of Corfu Town is actually a pretty town house with lots of potential. There are also two other kitchens, since the building is divided into three self-contained apartments. In need of renovation, though structurally sound, it could be turned into a lovely single home or rented out in its present configuration - maybe to students or single professionals. There is no outside space, but because it is located at the end of an alleyway, all the front windows have open views down to the nearby square.
Susan

Compact kitchen - part two

2011-03-28T08:59:00.002+03:00

We have so much enjoyed sharing the photos of the tiny kitchen in the Corfu town house that I thought I would add another one here as well. This photo shows the underside of the kitchen sink as it juts down into the stairwell leading to the apartment below.

Luckily the house has two other kitchens as it is presently divided into three apartments. When renovated it will make a splendid three-storey town house of over 100 square metres.
Susan

"Compact kitchen"

2011-03-24T09:05:00.002+02:00

Well of course we know about estate agent-speak, but even we can't think of a way to describe this kitchen as anything other than "miniscule".

Viewing this old three storey house in the Campiello district of the old town, we were shown possibly the smallest kitchen we've ever seen. Admittedly three of us managed to stand in it at one time, but closing the window required us all to move up a bit, and if a cooker was in use, this could make a trip to the bathroom quite hazardous. We were intrigued to see how the sink had been installed to maximise every inch of space, sideways on and overhanging the staircase!

Having said all that, this is a lovely characterful property in a heritage area of Corfu, ripe for renovation by an imaginative buyer - honestly!
Sarah

Tax Returns

2011-03-21T19:46:00.001+02:00

The following information was gleaned from a very useful article in Athens News.

You are required to fill in a tax return if you are a salaried employee and earned more than 3,000 Euros last year, if you are self-employed or a pensioner, if you own a car, motorbike, boat or 'plane. Property owners who earned more than 600 Euros in rent last year are also required to submit a return as are market traders.

Married couples need only complete one tax return.

The deadline for permanent residents abroad is May 2nd.
Susan

Cycle Lanes? That was last month!

2011-03-12T12:08:00.000+02:00

I was never a supporter of the expensively introduced cycle lanes throughout Corfu town - in theory, yes, but not in a congested town with a dire shortage of parking spaces. However, having introduced the system, with springy-up bollards and yellow lines and arrows criss-crossing the entire town centre and having provided bikes and safe parking for them, the least we could do, as responsible citizens presented with a fait accompli, is to encourage the new idea and give it a chance to thrive. Unfortunately it appears that this was too much to expect. The bollards proved to be rather delicate and broke off very quickly and as soon as a whole road-side was cleared of them which didn't take more than a month, the cycle lanes reverted to their original purpose - parking for cars!

What really gets me is that no-one seems in the slightest bit concerned about all this. I listen regularly to local news broadcasts and haven't heard a single comment about the sheer waste of effort, energy and money.

There are plans to construct a wind farm on the summit of Mount Pantokrator. Will anyone draw a parallel here and maybe consider the stage beyond the one which deposits large amounts of money in certain contractors' pockets?
Susan

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's a kite, and it's Clean Monday (Καθαρή Δευτέρα).

2011-03-08T08:05:00.003+02:00

Following a day of rain and strong winds, our hopes were not too high for the possibility of flying the traditional kite today, but the day dawned bright and sunny, and windy! Last year's attempt had been frustrated by a total lack of the essential ingredient - wind, so it was with confidence that we set off towards the north leaving our washing flapping madly on the line.

By the time we arrived in Almiros, the sky was darkening and there was noticeably less wind - possibly because it had been a west wind and we were in the north - but we did successfully fly our kite along with a few other families who had braved the cold (for Corfu) March day.

Lent starts in a big way in Greece, and our table groaned under the weight of a selection of essential lenten offerings - taramasalata, octopus, bean salad, homous, stuffed vine leaves, prawns, olives and retsina to start with and two types of halvas for dessert - the home made kind which is semolina cooked in oil, with nuts and syrup and the supermarket variety, which is sticky and sweet and totally delicious.
Susan

Welcome to 'Walking in Corfu'

2011-03-03T08:26:00.002+02:00

At long last, a new business is being established in the south of Corfu, which will show visitors many of the hidden gems of the southern part of the island, about which I have to say, many people are most scathing without even having visited!

Steve and Mark, through their website www.walkingincorfu.co.uk, offer guided walks of various durations, to suit various degrees of fitness, in areas covering beaches, hills and mountains, plus villages of interest. Many of these places really are 'undiscovered Corfu' and should prove highly interesting to visitors who want to see more of Corfu than just the well trodden tourist routes. Living and working in the South, I have a personal interest as I seem to spend a fair amount of my time promoting the area which really is seriously underrated - so every success to them!
Diana

Just another normal day

2011-02-28T05:25:00.000+02:00

We are often asked to do little things to help clients who are not actually in Corfu, and have difficulty organising things - usually it is letting the electrician in to the house, or organising furniture, or holding keys etc. but this week we had a real little gem. In one of our houses out in the country I had a call from the seller to say that she had been told that there was a sheep in the garden, which presumably had wandered in by mistake (the house is surrounded by fields) and the next day she had a call to say that the sheep had died next to her boiler house, and did we know anyone who could clear away a dead sheep?

No one sprang immediately to mind of course, since it is not an everyday request, but that evening our neighbour Yannis agreed to take care of the problem. The house is along a series of little roads and whilst not terribly hard to find, it does need a little thought, so I drew a map, described it, and told him to call me if he got lost.

Next day Susan, Sarah and I were in the middle of a phone conference with someone in the UK and my phone rang. Of course it was Yannis telling me he couldn't find the house. I had to take the call and Susan said to the guy in England, 'Can we just wait a moment, Di is trying to arrange for someone to move a dead sheep!' Stunned silence for a second, then he said 'Yes of course' as if it was the most normal thing in the world! All in a days work.
Diana

2011-02-25T08:17:00.003+02:00

We are always being asked for property near Kassiopi, as it is well know for its beautiful scenery but it is usually impossible to find economically priced options in that area. We were very pleased to have the opportunity of marketing these two new villas, as they offer the Kassiopi location, without the high price tag normally associated with properties in the area.

There will be three houses in total, one of which has already been sold. They are being marketed at excellent prices, on a hill above the village, with views down to the coast and within walking distance of shops and beach, and are being built by a highly reputable, and well known local developer.

The two remaining houses are on plots of land of approximately 700 sq.m. with one house of 75 sq.m. and one of 90 sq.m. There is a basic plan in place for each house, but obviously buyers will have the chance to amend some aspects during the build, in order to suit their own particular lifestyle requirements.

This area offers options, not only for a holiday home or full time residence, but being one of the most sought after areas of Corfu, the properties would also offer good letting potential. There is ample space for a swimming pool on each plot, increasing even more the letting income prospects.

The developer is highly experienced and well known in the area, and the prices include tiles, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. with a choice of fittings being offered to buyers.
Susan

Another lake

2011-02-24T08:58:00.002+02:00

Another weekend dog walk and another lake. This time at Poulades, down a little lane which leads to the RC Hotel where model airplane enthusiasts fly their planes. You walk down the lane passing the hotel and runway on your right, and continue straight on till you come to the most beautiful lake, not a long walk, only about fifteen minutes. Surrounded by tall grasses and an enormous oak tree, the water looks quite deep and there are frogs hopping about everywhere.
Sarah

Valentine's Day

2011-02-13T23:04:00.004+02:00

As an unusually romantic gesture for me, I decided on the spur of the moment to surprise loved-one and come to visit him in England for the Valentine's weekend.
Carefully checking the flight prices (I'm not that romantic or well-off!)

Diana suggested I fly out to the UK via Thessaloniki instead of Athens. Good advice and a route I will definitely use again. Not only is the departure from Corfu at the more civilised time of 9 am instead of 7.30 am, but the Easyjet flight leaves earlier from London and it's a shorter flight time. Better still, the prices on both legs of the journey were considerably cheaper. Unfortunately this doesn't work on the return journey which I will be doing via Athens as usual.

Bearing in mind that this was all very last minute, I quickly arranged a weekend break for the dog, and sent a text to my friend just to check that loved-one wasn't planning the same surprise on me and that we would each end up in the wrong place. However, in my haste, I accidentally sent the text to loved-one, so my surprise plans were scuppered and he was there to meet me at the airport!
Sarah

No, it is definitely not like England

2011-02-12T12:14:00.002+02:00

I was watching Mary Portas on the BBC programme where she 'exposed and retrained' some London estate agents, having lectured them on honesty, being well informed etc. I then compared their days to ours, particularly to one day this week.

Wonderful sunshine, great day for photos, so off we went to find a piece of land which is newly for sale. No one was available to take us up there, so we followed instructions as in 'up the hill, old house at the top, old man called Alexandros lives there, he will show you'. However, the hill had several turnings and we finally ended up on a dead end grassy track, high above the coast; somewhat lost.

Then an elderly gentleman strolled down the hill and when we asked if he knew Mr. Alexandros. Of course he WAS Mr. Alexandros and purely by chance was walking down the hill. He showed us all over the land, and having declined coffee, wine and the view from his house, we went back down the mountain.

Next, to an old house in Spartila (Sarah's territory so she knew exactly which alleyway to turn down) and then off up to Alimatades to collect a lady with several bits of land for sale. She obviously didnt have a lot of confidence in Sarah's driving (totally unfounded) and insisted we park and walk. So we trekked up and down a few hills and finally reached the first plot - very pretty, somewhat isolated, but she assured us 'it will sell really easily', so we will see.

After that, a brief stop to meet a gentleman who also has land 'over there' should we have a prospective buyer and then off to her next piece - another trek to another pretty plot, again somewhat isolated, with wonderful views, which again we are assured should be easy to sell; until we finally escaped and drove back to the office, completely exhausted.

A very strenuous morning. London agents might have an easier life (and according to Mary Portas in her wisdom, they also have sharp suits and spiky hair!) but they don't get to enjoy long scenic walks in the sunshine on the mountainside as part of their working day.

The next day we stayed in the office!
Diana

Mountain Lake

2011-02-08T08:20:00.000+02:00

Our post-Sunday lunch walk this week took us to a favourite spot of mine, up in the mountains just above Spartilas. Just a short way above the village is a road off to the left which leads down into an area locally known as "Gabo" - this is Spartiliotika for "gardens" and where many of the village own plots of land used for grape vines or vegetables, like giant allotments.

The road leading down into "gabo" is new and asphalt, so you can drive right there if you don't feel like walking. We walked a short way down the road and then branched off along a well tread footpath which circuits the whole area. At one point along this footpath when we were beneath the shade of oak and cypruss trees with leaf mould underfoot, my son remarked that it was like walking in a forest in England!

The path eventually winds down to the level of the lake which is surrounded by vineyards and vegetable plots. We debated whether there are fish in the lake - surely not such a daft idea as it doesn't completely dry up in the summer months. The kingfisher we spotted was presumably fishing for fish, not frogs, adding weight to my suggestion.

The sun was shining, the sky was blue and clear and the only sound was the frogs croaking in the lake. It was a perfect winter day, and there wasn't another soul in sight to share our mountain lake experience.
Sarah

So Greece is on the Ryanair map, but not Corfu?

2011-02-06T17:39:00.001+02:00

I might be a bit late in spotting this news as being on holiday tends to make you do things rather slowly, but when I saw this article on the travel agency website travelmole, I was surprised and not a little upset!

New routes to Thessalonika, Kos and Rhodes - so what happened to us? The onlly positive is that it says 17 new routes to Greece this summer - could they possibly ignore us completely?
Diana

Home thoughts from abroad

2011-01-31T19:39:00.003+02:00

Well here we are on our annual escape to the sun before we return to our seven day working week in what I gather has been an icy Corfu. Where we are staying is somewhat surreal by comparison with Corfu – the hotel is VAST (not my choice I add, other half likes this type of thing, I don’t, but I suffer in the interests of good relations) and everything is totally perfect. To the point that, as illustrated above, they have sand boxes for cigarette ends (about 50 of them at least I should think) and someone goes around permanently stamping the emblem of the hotel in the sand.

The place runs like a production line for accommodation and food, and reminds me of Disneyland or Las Vegas where you basically have to suspend real life and just accept that you have entered a different world, where not a blade of grass is out of place, no insect dares to fly, the maids battle each day to come up with a new design of towel sculpture, and the gardeners collect baskets of flower petals for the maids to sprinkle all over the bedrooms and bathrooms. Just bizarre in every way!

I think the total verdict is Dominican Republic - efficiency 9 out of 10, hotel personality 2 out of 10. Corfu – efficiency 4 out of 10, personality 9 out of 10. I know which I prefer.
Diana

Fresh Pasta in Corfu at "Antichi Sapori"

2011-01-31T07:56:00.001+02:00

Welcome to the new pasta fresca shop located at Marasli 31 in Corfu town. We took home salmon stuffed ravioli and something triangular shaped (a sort of ravioli, I suppose) stuffed with walnut and ricotta plus a whole grain tagliatelle and a mixed vegetable tagliatelli. Lovely and well recommended.

The door to the kitchen at the back is left open so that the customer can see the staff at work preparing the various types of pasta (and hear them speaking Italian). Different types and fillings are available daily.

I hope they start to do a selection of accompanying sauces as well.
Susan

Give blood!

2011-01-28T09:31:00.000+02:00

The blood bank at the Corfu General Hospital is in desperate need of donors. The donation department is open every day at the new hospital at Kontokali from 8.00am to 2.00pm and again from 4.00pm to 8.00pm. The whole procedure, including a quick blood test takes around 20 minutes, and is on the lower ground floor of the hospital.
Sarah

We thought it was already a done deal

2011-01-28T09:28:00.001+02:00

I found the following announcement on the internet this evening, and have to admit that I thought Aegean and Olympic had already merged. Certainly there are fewer flights from Corfu to Athens and they are all operated by Aegean. I wonder if this will mean a return to competitive prices on our internal flights? We had all noticed that there seem to be fewer special rates since the disappearance of Olympic. I'm going to watch the Greek news on TV tonight and see if it is mentioned.

Greek airline merger blocked by Europe
A proposed merger of Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air has been blocked by the European Commission.

After a 10-month investigation, the Commission decided the tie-up of the two Greek airlines would lead to higher prices and reduced quality of service for four million customers.

The airlines said an opportunity had been lost and the decision would have negative consequences for the Greek economy.

Susan

Brrrr!

2011-01-28T09:25:00.002+02:00

It's not often in Corfu that I have to scrape the ice from my car, but the frost was thick and white on Wednesday morning when I went for my usual walk. The temperature in my area at 8.00am was 1 degree, which is pretty cold for Corfu. There was a sprinkling of snow up in Spartilas, and lovely snowy peaks on the mainland for us to admire.
Sarah

Every cloud ...

2011-01-18T08:25:00.002+02:00

The price of heating fuel has risen this winter - that's the bad news. The good news is that we don't need heating when the weather is so incredibly, gorgeously sunny and warm! Greece is fighting back - we may be broke, we may be the whipping boys of Europe, but the sun shines on and on. Long live Greece.

(Photo taken in Analypsis on Sunday.)
Susan

Hospital - follow-up visit

2011-01-17T08:25:00.001+02:00

When we left the hospital after our previous visit when the arm was put in plaster, we were given an appointment for 9am on Tuesday of the following week. All well and good, I thought...

Telling Diana and Susan that I would be back in the office later in the morning, we set off for our 9am "appointment". The double parked cars outside the hospital car park should have warned me that this was not going to be as easy as our last visit, but we carried on optimistically, found a space to park and headed off to the reception area to hand over our appointment confirmation. Without exaggeration, there must have been about two hundred people queueing at the reception, all clutching their IKA books and various bits of paper like ours. There were two queues, and a very stressed security man trying to keep control of the crowd, and we were pointed in the direction of the shorter queue - only about fifty people in this one! An hour and a half later, our bit of paper had been stamped, and we headed off to the radiology department for another X-ray.

Once here, there was comparative calm as the receptionist took the paper, and invited us to sit and wait until our name was called. This was fairly quick, only about ten minutes, and then another ten until the X-ray was ready to be collected and taken to the orthopaedic doctor to look at. Again, we head off to the orthopaedic department, only to find a throng of people surrounding the door into the examination room, and no receptionist to take our bit of paper. We waited another fifteen minutes or so, before I realised that as there was no receptionist you are supposed to shove your bit of paper at the doctor inside when he opens the door to let the patient inside come out. Hah! This must have lost us at least another half an hour, but we did eventually get called inside to the doctor.

The X-rays were scrutinised by the two doctors in attendance, and it was agreed that the fracture was healing nicely, and the plaster should stay in place for another four weeks or so. As loved-one was intending to fly back to the UK in a week's time, they quickly wrote out a "fit to fly" paper, so that he won't have any problem at the airports, and sent us on our way. All very efficient and professional.

So, be warned if you are given an appointment at the hospital on a Tuesday or Thursday morning in particular, as these seem to be the days that all the follow up appointments are carried out, and everyone has been given the appointment time for 9am. If I had to do it again, I would be at the reception desk by 8am to be first in the queue.
Sarah

Man in coma after fight over properties

2011-01-16T07:10:00.002+02:00

I saw this on an international property website, and it sounds rather like something from a comedy sketch ...

'It’s a problem most of our readers would love to have - buyers fighting over their properties and paying more than €600 just for a place in the queue to view the first phase.

A developer in a city close to Shanghai caused panic this weekend when it issued more queuing tickets than it had apartments available.

Dandy Holding Group Co sold approximately 660 tickets for the right reserve property in its 448 apartment block in Hangzhou. Buyers were put in 22 buses holding 30 people each, in lot order but when someone did the maths all hell broke loose.

Buyers confronted the developer and demanded lots were reallocated. When a representative from the developer refused a riot broke out and one man was put into a coma after being badly beaten in the ruckus.

If ever there was a story that illustrates a market is in crazy bubble territory it is this one. Calling the end of bull market is impossible but I would bet the house that the Chinese asset bubble will burst sooner than most investors are expecting.

If you can develop the contacts, targeting affluent Chinese overseas property buyers is a no brainer.'

Diana

More Medical Matters

2011-01-14T00:38:00.001+02:00

It's good to be able to make positive comments on the workings of the Greek system - Sarah's blog on the new hospital attracted quite a bit of attention, and my own recent experiences are equally encouraging. Admittedly I pay quite a large monthly amount into my "national health" insurance scheme, but needing medical attention this week I was able to go straight to the appropriate specialist's surgery, from there to the X-Ray man and back with the instant results to the specialist all within one hour and for the vast sum of 3 Euros! The Greek medical system, that allows immediate visits to the appropriate specialist really has many plus points - no waiting around in the GP's clinic and no subsequent waiting for a referral to the specialist. Corfu has a wealth of doctors' surgeries, many of them listed in the Yellow Pages and many of them affiliated with one or other of the national health insurance schemes which means that you usually pay nothing at all for a consultation. Even private visits are usually not likely to break the bank, 30-40 Euros being the normal charge.
Susan

Bird spotting

2011-01-13T06:16:00.002+02:00

This afternoon I spotted a really pretty bird which I've never seen here in Corfu before. Small, about the size of a sparrow, but with a long tail and a yellow breast, it was flying around the lane near my house.

Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough with my own camera, but I've identified it as yellow wagtail, probably en route to the UK for the summer.
Sarah

New Hospital

2011-01-06T11:11:00.000+02:00

I had the misfortune to test the new hospital at Kontokali this afternoon. Loved-one had an accident while having his olive trees pruned and the falling branch got the better of him. When I arrived on the scene he was nursing a bump on the head and with his left arm in great pain.

We set off (gently) for the hospital, parked in the lovely spacious car park and made our way through empty corridors to the accident department. A few people in wheelchairs were waiting outside, but we were quickly ushered through, saw a doctor who sent him straight to the radiology department for an x-ray. Again, attended to straight away, and after a couple of minutes we had the x-ray ready to take back to the original doctor. He called an orthopaedic doctor, who came very quickly and diagnosed a fracture and proceeded to put the arm in plaster and a sling.
All this took less than an hour and all the staff we saw spoke excellent English.

So far so good, Let's hope that the long awaited hospital continues to provide such brilliant service once the summer season begins and the population of the island increases.
Sarah

Christmas Greetings

2010-12-28T09:58:00.002+02:00

Wishing a particularly Happy Christmas to those wonderful people who broke into our office and stole our newly acquired large screen TV for displaying properties and some of our brand new computers. I do hope they enjoyed their free gifts!
Diana

The first logical explanation I have seen of 'What if the euro collapses?"

2010-12-10T23:31:00.002+02:00

Forex is one of the major currency exchange companies, and this article by Kathleen Brooks, Director of Research UK, Forex.com, is the first one I have seen which puts plainly the possibilities and options, as the financial markets see them.

'Europe's debt crisis is the first major credit issue to rock the currency bloc, but what if this becomes a currency crisis and could it lead to the end of the euro?

European lawmakers' piecemeal approach to the worst crisis in the monetary union's history is generating fierce debate about the sustainability of the project in its current form.

Bespoke rescue packages for Ireland and Greece are failing to placate the financial markets, who can see that it is not really targeting the heart of the problem and merely plugging a solvency gap with cheaper, short-term liquidity.

Each day that passes without a sustainable solution to Europe's heavy burden of (bad) sovereign debt brings us a step closer to a cataclysmic event — the collapse of the euro.

This may sound extreme, but the last three years have taught us that black swans are less rare than we may think. While we continue to believe that the euro will pull through this crisis, it is worth imagining how a breakdown of the euro would work.

If the euro falls the first thing European lawmakers would need to agree on is what form of alternative currency would replace the euro.

Two choices immediately spring to mind: the first is a return to the members' original currencies, so Italy would return to using the lira, Spain the peseta, Germany the Deutschmark etc. The second would be to create a new currency for Europe's weaker members.

The German and French public have in the past shown nostalgia for the franc and the Deutschmark, but restoring old currencies that were taken out of circulation eight years ago would be a logistical nightmare.

Lawmakers would need to debate and agree on new exchange rates for all of the 16 member countries. Also, due to the fragile state of some peripheral nations' economies, it may be necessary to wait for growth to stabilise before introducing the national currencies.

Reference rates would be necessary — for example growth or inflation targets — to ensure a smooth transition to a new method of exchange. This would be crucial and it could be a lengthy process, possibly taking many years.

If it was not handled with care then weak nations would be plunged into a debt-deflationary spiral as their currencies get battered in the markets in favour of the Deutschmark and French franc.

This wouldn't be good for France or Germany either, as it would make their exports less competitive and hurt economic growth.

Returning to national currencies also comes with a hefty price tag. Member countries would have to re-build the infrastructure necessary for managing their own currencies — such as central banks, mints and coin printing facilities.

The waste would be unimaginable. What would happen to the ECB, the European Commission? Could the economy of Brussels cope without being the centre of the EU?

It would also require a degree of political cooperation and decision making by eurozone officials that has been missing during the sovereign debt crisis.

On top of this there are also technical implications to consider such as updating calculators, keyboards and cash machines with the old currency symbols.

A more manageable situation would be the creation of a second-tier euro for the weaker peripheral nations with the core economies keeping the original euro as well as the ECB.

It would be more logistically manageable as it would already have a reference rate from which to value itself (the core euro) — at least for the early years.

The difficult thing to decide would be a name (it couldn't be too patronising) and whether or not countries could graduate up to the top tier euro if they reached a certain criteria.

Another weaker version of the euro would reduce the political cost: it would keep the union together.

It would also reduce economic costs since instead of doing everything 16 times you would only need to do it once.

A two-tier euro would also increase currency flexibility within the eurozone as one would expect the second tier euro to trade at a discount to the original.

This could help weaker economies get back on their feet and export their way back to growth.

It would also help rebalance growth in the European Union with the rich core countries buying up the exports of the less wealthy peripheral nations — this has been in reverse in recent years, much to the detriment of the peripheral nations' balance of payments.

But what about the expansion of the EU? What currency would the newcomers join?

Ironically, the countries preparing to join the eurozone probably have better financial positions than the troubled peripheral nations as they have had to adhere to strict fiscal rules (such as having a fiscal deficit of no more than 3% of GDP) in the years running up to their membership.

However, it seems logical that these countries would join the second-tier euro with the possibility of ascending to the top tier if they pass a number of milestones. This may not be the fairest option, but it would be the most practical.

Where does this leave the UK? The pound would most likely be clubbed together with the stronger European currency so we would expect to see sterling appreciation.

This could have mixed blessings. As long as the core euro was stronger than the pound, UK exports to the strong nations like Germany and France could receive a boost, while exports to the weaker nations would be constrained by the relative outperformance of the pound.

The end of the euro in its current form could also boost the pound's global position. In recent years the proportion of sterling in global foreign exchange reserves has shrunk. If the euro is split in two it may lose some of its appeal as a credible alternative to the dollar as a reserve currency, boosting the relative attractiveness of the pound.

Imagining the world without the euro is overwhelming and the above analysis is only scratching the surface. But while Europe's policy makers continue to disagree and bang the drum for their own self interests a cataclysmic event seems ever more likely.'

I liked very much the comments I have marked in bold about waste - waste in the EU, surely not! Political co operation - equally hard to believe!

All very interesting though.
Diana