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Post by artisans on Jan 3, 2009 14:13:34 GMT 2
In the era of reducing baggage allowances, what can we leave out of our suitcases in 2009 that will help us stay within the limits? Our first thought may be 'do I need that extra pair of shoes, or a jumper in case it's cool at night', but just how many of us take food items with us that we simply cannot do without?
A couple of years ago I saw a group of girls at Manchester, off for two weeks in Corfu, and some of their suitcases were way over the limit. It was suggested that they should redistribute their contents and the largest case was opened. Shock!, Horror! it was half full of Pot Noodles and other 'foods' I did not recognise. Until then, I hadn't realised how many of us take over our favourite little treats - but is it really necessary?
I guess that, in the past, English tea, marmalade and baked beans were not available in Corfu, but today there are many local stores stocking all of these things. Unless you have special dietary requirements, there is no need in 2009 to bring anything with you. Our problem is the complete opposite - we find all sorts of things we want to bring BACK from Corfu - such as kefalotiri cheese, dried herbs and kritharaki pasta, simply because we cannot find them anywhere in the UK and they form an important part of our diet. This morning, James Martin used kritharaki (orzo or riso pasta) in one of his TV creations and it seems that we can now find it in our supermarkets. If I can find it, I can cross that off my list and reduce my luggage weight by 2kg.
It would be interesting to know what you bring with you to Corfu that you might be able to leave at home. Is it only the British who do this or do Dutch and German visitors do the same? Let us know what you simply cannot do without and maybe we can reduce your baggage weight this year.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2009 16:07:15 GMT 2
I would say the Germans were over packed with towels for saving the sunbeds, which we Brits throw away. Only joking of course, ;D ;D ;D ;D. I have always travelled light. Shorts, two decent pair, two beach pair. T Shirts, Short Sleeved Shirts, sandals, flip flops, underwear, toiletries. It must be from my Naval days where we had little space. I tend to wash things as and when used, which are dried by the next morning or a little later. Elaine is similar, but does as expected take a few things more. Friends of ours have been known to take 14 dresses, 14 swimsuits, 14 pairs of shoes, and more. Their cases normally go through the large suitcase system, and invariably they pay for it. Food, never taken any at all. Always go Greek, or wherever we stay, although I use to take a jar of marmite with me as the mozzies do not like it if you eat a lot of it. But you can get that there now I think. It is quite amusing what some people will take. What makes me laugh is when people are packing, and they asked via the forums can they get this and can they get that, as they do like to have their English comforts. However, usually the items asked for are in abundance on Corfu, or are of a foreign nature anyway. Tickles me that does. With such stores as Lidl's and Aldi's finding their way into such places as Corfu etc, finding sugar free food is much easier. Being a Diabetic myself, I have no problem when on holiday. Most foods in restaurants and tavernas are far more healthier, less fats etc, lots of vegetables, fruits. Oh yes, and I drink Ouzo and Sugar Free Sprite. Yeiamas, Chris
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Post by artisans on Jan 4, 2009 14:04:38 GMT 2
The good news, Chris, is that you can buy Marmite in Roda - it's a bit like the old adage about Colmans mustard - Marmite makes its profit from the unfinished jars that visitors leave behind in Corfu! We have one visitor who is a little indecisive - she can't decide what to bring for her seven-day stay - so she brings everything! I nearly put my back out getting her suitcase into the car and most of what she brings goes home untouched. The other problem is, with so much choice, she takes longer to get ready which steals valuable time off her all too-short holiday. So, come on folks, who will reduce their allowance this year - tell us which little treat you will leave behind! Steve
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Post by artisans on Jan 4, 2009 14:11:22 GMT 2
I'll start the ball rolling with my foodie problem for 2009. Last year, Nafsika, at Nancy's Corner, reminded us of the health benefits of Green Tea. When we returned to Heathrow in July, we bought a selection from Whittards and took them back to Corfu with us. Clearly, green tea is available on the Island, but it's mostly Liptons which is very expensive. My dilemma is - do I trust in being able to find a cheaper alternative, or do I take my favourite 'Tick-Tock-Tea' with me?
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Post by petra on Jan 4, 2009 18:07:32 GMT 2
I think it all depends on where you are going. If you stay in villages where the local people live througout the year, the supermarkets´assortment will be more wide/" bigger" compared to those in the typical touristsvillages. And there is the costs-issue. We always bring sunprotectionproducts from Holland because they are very expensive in Greece. We buy them at Aldi's in Holland or order it at Yves Rocher's, and Bernard uses special products because of his sunallergy (on doctor's prescription). Most of the things we used to bring from Holland to Greece many years ago, we buy overthere now because we can buy almost everything in the greek supermarkets. I am not sure about Roda, but in Acharavi a few years ago, we even bought (a piece of) Gouda cheese. So I do have to bring the cheese-"slicer" And I do bring my "Pickwick tea" too, dont know why...... About the prices, you just have to have a look around the shop, because the original greek products like marmelade/ jam are less expensive than the imported dutch or english ones, and they taste just as good!!!!!
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Post by artisans on Jan 5, 2009 20:38:47 GMT 2
Hi Petra - I feel that, in the UK at least, shops use the principle of 'the price of something is what someone will pay for it'. I find that in Greece, there is a standard mark-up across a whole range of products which means that UK loss leaders are more expensive but second-line goods can be much cheaper. Even in small villages like Roda, you will find a large selection of familiar northern European products at sensible prices and we are increasingly surprised at what we can buy in the village. Of course, there are exceptions but it is surprising how many products which are familiar to us have also, in fact, become popular in Greece. Gouda cheese is just one example. I used to supply materials to builders and, out of a range of 17,000 products, we found that just 20 were price sensitive. We reduced the cost of the 20, we increased the prices of 16,980 items and nobody noticed. In Greece, so far, I have not seen much evidence of this practice.
We also buy suncare products from Lidl, but I am also conscious of the advice that cheaper, unbranded sunscreens do not always provide the protection claimed. The cheapest is not always the best.
Steve
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tracy
Roda Enthusiast
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Post by tracy on Aug 29, 2009 3:04:58 GMT 2
The previous posts made me laugh alot, as i remembered food things that we brought to Corfu with us in the past.... Back in the 80's Spiros Banos was a fan of English Whisky, my dad used to pack a bottle for him every time we came (i now wonder why as i think Metaxa is much nicer) ;D Also in the 80's there was no big supermarkets in Roda so my mum always packed a couple of packets of frozen bacon so that she could cook us breakfast!!!! I noticed when i booked my holiday to Roda last week that if you reduce your luggage to 15k you get quite a good discount, so i wont be bringing any whisky or bacon ;D ;D
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Post by spanisheyes on Aug 29, 2009 13:55:27 GMT 2
I seem to remember in the early 80's when we first went to Spain by coach and on the French/Spainish border the coach was stopped by customs and they searched everyones hand luggage and guess what...........the guy in front of us had 10 kg of potatoes in his hand luggage I think that is going a bit too far ;D
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jacks
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,853
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Post by jacks on Aug 29, 2009 17:08:15 GMT 2
LMAO! Did he think that you couldn't get potatoes outside the UK! lol
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Post by artisans on Aug 29, 2009 17:49:16 GMT 2
There was a discussion on another forum recently that discussed what snacks & other food you should bring for children. One woman suggested Weetabix because you can now buy milk in Corfu! Steve
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