Corfu is a strategic island. It is at the mouth of the Adriatic Sea, where the Adriatic empties into the Mediterranean. It also is within sight of both the Greek and Albanian coasts
Between 1000 and 1500 Corfu was one of the Venetians' most prized possessions. It allowed them to keep intruders out of "their" sea. We took a shore excursion that toured the Paleokastritsa Monastery and then made a circle tour of the island.
The Peleokastritsa Monastery was run by the Greek Orthodox Church and was wonderfully exotic. We enjoyed the flags and icons of the Virgin Mary, in Byzantine style, and the flickering candles and ornate decoration inside the church.
The devout made offerings of gold and silver. They worshipped at an icon of Mary and the baby Jesus with their heads surrounded by silver.
The Monastery was overrun with cats, lounging unconcernedly among the crush of tourists.
The Monastery is perched on a cliff thousands of feet above the sea. It is known for its gardens and its views of the sea. Our guide pointed out an island which, according to legend, is Odysseus' ship, turned to stone.
Our guide also pointed out a tiny village, high on the mountainside above us. That was our next stop.
On our way, we passed views of the sea and of Albania and Greece across the strait.
Lunch included Greek olives and feta cheese, as well as grilled meats and, for our fellow tour mates, the local wine.
Dave and I wandered around the little village where we ate lunch, checking out the orange trees and shops. One shop was labeled "cheap" to lure tourists.
We had time at the end of our tour to wander around Old Corfu. Each stop on our cruise had an interesting mix of historical influences. Corfu had a French/Italian feel, due to its 400 years of Italian occupation and its French occupation in the 1800s. We saw the ruins of the fort that defended Corfu in its fights with Turks, Venetians, Genoese, and French.
We saw tourists and residents lingering over coffee and pastries at the many cafes, and we wandered along narrow streets, looking for the specialties of the island--kumquat jam, olive oil, and Greek nougat filled with nuts.
We bade goodbye to our guide, who looked very Greek, and returned to the Celebrity Silhouette.
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