| Nick, an Englishman, was one of the first to build a | | | | made big windows to let the sun come into the |
| small cottage in Korakiana Village, on Kerkyra | | | | cottage. "This will be our permanent house when |
| island. He first visited Kerkyra many years ago | | | | we retire," he adds. "Meanwhile, we visit Kerkyra |
| with his family, but it was much later when he | | | | 2-3 times a year and our kids come over in |
| found out that he could actually get a permanent | | | | between their holidays too. We also let some |
| place on the island he loved. | | | | close relatives to use it and some friends." |
| "At first I thought that I would need a fortune to | | | | Nick is just one of the four other residents of the |
| buy a decent house in a village," he says. "But a | | | | village neighborhood. A few meters further on, a |
| friend of mine, who had already bought a ready | | | | couple from Holland have rebuilt their own house |
| cottage in Korakiana village , kept me informed | | | | and visit it every summer. The neighbors keep an |
| bout the properties sold over there, and soon he | | | | eye on it when they are away, and they even |
| spotted a bargain." | | | | take care of their small vegetable garden. |
| Nick has got a family of five, and they were all | | | | Some of the benefits of this kind of tourism, can |
| delighted at the prospect of a holiday house on | | | | be listed below: |
| Kerkyra. Nick was able to get a small stone house | | | | 1. Save on rents of hotels, apartments etc. |
| with a yard in front at a very low cost, and he | | | | 2. Save on meals of restaurants |
| built a two floored cottage in a year. | | | | 3. Carry no baggage |
| "When I first saw it," he admits, "it was a kind of | | | | 4. Make new friends |
| ruined store room with nothing much to attract | | | | 5. Ideal for retired people |
| the buyer, but the scenery all around was | | | | 6. Ideal for relaxing in a natural environment |
| fantastic, and that was the basic point. We would | | | | 7. Learn new lifestyle |
| live in the nature, breathe fresh mountain air and | | | | 8. Try new food |
| see a wonderful view every day." | | | | Permanent tourism is nevertheless a new trend |
| Nick filled the small yard with numerous flower | | | | that will stay! |
| pots with mountain herbs and flowers, and he | | | | |