Post by artisans on Apr 28, 2009 19:05:20 GMT 2
Getting to Roda is a fairly simple affair with tour operators providing transfer coaches directly to your accommodation. For most of, this journey is the start of the unwinding process after a busy 24 hours.
Many regular visitors to the village come for up to six or seven weeks each year and book their rooms independently of the travel companies. These people know that it is a lot less hassle to pre-book a taxi with a local company, like Alfa, and 45 minutes after collecting their luggage from the carousel, they are ‘back home’ in Roda.
There is, of course, a third way of getting to the village. Those who like to travel around the island a bit will arrange with a local hire company to have a car left at the airport to drive themselves to Roda. It is not difficult when you know the way but the first part of the journey, through the back streets of Corfu Town, can be a bit daunting the first time around. For these people, we are going to list a few points to look out for.
First of all, it may sound obvious, but don’t forget that you need to drive on the right. It’s useful to get one of your passengers to keep an eye on you to start with. Back seat drivers will enjoy this!
From the airport building it’s just a short distance to the first ‘T’ junction at the end of the runway. Here you need to turn left through the gap in the central reservation. Another 300 metres and you need to turn very sharp right at the first set of traffic lights – beware of oncoming traffic at this point.
You are now heading into Town and after two or three minutes on this road you will pass an EKO petrol station on the right. Soon after, you will see a corner kiosk with a red canvas roof on the left and a Vodafone shop in front of you. Turn left across the traffic, immediately in front of the kiosk. The road is narrow and uneven at first, but don’t worry.
These streets are quite busy with lots of parked cars. Pass the school and, after 200 m, turn sharp right – ahead is No-Entry. Another 300 m and you will join a one-way road coming from the left and then turn immediately left in front of the Hospital. From the kiosk to this point is less than half a mile.
Just after the Hospital there is a fork in the road by some bell towers. Keep to the left fork even if your instincts tell you otherwise. Soon, the road veers to the right and you are then on to the main road out of town. It’s still busy here but soon you come to a major set of traffic lights where the road from the port joins from the right. Keep straight ahead and you’re on to a dual carriageway which is the Paleokastritsas Road feeding the north and west of the island. The speed limit here is 70 km/hour, so take your time. Traffic lights are a bit different, so be cautious.
5 km or so farther on and you come to the end of the dual carriageway by the turning for Dassia. Keep straight on for Paleokastritsa until you are out in the country and you will come to a major right turn signposted for Roda & Acharavi. Signs are bi-lingual, so don’t worry. Turn right and soon you will start climbing up to the village of Skripero. There is a set of lights here allowing only single flow in either direction. The maximum wait is about 3 minutes.
From here it is a short run, with a few sharp bends, up to Troumpeta. This is the village at the top of the pass and it’s all downhill from here. You will wind around a series of sharp bends and the scenery is spectacular but just concentrate – it will still be there later! Just after the builders’ yard, there is a very sharp right turn signposted ‘Roda 15’. It is about 9 km since you turned off the Paleo Road.
Go slowly here and soon you will pass a Shell garage and a quarry. A kilometre or so further on and there is a right turn for Roda & Acharavi with a glass merchant facing you on the corner.
2 km further on and you will pass a log cabin on the left. The road bears right over a bridge and the best route is to turn left here for Agrafi & Karousades. If you go straight on you will still arrive at the same place. If you turn left, the next decision is at Agrafi (about 3 km) where you turn right for Roda, just 6 km away.
As you approach Roda, the road brings you to ‘T’ junction right on the main traffic lights for the village. Turn left and you are there. Well done!
We don’t want you to leave, but next time we’ll repeat the process and get you back to the airport in time for your flight.
Many regular visitors to the village come for up to six or seven weeks each year and book their rooms independently of the travel companies. These people know that it is a lot less hassle to pre-book a taxi with a local company, like Alfa, and 45 minutes after collecting their luggage from the carousel, they are ‘back home’ in Roda.
There is, of course, a third way of getting to the village. Those who like to travel around the island a bit will arrange with a local hire company to have a car left at the airport to drive themselves to Roda. It is not difficult when you know the way but the first part of the journey, through the back streets of Corfu Town, can be a bit daunting the first time around. For these people, we are going to list a few points to look out for.
First of all, it may sound obvious, but don’t forget that you need to drive on the right. It’s useful to get one of your passengers to keep an eye on you to start with. Back seat drivers will enjoy this!
From the airport building it’s just a short distance to the first ‘T’ junction at the end of the runway. Here you need to turn left through the gap in the central reservation. Another 300 metres and you need to turn very sharp right at the first set of traffic lights – beware of oncoming traffic at this point.
You are now heading into Town and after two or three minutes on this road you will pass an EKO petrol station on the right. Soon after, you will see a corner kiosk with a red canvas roof on the left and a Vodafone shop in front of you. Turn left across the traffic, immediately in front of the kiosk. The road is narrow and uneven at first, but don’t worry.
These streets are quite busy with lots of parked cars. Pass the school and, after 200 m, turn sharp right – ahead is No-Entry. Another 300 m and you will join a one-way road coming from the left and then turn immediately left in front of the Hospital. From the kiosk to this point is less than half a mile.
Just after the Hospital there is a fork in the road by some bell towers. Keep to the left fork even if your instincts tell you otherwise. Soon, the road veers to the right and you are then on to the main road out of town. It’s still busy here but soon you come to a major set of traffic lights where the road from the port joins from the right. Keep straight ahead and you’re on to a dual carriageway which is the Paleokastritsas Road feeding the north and west of the island. The speed limit here is 70 km/hour, so take your time. Traffic lights are a bit different, so be cautious.
5 km or so farther on and you come to the end of the dual carriageway by the turning for Dassia. Keep straight on for Paleokastritsa until you are out in the country and you will come to a major right turn signposted for Roda & Acharavi. Signs are bi-lingual, so don’t worry. Turn right and soon you will start climbing up to the village of Skripero. There is a set of lights here allowing only single flow in either direction. The maximum wait is about 3 minutes.
From here it is a short run, with a few sharp bends, up to Troumpeta. This is the village at the top of the pass and it’s all downhill from here. You will wind around a series of sharp bends and the scenery is spectacular but just concentrate – it will still be there later! Just after the builders’ yard, there is a very sharp right turn signposted ‘Roda 15’. It is about 9 km since you turned off the Paleo Road.
Go slowly here and soon you will pass a Shell garage and a quarry. A kilometre or so further on and there is a right turn for Roda & Acharavi with a glass merchant facing you on the corner.
2 km further on and you will pass a log cabin on the left. The road bears right over a bridge and the best route is to turn left here for Agrafi & Karousades. If you go straight on you will still arrive at the same place. If you turn left, the next decision is at Agrafi (about 3 km) where you turn right for Roda, just 6 km away.
As you approach Roda, the road brings you to ‘T’ junction right on the main traffic lights for the village. Turn left and you are there. Well done!
We don’t want you to leave, but next time we’ll repeat the process and get you back to the airport in time for your flight.