'Vivre la Vie'

Having woken late on my first morning, I decided to set my alarm for the sunrise which actually isn’t that early here, according to my iPhone app. Sunrise is noted as 6.50am but I set my alarm for 6am to make sure.

I had read that the sunrise was something to behold and I wasn’t disappointed. It really is something truly spectacular, in fact so special, it made me cry.

At that moment I felt so incredibly lucky, grateful, and blessed:

public.jpeg


public.jpeg
public.jpeg
public.jpeg

This sweet little guy joined me at sunrise for a brief moment, but ran off very quickly. I have decided to call him Gizmo, as his ears seem far too big for his tiny body and he reminds me of the furry character in the film ‘Gremlins.’

public.jpeg

I was looking forward to a day on the beach, swimming, sunbathing, reading and soaking in the atmosphere. I had brought a small cool bag with me, a reusable ice block and an inflatable’ Lilo Lounger’ I’d ordered cheaply on Amazon, that I could leave for the next person if it survived.

I made myself lunch and filled up my Chilly Bottle (other bottles are available, I just love these ones) with cold water and ice cubes (I had also bought my small silicone CB ice cube tray with me). These items have been brilliant, the bottle invaluable in keeping water cold in the scorching heat and the ice cubes surprisingly whole for long periods of time.

Arriving at the beach (five minutes away) I was immediately pleased with myself that I had the foresight to bring a lilo, as it is a pebble beach. Think Brighton with sun.

I am completely contented with this, as let’s face it, sand looks beautiful next to clear water and it feels incredibly romantic, as it lays gently caressed by the golden, shimmering, sun, but it’s not practical!

Sand gets in your food and it causes acute discomfort. Who hasn’t felt the pain of sore toes when sand rubs between them, when you ‘eventually’ manage to put your sandy wet flip flops back on after swimming? Not to mention the nooks and crannies it gets in on your person. No, pebble beach for the win!

Although I have to admit there were two little hiccups to my beach day. The first being, that pebbles make an exit very tricky, more fairy elephant than graceful gazelle. I have now invented a manoeuvre which makes it slightly better. The Corfu Bum Shuffle, which means I basically shuffle my bum as far as I can along the pebbles in the sea before emerging. I still look ridiculously ungainly but for a shorter amount of time.

The second which actually felt more like an epic fail on my part was forgetting the spoon for my Greek yoghurt. Epic because I was really looking forward to eating it, especially as it would have been sand free.

I had a lovely day in the sun. The Adriatic sea was calm and cooling and not once did I feel alone.

So, having learned my lesson, when I returned late afternoon to the apartment, I showered, changed, and headed into Benitses. It was around 5.30pm, I had a pleasant walk and followed The Green Cross Code so as not to endanger my life anymore than was necessary. I was again beeped and heckled and have been every early evening walking to Benitses. There is a difference now, it being light, it doesn’t faze me, it annoys me that as women it is something we are subjected to, but like an irritating fly, I swot it and move on.

Finally, my first dinner in Greece! There was always going to be one first choice for me, my favourite Greek dish which I make at home (not as well) is Moussaka. I absolutely adore it. When I saw the open air Taverna with the following name, it was a no brainer for me:

public.jpeg

I was fourteen years old sitting in Mr Jones’ English lesson when I read ‘My Family and Other Animals’ by Gerald Durrell. I remember thinking that one day I would experience the magic that he felt.

Oddly, I imagined myself alone there. I have always remembered the enchanting description of Corfu:

“The sea lifted blue muscles of wave as it stirred in the dawn light, and the foam of our wake spread gently behind us like a white peacock’s tail, glinting with bubbles.”

‘Spiro Hakiaopulos’ is a central character in the novel. So eating at this spot was perfect, as was the Moussaka.

public.jpeg

I do not have a problem eating alone, it seems to me it’s only others that do.

I have always thought that older French women are the epitome of strength and independency and that they embody life. However, the fact that I was dinning alone seemed to irritate the mature lady on the opposite table. My very poor French allowed me to understand that she was commenting disapprovingly on my solo dinning. I smiled but she did not smile back. You win some, you lose some.

Dinning alone in Greece is very different to dinning alone in England, something I do quite often. In England waiters and waitresses seem far more helpful and attentive, in Greece, I am largely ignored. In some ways this is wonderful as I really don’t want to be hassled but in others a little disappointing.

Before this trip many friends and colleagues have told me how hospitable and friendly the Greek people are. For me, this has not been the case. I have however witnessed this when families are present, the waiters are charming and interested. It is so strange how you see such a different perspective looking from the outside in.

I am not saying that people have been completely aloof, I have been met with Grecian smiles and perhaps they are just respecting my privacy when eating. It’s just when they do engage, it is not what I expected.

Nevertheless, each day I am falling a little more in love with Greece.

Tomorrow I shall visit Corfu Town, I wonder what awaits?