Hello shelleylou,
The Canal De Amour is in the Melitsa area about 500 m North of Sidari. The natural sea and wind has eroded the rocks into weird shapes. The name Canal De Amour comes from the belief that swimming through a natural archway that has now vanished brought eternal love.
Further on from the Melitsa area is Peroulades, an ancient traditional Greek village wrapped in a time warp. The village is unspoilt with a maze of alleyways, mansions and tiny old cottages dating back hundreds of years. Take a stroll round and do stop at the traditional taverna Yiannis.
At the far end of Peroulades is Longas Beach (also known as Sunset beach). Personally I don't rate the beach at all but it is really worth a visit to the Panorama restaurant/bar on the headland overlooking the beach. Well worth an evening visit for the fantastic photo opportunities.
Cape Drastis about 2 km past Peroulades and tricky to find. The walk from Sidair takes approximately 1hr 15 mins. Down in the tiny cove there are amazing rock formations...a one time favourite spot for smugglers boats!
Avliotes is my favourite village! I love it because it?s lively, it?s thriving and it?s a real village! Avliotes is only a few minutes drive from Sidari. About 1,700 inhabitants reside in Avliotes and there are three beautiful churches: Taxiarchon, Agios Arsenios and Panagia Kathodigitra (dedicated to the Virgin Mary).
To see for yourself just how lively Avliotes is go up in an evening to dine in Illias grill room. Illias overlooks a playground, band stand and church. Take a seat under the vines and enjoy the delicious grills and house wine.
Entertainment is provided by the local men in the kafenion opposite, the girls walking arm in arm up the street, the mums hanging their washing out in the balcony?s and the boys playing football in the car park. Chaos is never far away especially when a bus or lorry attempts to drive up the narrow main street. The kafenion empties as the men all shout their instructions to the hapless drivers, usually scratching their heads or their bellies as they do so! Just to add to the chaos the football is inevitably kicked up onto the road from the playground below, whilst bemused mums shake their heads over their railings and the girls nonchalantly walk by whispering their secrets!
That's just a glimpse of village life to see in Corfu around where you are based. There really is so much more to do and see in Corfu...too much to mention here
See these photos for inspiration...gallery
Eileen.