Kalimera, Good Morning Corfu! We arrived in port around 8 a.m. on a beautiful, warm yet hazy day. A little more sleepy this morning, as we lost an hour advancing to GMT-3, which will be the correct time zones for all future ports until we reach Naples. Today, we will be visiting the Old Town of Corfu, Achillion Palace and the Cathedral of St. Spyridon. Corfu, a Greek Island, lies between Italy and Albania in the Ionian Sea. I was very surprised to learn that the island is quite lush and green surrounded by cypress and olive trees, as well as many orange, lemon and kumquat groves. Therefore, the island produced some of the best olive oil and kumquat specialities, including kumquat liquor. 
We started our journey to Achillion Palace. The palace was designed in neo-classical style and was originally built as a summer palace for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria. She did not enjoy the formal life in Austria, so she spent much of her time travelling and vacationing in many wonderful places, including Corfu. The palace itself was tastefully decorated and 
displayed many furniture pieces when she lived there, as well as some items of the second owner Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany who purchased the villa after Elisabeth's assassination in 1898. The Achillion Palace obtained its name from a stunningly realistic statue of the 'Dying Achilleus' trying to remove an arrow from his heel. Here is a picture, however, the back side is more appealing, as his derriere is quite polished, I wonder why....?
The gardens surrounding the palace were exquisite and the view of Old Corfu Town and the sea were breathtaking. Just take a
look at how tall the cypress trees are. We later traveled into Old Corfu town, but not without a quick photo opportunity of Mouse Island. Legend has it that the island is actually a ship turned to stone. There is a 13th-century chapel set among the trees.We walked the streets of Old Co
rfu town, embracing the sights and sounds of cafes, merchants and the locals. It is a very quaint town where modern and past times complement each other. We entered the most important cathedral of Corfu, St. Spyridon, which is the island's patron saint. We were unable to take photos inside, however the 16th-century church houses the silver coffin of the saint, who was an early martyr-bishop from Cyprus. A Greek Orthodox church built in 1590, the bell tower is the highest in Corfu.
rfu town, embracing the sights and sounds of cafes, merchants and the locals. It is a very quaint town where modern and past times complement each other. We entered the most important cathedral of Corfu, St. Spyridon, which is the island's patron saint. We were unable to take photos inside, however the 16th-century church houses the silver coffin of the saint, who was an early martyr-bishop from Cyprus. A Greek Orthodox church built in 1590, the bell tower is the highest in Corfu. I made a few purchases in Corfu, including kumquat liquor, candied kumquats, Corfu olive oil and pure olive oil soaps made on the island.
Sunset Sailaway today and we are on our way to Katakolon!
