Dress H&M, hat unknown, woven bag vintage Value Village, heels unknown (similar here on AliExpress)
Who, or I should say
what, influences you the most on picking the next location spot? It used to be
travel agencies or movies. Nowadays it’s the social media; to be specific
images we see on Instagram. We tend to pick those places that are most
photogenic rather then thinking which ones will bring us the most pleasure and
better experiences.
Yes, it may be cool, at
least for that instant when you post a beautiful picture on your Instagram feed,
to share a beautiful view from one of Santorini balconies. But before you spend
your hard-earned money on one of those expensive (and beautiful) villas, which
may prevent you from being able to afford next year’s vacation, you might want
to consider some alternatives.
One of the places
that may not be on top of the list for places to visit in Greece (especially
for those of us living in North America), is beautiful island of Corfu. Most of
the travel suggestions and Instagram posts tell us to visit either Mykonos or
Santorini, but Corfu will surpass your expectations.
My cousin suggested I
visit Corfu and as it was not on top of my travel list either, I had no
expectations. Sometimes, no expectations is a good thing right? So what
happened when my guard was down? I fell in love with this town and this island.
Instead of planned 4 days we ended up staying 9.
You go to Mykonos and Santorini and will spend most time with other tourists and taking pictures of all those photogenic locations. There is beauty in that as well, I fully understand. Unless you’re lucky to know a local like I do, you will hardly get a feel for Greek culture. If you choose to go to Corfu on the other hand, you will find beautiful city of Corfu, beautiful nature, amazing views, hidden beaches, and most importantly you will find an explorer in you and experience Greek culture. The most beautiful beaches, views, hiking trails and villages and towns are found in the norther part of the island. Make sure to rent a car and hop from one beach or village to another. When you get to La Grotta beach and bar you will find yourself speechless. Check out some images here and let me know what you think. Swimming amongst steep cliffs and in warm yet rough water, will leave you refreshed and happy. Enjoy watching (I say crazy) locals jump off the cliff or even beach balcony. If you stop to visit Angelocastro near village of Krini (and you must to get some spectacular views which I will share in the next post), make sure to stop and have a meal at the restaurant at the bottom of the castle. Prices are very low yet quality of food is high and portions are big. Everything on the menu is yummy but I highly recommend you try the chicken liver & bacon souvlaki.
As for Corfu city, it will not disappoint. It is quite different then many other Greek cities. This city and island in general, has sentimental value for all Serbians stemming from the WWI, and being that I am Serbian and have lived there half of my life, it is one of those locations I had to visit at some point in my life. I am happy that was now.
City is walkable so you can explore it in it’s entirety (I refer to the old town). Make sure you wear comfy shoes as this town is built on a hilly terrain, which gives it even more charm. You will find influence of Italian architecture as Corfu city was under Italian rule for a brief period of time. You will be charmed by it’s beautiful, narrow and sometimes steep streets (just make sure you don’t just stay on the main ones), great food, live music, beautiful castles and so much more. There are no (good) beaches in town which is the only “negative”, but try and spend couple of days in town then go visit the rest of the island. You will thank me later.
So before you book your next trip to Greece and choose Santorini or Mykonos, you may want to consider the alternatives; and Corfu is an alternative that will not disappoint.
I hope you also get to enjoy this on-a-budget outfit, which in total cost me less then $100 (CAD).
Ciao!
Sasha<3
He's such a poser <3
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