Goodbye Corfu, Hello Parga

 This morning we got up too early.  We hurried to get ready too early, we packed our shit too early, we headed down for coffee too early, we went to get pastries too early, we got to the boat ramp too early.  The boat leaves at 10.  Not 9.   It was 8:30.  Too early.

We flipped around and found a parking place near the hotel to take back some drugs I bought last night.  They opened at 8:30 but nobody was there.  We walked in a circle and came back and they were open.  I upgraded to extra strength for 3 euro more.  We drove back to the bakery which was also now open and got the most amazing pastries in the world for a second time.  It was still too early.

We went to the ticket office to confirm the boat leaves at 10 and they gave us new tickets showing quite clearly when the boat leaves.

We went over to the boat ramp and waiting in line behind three trucks and a camper.  We ate our pastries and waited patiently.  The boat buys came out and told everyone to get on.  So my second time parking a car on a ferry boat, this time we were in the very back so much easier.  We went on deck and waited.  The boat filled up and at 10:03 on the dot the boat pulled out.  We waved goodbye to Corfu, not the last island on this visit, and hopefully not the best.

The ride uneventful hour and half to Igomentsia, and in that time I found out that the ancient site I wanted to go to was closed on Tuesday.  Boo.  So we skipped it and headed straight towards the Necromanteion, a creepy ass place that sits on top of a hill near the river Archeron, and apparently where they used to worship  Hades.  It was pretty rad and we dug it.

It was a short ride to Parga from there, but apparently we were not staying at Parga, but the Fanari, which is on the other side of a huge hill that we just walked up to see a castle.  It was a monster walk that we will both never do it again.

The hotel was right on the road to the beach, Valtos, and our hotel Valtos Beach Hotel, which spreads up the hill from the beach like a creeping moss.  There was a tiny spot in a tiny parking lot waiting for us, and the valle carried our backs to our rooms like a 5 star hotel.  The check in went wonderful and our rooms has a great view out into sea.

After stowing ours stuff we had a light lunch at the hotel bar.  It was fine.

Then it was time to tackle the giant hill up to the castle.  It didn’t take as long as it felt and the castle itself was pretty awesome and had lots of rooms and views and such things that most castles do.

After the castle we walked down the other side of the hill to Parga proper and walked around a bit before stopping for a snack at Captains Bar.

We then opted for the water taxi back around to Valtos Beach, 6 EU not bad, and are not chilling in the room until dinner.

We got out of the place too late to catch the 7 pm boat, I decided to break our #1 rule in Greece which is drive anywhere to dinner, but this case we had very little choice.  Hellenicon was the restaurant I picked out of many to go to and it was on the other side of town.  We hopped in the car and speed around the hill and cut through touristy Parga looking for a parking lot and found one for 7 eu.  The water taxi was 6, I’m just saying.  The guy put us in the corner and seemed a bit odd and as we were sitting there waiting for our food, I looked towards the door and saw a face that looked very familiar.  I told JW that guy over there looks like Evan from the Mavros Gatos.

GUYS!

HOLY SHIT.  We met Evan way back in 2019 at the Mavros Gatos in Navplion, and again in 2021, he’s a great guy and the chances of meeting him at this one restaurant in Parga on a Tuesday night, how fucking crazy.  The meal was just ok, really, I wanted Lamb, they were out, I ordered pork, they brought me chicken, it was fine, really fine.  Seeing Evan again, and in Parga of all places was a magical reunion.

We drove back to the room to chill.  Tomorrow Lefkada!