I couldn't get time off work when it was our silver wedding anniversary in August but I did have a week booked off in October. We'd had a family bar-b-q on the proper day (never again). Had a word with m/in/law and she said she'd love to look after Alex if we managed to get a late holiday. Thursday 17th October we get a late deal through Ilkeston Coop. Bimingham airport Friday 18th 23:55 to Corfu. We pick the tickets up at the airport from the First Choice desk. We're going to Sidari, wherever that is, staying in the Hotel Aphrodite, bed and breakfast. It is teeming with rain and cold as we take off. We are flying with Air 2000. Enjoyable flight, Mission Impossible the in flight film with Tom Cruise. The pilot tells we are nearing Corfu and would soon be descending to land and to be aware that we are landing in a thunderstorm. As we descend through the clouds we can see the sight of lightning flashes all around us as if we've entered the set of Shakespeare's Macbeth. To our left is sea. To our right is sea. For those of you flying to Corfu for the first time the runway is in Corfu Town bay in the sea so don't panic. We land and make our way to the tour operator coach. It is teeming down all the way during the I hour coach ride over the mountains to Sidari. We arrive at the Hotel Aphrodite 5:45 local time. It is still raining. The street is dark. The hotel looks bleak and foreboding. We nickname the hotel receptionist Igor, his demeanor not the most welcoming. We are directed to our room along a dark passageway, number 12. Greek locks need to be turned double to open so after I work that one out we get into the room. Can't see much in the dim light but we're tired so decide to crash out. What have we let ourself in for? This wasn't a good idea, I tell myself before I drift off to sleep.

The view as we stepped on to our balcony

9:10  "Sam. Sun's shining." My wife informs me. The curtains are drawn but you could see the light from the sun beating through. I draw the curtains and immediately fall in love with the place. What I see is a large crescent shaped bay, bordered by mountains. The sandy beach meets the grass of the hotel garden. I slide back the patio window and step on to the balcony. The pool is two metres directly below.

The bedroom and bathroom are spotless. Breakfast finishes at ten it says in the  book so we went in search of the dining room. The dining room is a covered patio in the garden. Breakfast is continental but if you wish you can have extra from the menu. I'm hungry so I go for the 'full English' for less than £1. Two eggs, three rashers of bacon, two sausages , a generous supply of cooked tomatoes, two slices of toast and two mugs of coffee and I was ready for the day, Lyn was happy with the continental just like at home. The service is great and FRIENDLY. Is this really the same Corfu we arrived to last night or rather before dawn this morning. The sun is shining, not a solitary cloud in the sky so lets go and explore. Firstly, as we'll be eating out we check out the prices at all the restaurants, definitely cheaper than back home we'll discover the quality later. Beach walk, shoes off and a paddle in the warm water, hand in hand of course. Coffee time, no it's 1:30 already so it's time for a beer. We walk off the beach and sit on the patio of SEA BREEZE several tankards of cool Amstel a natter with Tony and his two daughters from Manchester and it was six o' clock, doesn't time fly when you're having fun. Time to go to the tour reps meeting at the PARADISE BAR. We listen to the speel, drink the free OOZO and decide to eat here after booking on the island tour on Wednesday. To give you an idea of the prices our meal was:

Stuffed tomatoes (10out of 10) and moussaka (10out of 10), garlic bread with peppered steak (accompanied by two large portions of Greek salad, you get this with every meal you have), two more oozos and two and a half pints of Amstel. Total price 4,500 drachma and once again the service was great and the atmostphere fantastic. So back to the hotel, we meet Janis the barman who looked after us throughout the week and also Tracie and Vaughn from Gloucester.

        Sidari during the day.

Sidari at night.    

It's warm again. After brekkie we decide to explore in the opposite direction to the locally known Canal d'amour (love tunnel) to be seen above (during the day) towards the foot of the picture. Albania is just over a mile away as we look out to sea. We stop for a coffee at a large hotel overlooking the Canal d'amour taking in the scenery. As in every restaurant, bar or bistro the coffee is good.

The love tunnel is so named in memory of young men who would, to show their love, swim to the love of their live through the tunnel, at times underwater, to the other side. Lunchtime approaches so we saunter back into town and dine at Olympia ( two doors from our hotel). We both go for pizza and it's 10 out of 10 again. Afternoon spent by the pool and a few beers. It's surprising how easy we find it is to relax without the kids, 1st time in 24 years. Despite our new found freedom we still make the obligatory phone call. A six minute call to England cost 2,600D, about £6:30 at this time. Definitely more expensive than the rest of the mediterranean. We eat out at the CAPTAIN'S TABLE. Chicken special, chicken curry extra chips and salad and two pints of Amstel= 4,250D 8/10. We meet the family from Manchester. As we are walking back along main street most of the bars have English Premiership football on the tele. Newcastle beat Manchester United 5:0. My day is made (I'm a Liverpool fan). We make it back to the hotel and have a few Amstels and a couple of METEXAS, a sweet brandy. Especially good night as I take particular delight in reminding the Bedford nine ( family from Bedford, England most of whom followed Man United) of the score.

The love tunnel can just be seen to the right of my shorts.

The area around Canal d'amour is a proverbial suntrap.

Day 3.

We awake just after eight, not a cloud in the sky. Couldn't help noticing the Bedford nine did not appear for brekkie hee hee. Have we really only been here two days. The whole ambiance of Sidari is so welcoming that we feel we've been here forever. We decide to chill out beside the pool all day, just popping out for a couple of kebebs and freshly baked apple pies (mmmm) from local shop for lunch. Really hot this afternoon but several cool Amstels seems to help. Paradise Bar Roast chicken with roast potatoes and 3 veg for Lyn, liver onions veg, roast potatoes and mushrooms 10/10, four Amstels and 2 lemonades=4000D. Have to say again I like the atmostphere here. Back to hotel for a gossip with a couple from Worksop (Nottinghamshire) until 2ish. Good day, really relaxing although I'm not so sure this would be ideal for kids. This place is ideal for couples hell bent on getting away from it all.

Day 4.

We hire a yamaha scooter out for the day, 4,000D. Not going to bore you with all the places we stopped at but to my mind it really is the way to see the island. ASTRAKERI, RODA, KASSIOPPI all beautiful vistas. Kassioppi really is picture postcard stuff. We circle back to the hotel for lunch and then set out in the opposite direction. By the way we see our first policeman in Kassioppi. We meet Tracy and Vaughn on mountain bikes and they recommend a visit to PERULADES later to watch the sunset. Onward to APHINAS via AVLIOTES and STEPHANOS where we stopped for a coffee and a 'chill'. APHINAS is a man made harbour, surrounded by very large rocks, very rugged coastline.

Just call me Max           Lyn, my babe

On our return journey we ride via PERULADES. Some of the scenery is absolutely stunning, especially the ride through the pine forest.

We arrive at PERULADES (SUNSET BEACH). There is a little cafe here where you can have a beer or coffee etc. while watching the sunset. The pic below does not do the view justice.

Island trip today. Early breakfast and board the coach 8:30 directly outside the hotel. It was the start of a tiring 10 hour day on the coach. However, I must stress that the resulting tiredness is worth every aching muscle. The guide on the bus never ceased the entire time describing the history and facts of every place we passed by. She was NOT boring or too loud so as to disturb you if you just wanted to stare out the window at some marvelous scenery.We pass KASSIOPPI, AGNISTINI,KENTROMA,NISAKI,BARBATI until we stop at PYRJI , a photographic opportunity of a beautiful bay overlooked by Gerald Durrell's home. Sorry but we only videoed this view. Next stop CORFU TOWN overlooking the bay. It is only then that we realise that the runway of the airport is actually surrounded by the waters of the bay. As if on que, a plane lands as we all drink coffee. Next stop the ACHILLION PALACE All I can say is WOW we even bought the book.

Just a couple of pics of the palace. A MUST VISIT.

The view from LAKONES

Across the country now to SINARADES and up the west coast for an hour and a half break at PALEOKASTITSA. Beautiful, enough said. On to DUKADES now and CORFU DISTILLERY. We sample the OOZO, brandy and we buy some wine. And now to the HIGHlight of the tour BELLA VISTA, LAKONES. The climb up the hill is an experience and the drive through the approaching village, only two inches either side of the coach space to the tall houses of it's main street. The view over PALEOKASTITSA is absolutely breathtaking.

Day 6

After the exertions of yesterday we decide to chill out by the pool all day talking, drinking, eating. The Bedford nine and our friends from Worksop do the same so we all 'put the world to rights'. A good day.

Day 7

Our last day and we eat at the restaurant next to the OLYMPIC who profess to sell the largest 'English style pies' wonderful meal. Next door we go into the bar that advertises a showing of The Nutty Professor.Couple of beers while we enjoy the film and back to the hotel to get changed, off to PARADISE and just about everyone we met during our stay here are there for their final meal. The atmostphere is great. Four and a half hours later we are off to the airport, which is packed. Great flight home. We watch TWISTER on the plane and with a tailwind we get back to Birmingham three quarters of an hour early. Perfect end to a memorable week. In Corfu we enjoyed everything about the place, especially the people who make you feel at home and at ease instantly. We will be back