Two Passports

Never go on trips with anyone you do not love

No plan at all in Corfu, which is exactly when the hop-on bus earns its keep — and an open-air evening of Corfiot music to finish.

By

chrisandjenmoss

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Hop On, Hop Off through Corfu

We arrived on the shores of Corfu, Greece with nothing planned for the day. One of our go to tips for travel include the ubiquitous red hop on hop off double decker sightseeing buses. We get it, you’re thinking that sounds cheesy, which it is if you interpret it as only a sight seeing bus. We use it as an affordable all day arrives every 15 minute taxi service for a reasonable one time flat rate.

A café terrace of pale wooden chairs, stools and low tables, with a dark tabby cat stretched out asleep along one of the benches.
Corfu, mid-afternoon

We started at the cruise port and took the red line down to Kanóni to enjoy the views and a morning Greek coffee, as well as some plane spotting. The Corfu airport juts out into the adjacent bay that is crossed by a walkable causeway where you can watch the planes flyover and inhale all the jet fumes you like.

An aircraft on final approach into Corfu, low over the lagoon, with the wooded islet and the long jetty at Kanoni below it.
The approach over the lagoon

We visited the Vlacherna Monastery situated just off the small marina at the base of the hills before hopping back on the red line to search for some lunch. We hopped off at Mon Repos Beach and settled in at a waterside cafe to enjoy a bottle of wine, fried squid, and grilled octopus.

A cobalt blue wine bottle standing in a stainless ice bucket on a table, the cork resting on the cloth beside it.
Something cold, eventually

After lunch we hopped back on and hopped off near the old town. There we strolled through the streets picking up a few things along the way before following the waterway back to the ship.

A narrow street in Corfu town running between apartment blocks, with the walls of the Old Fortress on the hill closing off the far end.
The fortress at the end of the street

Back on the ship the passengers and crew were busy preparing for on of Azamara’s signature events, the AzAmazing evening. Most of their voyages include an event away from the boat focusing on local culture. For this voyage, we were treated to one of Corfu’s philharmonic orchestras playing traditional Greek music accompanied by a local dance group. The event was held in the town’s square and extremely well organized.

An open-air evening concert: rows of white chairs filled with an audience facing a lit stage where performers in white are lined up under a lighting rig.
AzAmazing Evening — Corfu’s musical traditions

The evening ended with snacks and music back onboard as we sailed off to Katakolon.

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