After breakfast and a nice, light talk with the innkeeper about the economic troubles and taxes and the predatory US banking system, (seriously. The debates here are not at all mean or contentious; no name calling or threats, just a quiet, thoughtful, serious discussion) we were off on a bus to Ioannina, on our way to the island of Corfu.
At Ioannina we had an hour layover then took the bus to Igomensita, and waited 45 minutes for the ferry over to Corfu. This was the easiest part of the trip so far, as everything was well signed in English, German, Italian and French.
However, back at Ioannina it was all Greek, and as the time drew near for our bus to the coast, I walked from driver to driver (like the Pied Piper, about 12 English speaking people, mostly from Israel, followed me) asking, “Igomensita? as they pointed me this way and that till one driver smiled.
I listened through two episodes of NPR podcasts, and read a chapter of my latest book, a depressing one called Nickle And Dimed. I should know better than to read about the US economic situation while here on a trip.
Anyway, the ferry to Corfu (just right over there! I mean, I can see it just offshore… hell, I could practically swim there.) is one hour, and now I know why. In the Greek Islands we rode on the Flying Cat or Leaping Dolphin or whatever. This boat is the Lumbering Elephant. At least it is taking us to Corfu, with its old town and, we hear, great beaches in the little town of Benitses where we are staying.
We disembarked and caught a taxi (Sunday: busses hardly run) to our simple but charming guest house, back a block off the beach. It is hot again today: 36 degrees. We ate a large, late lunch/dinner for a couple hours then wandered around. Tomorrow morning we go into the main town then back to our beach.