Corfu

There is a narrow passageway, the Kerkyra Straits, between Corfu and Albania; it opens into Ormos Gouvian and due south on the tip of crook in the island lies Corfu Town. As we approached the port at about 7AM [we advanced 1 hour at 2AM] the first sight was another Holland-America ship, The Oosterdam. Several giant ferries and smaller ships were occupying all the piers so it looks like we’ll be tendering into port as we did in Monaco. The surrounds look very much like Croatia. There are forests, red roofs in tree-lined neighborhoods, an old Byzantine fort, the occasional church tower and lots and lots of villas. We are going to be OOO [on our own] today.
We set out on foot after being deposited at the “new” port. We walked along the waterfront through the most intense humidity I have ever encountered. It was saturating and debilitating. We stopped at a small café for fruit drinks. There is a line called Pago, which is not unlike our Odwalla. They offer about 30 flavor choices. We continued along the waterfront to the Byzantine Museum, which is housed in the 15th Century church of Our Lady of Antivouniotissa. The collection features icons, paintings and artifacts dating back to the 13th Century. The church is at the top of three flights of marble steps that start at the curb of a one-lane road that hugs the high sea wall above the “old” port. We continued walking along the sea front as the air grew less humid heading for the Palace of the Saints George and Michael. It was the British lord High Commissioner’s residence in the late 19th century. It contains a 10,000-piece collection of Asian Art from ancient Indian bronzes to Japanese Ukiyo-e. Out the front past the fountain are the old cricket grounds and the Spianada, a great park with scores of cafes and shops. The side streets extended into the center of town and were packed with shoppers. We discovered later that there were 5 full-size cruise ships in port. Still, the temperature and humidity became more tolerable and we continued to explore this bustling city. There were as many fine jewelry stores as any other vender and each offered unique and beautiful creations. They seemed to be doing a great business.
We walked west into the center of town and caught a taxi back to the ship [10 Euros].