Corfu

The twin fortifications of Corfu

We sailed past the twin fortifications of Corfu into our port just before breakfast. In the morning, we had a choice of a scenic tour of Corfu or the Achilleion palace. We decided to do the palace built by Elisabeth, often called Sisi, wife of Franz Josef in 1891. She suffered from tuberculosis and would come here in the Spring and Fall until her assassination in 1898. The palace was later bought by Kaiser Wilhelm II, used as a hospital during both world wars and then a casino until 1994. Today it is a museum with furnishings from both Elisabeth and Wilhelm. The palace is named after Achilles and features several statues of him in the Gardens and throughout the house. From the gardens you can see across the 3000 foot mountain on the island as well as across the water to Albania. Corfu guards the entrance to the Aegean sea with Albania on one side of the island and Italy on the other. During classical Greek times, this was the 2nd most important city after Athens. Unfortunately, the island has been occupied by foreign powers throughout its history: Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Russian, English, French, and Germans. Today, the island is known for its kumquat liquor and marmalade as well as caramel covered almonds. The main square was built by the Venetians in the 16th century. Nearby is St. Spyridon Cathedral where we saw the remains of the saint including his velvet slippers which are replaced each year. Legend  has it that they wear down as he wanders the city at night.

 

Staircase in Achilleion Palace

In the afternoon, I toured the Old Fortress originally built in the 6th century by the Byzantines, but modernized by the Venetians in the 16th century.

 

In the evening we were entertained by a pair of Greek dancers. They did two different sets of dances and then got the crowd going. We couldn't help but laugh as we danced with hands connected under each other's legs. Then a couple of women were asked to leap up to the male dancer and he twirled them hanging upside down from his waist. Pretty wild!