pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
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Post by pete sant on Oct 30, 2008 20:56:15 GMT 2
For any first time visitor to Corfu, the "Grand Island Tour" is a great way to see the top half of the island. First thing to point out though is - do not book it through your tour company rep ! Instead use one of the local travel shops - the trip is exactly the same but you will pay almost double with the tour company. The tour takes you down the picturesque east coast with plenty of stops for photo opportunities. You then proceed to Corfu town, again with a photo break overlooking the airport runway, mouse island and the church at Vlacherna. Next stop is the Archillion palace where you get a guided tour and then time to walk through the gardens. You then cross the island for a lunchtime stop at Paleokastrista, where you will have time to go out bay hopping on one of the small boats - the tour guide will get this cheaper than you yourself can. After lunch you will visit the hill top monastery, then on to "belle vista" where you will see the most stunning views on the island - the last time we were there we actually looked down through the clouds to the 5 bays at Paleo. Your next stop is for refreshments and/or a bit of shopping at a village up in the hills before your return to Roda. The tour guide speaks excellent English and will keep up a very good dialog throughout the day. It is a bit tiring and perhaps not too suited to small children who may become restless spending so much time on a coach, but to get a feel for Corfu it is a "must do" day out Pete.
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Post by artisans on Oct 30, 2008 21:27:56 GMT 2
Great review, Pete, the village in the hills is Makrades, & if ever you get the chance to look behind the shops at the village itself, it is wonderful. We sat one afternoon in the bandstand and had a picnic, wandered down to the honey sellers and bought some walnuts, along to the little village of Krini, and then a more trying 'walk' up to Angelocastro - not with the wheelchair!! The view from the castle is spectacular - just another place to visit from Roda.
Steve
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Oct 30, 2008 23:07:29 GMT 2
Sounds like a great day Pete. One to consider when the kids are older. Nikki
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Oct 31, 2008 0:35:18 GMT 2
Makrades ! I was trying to think of the name for ages - it's been a few years since we last took the tour. One thing i have remembered - at the monastery, the men were ok in shorts & t-shirts but our better halves had to cover up any bare bits - they were given "shawls & skirts " to put on, i was laughing so much at the sight of Debbie & Yvonne that i could hardly take their photo ! But i was strong & managed to get one - will try to find the disc that it is on tomorrow so that you too can see the "Roda Gypsies". pete.
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Oct 31, 2008 0:38:56 GMT 2
Hi Nikki, your children are probally old enough to be ok, i'm sure Mellissa will give the tour guide a run for her money. ;D pete.
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Post by artisans on Oct 31, 2008 11:02:01 GMT 2
Pete - I've got some bad news for you Men are not OK in shorts & T shirts at the monastry Well not if the shorts are exactly that - SHORT A few years ago, I was made to wear a skirt to walk around the monastry, to the great joy of those around me. Maybe that was my first step on the slippery slope. The strange thing is, before you ask, that no photographic record exists. This was before we had a digital camera, and a photo was taken - every shot on the film was accounted for, but me & my skirt are not there. Julie is absolutely puzzled, not to say disappointed, by this unexplained phenomenon, but I believe it was Divine intervention. ;D By way of consolation, here's a pic of the monastry taken from the dizzy heights of Angelocastro: Steve
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Oct 31, 2008 11:25:29 GMT 2
You could be right there about Melissa Pete ;D While we're on the subject of monasteries, I thought I'd share one of my most embarrassing moments with you. Quite a few years ago we hired a car and drove up to the monastery (probably the same one) and when we got there some kind man offered me a skirt. Thinking he was trying to sell it to me I replied with a very polite Ohi Efheristo - you'd think I'd know better as I went to a catholic school. lol Nikki
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Oct 31, 2008 13:33:03 GMT 2
As i said Steve it's been a few years since we were at the monastery, i got away with shorts that time (phew). I can't believe that no photo of you in your skirt exists - what a dissapointment ! pete.
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Oct 31, 2008 15:50:58 GMT 2
As promised - here are the Roda Gypsies, if i don't put any more posts on you'll know that Debbie has killed me. pete.
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Post by gailie66 on Oct 31, 2008 16:00:15 GMT 2
Very glam LOL
A party of 12 of us visited the monastry last year we were all in shorts and t-shirts and no -one batted an eye.
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Oct 31, 2008 16:08:11 GMT 2
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Post by artisans on Oct 31, 2008 16:48:10 GMT 2
Hey, Pete - the one in the middle is wearing my frock!! Steve
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Oct 31, 2008 17:59:07 GMT 2
I'll have a word next time i see her & get it back for you. pete.
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Post by artisans on Oct 31, 2008 18:29:55 GMT 2
Thanks, Pete, it's getting chilly at night ;D
Steve
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Post by racheyr on Jun 30, 2009 10:24:16 GMT 2
I have been on the Grand Island Tour twice now once in 2000 and again in 2004. I enjoyed the 2nd visit a lot more as firstly I wasn't hungover and more importantly it was when my family came over to visit me for a week during my summer in Roda. Everyone enjoyed the trip, and I was mean enough to not tell my friend about the obligitory skirt and shawl!! I made sure I was wearing 3/4 length trousers and a football shirt lol The trip is definately worth going on and this year I will be recommending it to 2 of my friends who have never been to Corfu before.
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