Due to an unforeseen electrical problem we were obliged to spend 2 further nights in Corfu’s Gouvia Marina to get it fixed, and this we did with impressive efficiency by the local Marine company.
We opted for another trip into Corfu Town to visit the rather impressive forts that proudly guard the town and we did not want to leave Greece behind without another mention of Corfu Town. As described before the town has a lot of character and charm in its labyrinth of narrow streets. This time we headed for the fort and discovered a different part of town and once again enjoyed stunning Venetian style buildings, large squares and narrow streets with surprises around each corner.
The Old Fortress was worth visiting, although the lack of any kind of information about its history was staggering. We had to gen up after the visit!
Built in Byzantine times on a natural peninsular, the Venetians turned it into an island during the 15th century and successfully held out against several onslaughts by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. The British has a presence 1815-1864 and thereafter, when Corfu became part of Greece, the fort was little used. During WWII the island was occupied by the Italians and then the Germans. Many internal parts of the fort were destroyed at that time.
We left Corfu on Monday 25th June, having checked out of the country officially, and we headed north.
We cleared the top of Corfu and set about tacking in the Westerley wind to the first of the Diapondia Islands, Erikoussa. Here we anchored in Porto Bay for the night – we could not of course go ashore! – in preparation for an early start north through the straits of Otranto to Albania.
Deja Vu 