Tuesday 28 July 2009

Have a look at Corfuland's very first webcam!


Corfuland has installed a webcamera at Cafe Floisvos in Kanoni area. Being in a trial period, the gives you a good view of Vlaherna chapel, which is the most famous landmark of Corfu. The image refreshes every few seconds. To log in, enter "corfuland" as the username and the password.

To view the cam just click HERE

Sunday 26 July 2009

Issos beach: An african place in Corfu

Issos beach is the only place in our island where you can swim by giant and vast sand dunes, giving you the feel that you are somewhere in Africa. The lack of extensive touristic development (which is so present in other corfiot beaches) results in crystal clear waters and in an unspoilt enviroment. The northern side of the beach is a nudist beach, while the central and the southern part is more popular and busy. In the southern tip, the tourist village of Agios Georgios is located, where you can find some restaurants and bars. There is a small harbour too. Also, immediately east of Issos, there is lake Korission with its protected wildlife.

In conclusion, Issos beach offers you a relaxed and quality swimming and sunbathing experience. There are a lot of watersports too. You can also hire a wind surf board or do some kite if there is the appropriate wind.








Thursday 23 July 2009

The Durrell's "Daffodil Yellow villa" in Kontokali

Tourism in Corfu would have been different without the famous G. Durrell's novel "My family and other animals". Gerald Durrell lived during his childhood for a few years with his family in Corfu. He and his elder brother, Lawrence, quickly adored the sheer beauty of then unspoiled by the massive tourism, Corfiot landscape. He begun exploring the local flora and fauna and started connecting with some of the local people.


Durrells lived in many grand houses during their four year long stay in Corfu. One of them was the so called "Daffodil -Yellow villa" in Kontokali. Recently, I decided to go for swimming just outside the villa, which is still inhabited by a rich local family. Its premises are clearly visible from a good distance. It is four storeys tall and the perimetre of the premise is marked by a tall wall. The villa also is surrounded by a small pine forest in which various kinds of birds reside.
The villa has a venetian style. Probably it was a property of a venetian rich landlord who may have owned vast pieces of land around Kontokali in which olive trees have been cultivated(venetian Corfu had a feudal system - like most places in Europe in the Middle Ages and before the French Revolution.

In my opinion, this house is one of the most beautiful and splendid residences still standing in the island. It reminds us that Corfu was a place which many people from different cultures have been living together, enjoying the beauty and the quality that Corfu offered.