3 and 5, 35....

....refers to the maximum daytime temperature when we (Alan, Russell and I) arrive in Corfu Town. Mind you, after 3 months of exceptional weather in London, we should be used to it by now! The host of our apartment picks us up from the airport and we are there in minutes and 53 steps upwards, we are ensconced.

And here is the view from our balcony the next day. Corfu Town is as historic as it gets on the Greek islands. It resisted attacks from the Ottoman Empire but after the British had a hand in releasing it, had a hand in constructing elegant French-style streets and palaces. Human life is active as well, at least in the cooler hours of the day. But there is sadness as well, with the synagogue commemorating the deportation of 2,000 Jewish citizens during the German occupation of World War II.

After a couple of days we take to the buses---not very frequent but punctual when they do run. Our first port of call is Benitses, a beach resort which, I have to admit, is underwhelming. Better experiences can be found at Palaukastritsa on the north-west coast, watching the turtles. And we take a day ferry to the island of Paxos, which has an attractive harbour and a number of historic buildings.

The best surprise for last: it's reached by another bus trip, to the palace of Achilleion. This too has a touch of sadness because it was built on the orders of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria, after the double suicide of her son and his lover at Mayerling. She proceeded to lead a solitary, itinerant life until her assassination in 1898. But there's no denying the tranquillity of the garden (the palace interior being closed for restoration) with its Classical influences.Read more