I grew up in Berkshire, in the leafy home counties, next to a farm, so my childhood was lots of climbing trees, building dens and riding bikes. Holidays were always in the UK and tended to involve going and staying in another cottage other than the one we lived in, doing wholesome things – Famous Five picnics, walking and going to a lovely petting zoo I remember in Sussex.
At some point, when I was 10, my parents must have thought that actually it would be really nice to go somewhere warm, where it might not rain. Or perhaps Mum suggested a holiday that didn’t involve just cooking in a different kitchen. Either way, something sparked an extravagant deviation from the norm, and we rented a villa in Corfu.
I remember being stunned that a place could have tiles on the floor and still be warm. I think we were up a hill and looked out over the sea. We ate out, which I didn’t do at home until I was about 15. It was incredibly exotic. I remember these peaches, so big I couldn’t hold them in one hand, that would explode with juice, which didn’t matter because there was no carpet. It was this glorious kind of release from always having muddy feet and being told: “Don’t sit there, don’t walk there.”
We went to the beach every day and just ran up and down this endless expanse of sand. The water was calm and shallow and we’d never properly swum in the sea before. It was wonderful, and I remember begging my parents to let us stay longer.
The whole trip was a bit of an anomaly and we went back to UK holidays after that, but it definitely changed something in me, and when I was 17 I worked for months to save money to go travelling by train across Europe. I had a lovely upbringing that was free and outdoorsy and I never yearned for anything else, but going to Corfu proved to my little self that there was so much out there beyond what I knew. I think it was an early prompt to say to myself: “Oh, maybe there are other experiences I should be looking for.”
From the insider
Julia Manetas has been living on Corfu as Sunvil’s resident representative for more than 20 years
Corfu is a little island with a big reputation. The smartest way to experience it is to stay in a villa or apartment up in the mountains and hire a car. This means you can go down to the fun, blingy north-east coast, which is just a mile from Albania, and dine alongside the glamour set in what some have nicknamed Kensington-on-Sea. The food’s beautifully presented, the bars do great wines and cocktails, and you can hire a boat or go out on an excursion. But when you fancy a change, you can go back to your accommodation and enjoy the peace and quiet, the amazing views, and do a bit of walking through old hamlets. Here the local restaurants might be more brusque when it comes to service, but the traditional fare includes quite delicious pastitsadas and superb kleftikos. You can also visit Corfu town, the architectural and historical jewel of the island, and head to the western beaches to see the evening sunsets.
For personal, expert travel advice to all of these destinations and more, call Sunvil on 020 8232 9788 or visit sunvil.co.uk
Brochures available for holidays to Greece and Cyprus, Portugal, the Azores and Spain, Italy and Sicily, Scandinavia and Latin America.
