Farewell to Paxos and Back to Corfu

Towards the end of my stay, there was a definite sense of seasonal endings. When Alexandros Taverna ‘shut up shop’ this felt like the catalyst for that sense of closure. Although other tavernas were still open, Alexandros felt like the beating heart of Lakka which is a testament to the incredible family that runs it. Paximadi next door filled the void several times towards the end of my stay and the bakery was a good staple for those sweet treats.

Paxos had been the perfect place to rest and relax after nearly 7 weeks of travelling. Although I’m not very adept at just watching life go by, I did have plenty of time to sit and absorb the sights and sounds of the locality. Clinking coffee cups from outside the bakery below was my morning alarm clock. On some afternoons when the village went to sleep I would sit on my balcony and look out towards the harbour. This was the time when my host Angela would give one-to-one English lessons to the local children. I was impressed by the level of competency of such young children who were praised with a “Bravo” for good work.

Reflecting on my six nights on Paxos, I knew that Lakka had definitely been the right place to stay. Its position overlooking the harbour was a sight that I never tired of. No matter where I walked around and/or above the bay, it offered photo-worthy vistas framed by the deep turquoise waters the island is known for. The network of paths in and around Lakka was enough to keep me occupied whilst I was here.

As I’d mentioned in a previous post, after my day trip to the island several weeks earlier I’d almost been put off coming to Paxos because of its association with ‘celebrities’. I’d wrongly assumed that it would have changed the place and made it less authentic but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There may have been the odd little bit of ’boutiquification’ here and there but it was very subtle and didn’t feel like an intrusion onto the original fabric of the place.

Yes, there were times when Lakka felt overwhelmed with the yachting fraternity, (some of whose late-night behaviour left a lot to be desired) but I was able to cope with this. I just looked forward to the times when they haul up their anchors and sail into the wide blue yonder.

When I arrived on Paxos the thing that I noticed almost immediately was the friendliness and kindness of the people. I know I say that about most places I visit in Greece but on this particular trip I’ve been truly blessed.

I usually photograph in landscape so before I leave, here are a couple of Paxos in Portrait. Thank you to Jackie for taking the photograph of me. Whenever I look at this photo I’ll remember the sense of wellbeing and joy that this trip gave to me. ❤️

The day came for me to leave. Once I’d booked my ferry tickets online I arranged the taxi with Agglaya. The direct boats to Corfu had reduced somewhat over the last few weeks and people on the local forums were complaining about the unreliability of some of the operators. I decided to play it safe and travel back with the larger operators via Igoumenitsa. It’s a scenic route so I didn’t mind the two-part journey.

The Kerkyra Seaways ship the Agios Spyridon was a nice modern ship and the journey was exceptionally pleasant. For now, Paxos, farewell. I’m glad I gave you a second chance! ❤️