Hi All,
Been reading the forum for the past 2 months and as it's going to be my first visit to Arillas in a couple of weeks, thought I would say hello here first. I've travelled solo before, mainly to the USA, but this is the first time in Europe (and especially Arillas), so thought I would get myself prepared in advance - lol
Got lots of questions to ask, but will do that later, so firstly, Yamas to you all.
Welcome!
And welcome to forum from me too, Dave. We all have our own take on Arillas, but between us we can answer just about anything you ask.
Best wishes
Phil
Yammas Dave!! Hope you know what you've let yourself in for!! Welcome to the fold. Erm...and we need DETAILS lol x
Yammas Dave,
We will be in Arillas in a couple of weeks too. This will be our third visit to the most relaxing village we know. Hope you love it too, and enjoy the excellent forum. It does add to the holiday to have inside info on the facilities etc. Remember the wine festival is on around 6th September. Maybe see you there! Mo
Welcome Dave, lovely to have you as a member of the forum. Arillas is a beautiful little village and we hope you enjoy your holiday.
So ask away.....and someone will try to answer your questions. Now a question from me, where are you staying? You don't have to answer, but I am just nosy. ;)
Val x
dave ,dont go
or you,ll get the arillas bug that,ll make you wanna go back yr after yr ,just ask everyone ,,,lol,,,.yiammas im sure as are the others you will enjoy ,,chill go with the flow ,its not just about the place ,its also the people who make it so special, as well as being a lovely traditional village ,so enjoy..
Welcome aboard.
You have just picked the holiday for the rest of your life.
You have been warned.
Hi, Dave. Here`s hoping you become an `Addict` - just like the rest of us!!
Paul
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I better get answering those questions. I'm mid-40's and travelling on my own, arriving on Monday 2nd Sept for 10 days, staying at Annas Studios. I only ever go a shade of red despite trying sunbathing wherever I go, so if you see a slightly overweight lobster walking around, come and say Hi.
Never been to Corfu before and want to do a trip to Corfu town, but mainly I'm looking for lots of relaxation.
Really looking forward to some of the great dining I have heard about and to a drink in Malibu or the Nut in the evening, but can I ask if eating and drinking on your own (or at least walking into places) is considered ok in Arillas? Part of what always attracted me to the USA is that this is considered fine. I've a feeling from what I've read it should be fine?
Not a wine drinker, but that festival sounds good :)
Dave, You may be alone when you walk in but there is always someone who will engage in conversation.
your never alone long when in Arillas
You can book trips in the village, we often go into Corfu town for an afternoon/evening, we book with Arillas travel opposite the Coconut. plenty of time to have a look around and get a bite to eat.
Hi Dave, never worry about walking into anywhere alone in Arillas, you will receive a genuinely warm welcome. And even if you are not a wine drinker, don't miss the wine festival. It's a great night out...lots of greek dancing, and great souvlaki on the grill!!
You will find you are welcome everywhere in Arillas and it will not make any difference that you are visiting solo.Wine drinker or not i am sure you will find the wine festival a perfect way of joining with locals and visitors alike and getting a perfect feel of the friendliness of the people and the village.Enjoy your first visit which I hope will be the first of many Ron and Sue
Mention of the wine festival. Can anyone tell me when it is?
Dave, I have a simple recipe. If you smile, the whole world will look after you in Arillas. Strangers, friends, acquaintances, just smile. So many friendships started for us like that.
Anna (studios) Krasakis and her family of men are a key part of Arillas. You have chosen well for a first visit. If you turn right as you walk out, you can head for San Stefanos opposite Kostas Supermarket. About half a mile to walk to the left turning. Or turn left and head into the delights of Arillas. Go in the Coconut Bar and mention Phil and Jen.
Solo in Arillas is catered for. Drop shy, smile and say hello to people. As my dear friend (found through Arillas and the forum) JohnTheRef said, you will never be alone in Arillas, unless you want to.
Phil
Hello Dave,
We will be at Anna's (9th time) when you arrive. You'll soon spot me as I love chatting to other guests ...
Do leave time for a nightcap in Anna's bar, that's where we all meet up after our night "on the town".
Anna and her family are lovely, as are all the people of Arillas.
See you soon, H
Hello Dave and HH, we arrive at Annas on Sept 6th. Look forward to meeting you.
Dave, Diane and Terry,
Anna's could be a merry place when we all meet up! There will also be another couple there who we met last year.
You'll spot me on the back of our scooter ...
This time next week we'll be at the airport hotel and in Arillas the following lunchtime. By the time you arrive we'll be in true Arillas mode.
Look forward to sharing a drink or two with you. HH
We'll be in time for our usual "nightcap" too!!!!
Diane, are they the very delectable shots that Anna makes? Usually very alcoholic, creamy and chocolate? Or are they the Black Russians "with very little Coke in the glass?"
In my mind just now I am sitting by the bar in Anna's, laughing with a stranger, someone I met not half an hour earlier, comparing our day in Arillas and agreeing what a wonderful day we had. But then I realise it is memories, because I, and many of my friends have done that for real.
Phil
Hello Phil, it's a choice between G&T, a large glass of wine or one of Tassos delicious cocktails. Terry is a real ale drinker and likes the red Label Corfu Beer. Which reminds me......Brewery Tour.
I'm not jealous...
Jen only likes real ale. The only beer to get anywhere near it is that one, But it isn't a deal-breaker for her. She loves Arilas as much as I do. It's just that I never stop talking about it that gives her grief.....
Yammas, Kalinichta
Phil
Lisa & Steve the Arillas wine festival is on Sept 7th.
Hi Dave, Diane and Terry and HH
We will be at Anna's too - 26th to 9th for our 7th (we think) visit. We will be joined for the first time by our daughter and son in law so very excited.
Look forward to meeting you all.
Hello Jean,
It will confuse Anna when many of her guests appear to "know" each other!
Bit of a race on to see if you arrive first on 26th ...or perhaps we'll beat you to the bar.
We had three weeks with Anna last year and our daughter joined us for one of those weeks. Glad to say she loved Arillas and fully understood our reasons for returning (year after year). Bet your family will feel the same. HH
Wow, I've been away for a day and came back on to find that there are now 4 groups that will all be there, at Annas, at the same time, I am so looking forward to meeting you all at some point and enjoying a nightcap. I love White Russians (the drink - lol), so hearing about those cocktails makes me want the 2 weeks to pass by even quicker so I can be there :)
Ah, this sounds so familiar to me. I will never forget meeting Dave and Anne on forum, then for real in Arillas. They invited us to Tria Adelphia one evening, and along with them were a football ref John and his adorable wife Dot. By the end of the evening a new friendship had been born. This was in 2008, 5 years ago.
We walked back to the corner, and they went off up to Christos apartments. We were staying at Anna's, but headed for the Nut. Since then we have shared many joyous times together, including here in England. We usually visit table 13 at Brouklis on the night the second pair arrive. And we will next year.
But this is only one story of how friendships develop in the heady atmosphere of Arillas.
Phil
Phil me old mate.
What a great evening we had at the Tria. the first of quite a few good evenings we have shared in Arillas.
Our Brouklis evenings have been evenings where we have had fun and laughed lots. Memories of Noufris asking us if we remembered Nikos the guy who used to work there (Nikos had only just left to start his new venture). The evening I had the Ice cream with the candle in it (think the boss had something to do with that)
The time you got the couple walking past to come inside and they ended up eating there. The surprise arrival of Marika (motorbike helmet in hand)
To think it all started on the forum when we used to get together in the old chat room.
We have a lot to thank that chat room for.
More Brouklis evenings to come.
And to all you people who will be at Anna's, get yourselves together for an evening, enjoy good food and drink, start a friendship that you may only share when in Arillas, but I will guarantee it will become a friendship that will last forever.
Dot and I can vouch for that, and so can Phil and Jen. (Along with a great weekend down at Baltonsbrough) thanks for having us round
I apologise in advance for treating this topic like a social network. But I got into so much trouble with Dimitris for dragging people in off the street. I blush whenever I think about it. They just don't do that! My only defence is that while I chatted to them, smoking my fag away from the diners, the couple told me they were going to Kostas on the Beach, but had changed their minds after such a warm welcome, and they ate at Brouklis.
I guess the point is Dave, that you will be amazed at the atmosphere you will be breathing. I bet you spend quite a few happy evenings at Anna's pool bar, basking in the warmth of the welcome you will receive from both locals and tourists.
Phil