Date: Oct. 3nd-4th/2020
Place:Sukkot in Corfu
By: Lili Naveh
It is a peculiar coincidence that exactly during the holiday of Sukkot - the 3rd Jewish pilgrimage holiday celebrated for the last 3,300 years, during which we are instructed to sit 8 days in the temporary shelter of the Sukka, our vagabond family was actually fated to search for a provisory dwelling .
Sukkot holiday's tradition prescribes an heightened sensitizing of our people to the importance and essence of practicing humility, expressing gratitude and appreciating the "Sukkah of Shalom".
Having a “roof over our head”, not only serves as a "Sochech" - a mundane cover, a shelter, a modest lodging, but especially facilitates family ingathering, unity, and a blessed peace, which shouldn’t be taken for granted
If Sukkot commemorates the Exodus, the years of wandering, and the gradual transition from Egypt's slavery and desert's nomadic life, to liberty
in the land of Israel, absurdly, our family’s voyage, sadly seemed to be taking course in the opposite direction.
From the current, oppressive Israeli lockdown and limits on movement, we regressed back to wandering, in a foreign Island this time... inhaling brief relief of freedom, while in search of a transitory habitation...
The extensive search efforts for a temporary lodging, in the area near and far, all around the Delfino Blu, eventually yielded 2 affordable apartments, on the same beach, at a vacation rental property, right in the building adjacent to the hotel we stayed in.
We were the last guests to depart the hotel, which officially shut down on Oct 4th
"Paralia Suites" doesn't provide food services nor any other hotel utilities, but it is definitely a proper shelter, for which we are full of gratitude. This "roof over our head" is our "Sukka" during this changing transitory season, when almost all the accomodation around the island had been closing up.
"Paralia Luxury Suites" https://www.paralialuxury.gr/
Spiro + Stefano Vacation Rentals - Agios Stefanos
+30 695 1413327 +30 695 141 3327
++++++++++++++++++
Venturing out from Agios Stefanos, further exploring the southern villages of Corfu’s Western shore, we first stopped at
Agios Stefanos small Port
As already mentioned, the village’s harbor has a small quint authentic port from which boats' rides can sail around up and down the shore and to the nearby mainland . Also fishermen unload there the catch of the day.
Achis and his brother Achilles, both local fishermen whom we met at the port and befriended, promised to supply us with fresh fish whenever we call them.
The cove by the port
Driving down South from the Agios Stefano Port, on the Western shore, took us high up through very curvy roads dotted with Olive Tree groves, to a small most charming mountainous village, of about~ 300 permanent residents, on the top of a high cliff above the sea.
It is one of the highest located coastal communities of the island, approximately 300m high, from which most spectacular views of the beautiful Agios Georgios Bay, can be seen on one side, and on the other, the beach of Arillas .
Furthermore, the surrounding mountains of the island as far as Pantokrator, the highest mountain of Corfu which is about 20 km away can also be seen in a straight line.
Views toward the inhabited small islands of Mathraki and Othonoi can be seen as well.
Afionas is very оld villаgе with closed to traffic narrοw streets, alleys of cobalt stones, small gardens, lots of flower pots, and quint tourist shops and quint old small houses renovated and painted in bright colors - tуpicаl housing arсhitecturе of the island.
The main church of the village is Agios Ioannis which was built in 1636. Next to the church stands a monument honoring an officer of the navy.
Therе are а few tavernas аnd cafes at the сliffs, which is visitеd mаinly because of thе breathtаking views.
The cliff on whiсh Afiоnas is built, and whiсh is worth seeing, еnds with а small isthmus that has beаches with bays on both sidеs, саlled Pοrto Тimоni.
The beaches are separated by a narrow strip of land.The left one is called Limni and it has blue waters and the right one is Porto Timoni with darker waters
The twin bеaches' turquoise watеr against the small pebblеs, and the séa rocкs covered with grеen bushes, is the most exotic landscape scenery.
Portо Timοni is not visible frоm thе tοp of Afiоnas. In order tо seе and reach it one needs to hike on steep аnd narrow fоοtpaths, starting from the village on a hike taking apprоximatelу 30-40 minutes.
Researchers relate Porto Timoni to the Homeric city of Faiakes but, there is not enough evidence to prove this
During the walk down ruins of fortifications which were built in the Middle Ages in order to be protected from the invasions of pirates, can be detected.
Continuing on the same path towards the end of the peninsula, one can find the small church of Agios Stylianos inside a cave. The entire end of the peninsula is called the «Head of Mourgis», because its shape looks like a dog’s head
Archaeological findings demonstrate that Afionas was inhabited during the 6th century B.C.
Eхсаvatiоns at the capе next to the isthmus - Akrа Аrilla reveаlеd traces οf the Nеolithic periоd, assuming the plасе served as a hаrbοr in antiquity.
In Afiona we ran incidentally into a van service driver of an upscale villa,
who was waiting on his visiting guests
So if you wish to have a special secluded vacation in a renovated villa from the 19c very close to the Old City of Corfu, and don't mind the "modest" price of 1000 Euro per night, you may consider staying at this luxury place that offers a saltwater pool, a chef, a driver and cleaning services.
The Spectacularly stunning huge horseshoe-shaped bay, which can be seen from the Afiona's rock top , is tucked away, several miles down a twisty road.
Small hotels, bars, and tavernas, are set along the length of the sand and single beach, and a collection of private houses, are nesting on the back of the alleviated hilly landscape above it.
Behind them is a rolling countryside of fields, ancient olive groves and wooded hills.
It is one of the largest and quieter beaches of Corfu and so far the demands of the tourist trade for this little resort have not spoiled the natural beauty of this delightful bay
**************************
Babysitting, swimming, exploring, hiking, writing and reading and of course eating .. too much eating..keep us busy plenty
Happy Sukkot
To be continued...
Comments