When Stephi and Wesley Clash tied the knot, there was only one place they wanted to call home – the picturesque Greek island of Corfu, as Stephi tells Richard Webber“We’ve lived in Corfu since 1993 and don’t see ourselves ever returning to Britain. This is where we want to spend the rest of our lives. In fact, we love it so much we’ve already bought our grave plot – with sea views!
It was Wes who first discovered the island, back in 1981. He was soon smitten by its charm and returned regularly on holiday. When we decided to get married, he told me that we’d have to live on Corfu; he was passionate about the place and it didn’t take long for me to realise why.
After holidaying here myself, I knew I could settle here, too, so we sold our apartment in Folkestone, packed our belongings into a Land Rover and trailer and spent a week driving down through Europe, singing along to Rolf Harris’ greatest hits all the way.
Originally, we intended to buy land and build our own property, so we rented an apartment in the old part of Corfu Town while we took our time finding the right place. When we eventually stumbled across this property it felt like home immediately despite having no electricity, water, bathroom or windows and a sagging roof.
It needed a lot of work done, but we could see the potential, so bought it in 1995 for £14,000. It’s taken a long time to fix up because Wes has done it all himself, but we’re very happy with it now.
It’s a 200-year-old, three-storey house, and from our large balcony at the front we look down towards Corfu Town, the coast and then across the shimmering water to the Albanian and Greek coastlines. We’ve pretty much got panoramic views. Our village, Ano Korakiana, towards the north of the island, is perched on the side of a mountain. We’re early risers, so it’s a wonderful spot to enjoy breakfast while admiring the fabulous sunrises.
Seven years ago we decided to buy the land next door so we could make ourselves a garden. The owners wouldn’t sell the land without the little dilapidated house that was also on the site, so we bought that as well, turning it into a gallery.
Wes is a deep-sea diver, and still works in the oil fields. I was a language teacher, but since coming here have switched careers, dedicating my time to art, which has always been a passion of mine.
I exhibited my work on the island, including a showing in my village. I didn’t expect to sell anything, but then discovered that bike and jeep tours pass through the area. One day, these Americans popped into the exhibition and practically bought me out! Realising there was passing trade, we opened the gallery, where I also run art classes for local children and adults.
Buying property on Corfu can be a tortuous and long-winded process, partly because there is much bureaucracy. You need a good English-speaking lawyer, because there can be multiple owners and all have to agree to sell before you can buy.
For anyone considering buying here, they’ve got to love the place and want to live here because it’s Greece, not just because it’s hot. The way of life is different than the UK – and it’s not the Costa del Sol, either. Corfu feels like it’s in a time warp and if you come over with a staunch British attitude that everything should be efficient, the place will drive you nuts.
Budget airlines Jet2.com and easyJet fly here during the summer – it’s a three-hour flight, but it’s not like other holiday destinations, especially those in Spain. Corfu is a peaceful, orderly place. You don’t see drunks on the streets: it’s shameful for Greeks to be under the influence of alcohol and acting like an idiot in the street.
It’s a very colourful, safe and scenic island, boasting three million olive trees adorning the lush landscape. There are also over 90 beaches – in fact, we’re spoilt for choice. The east coast tends to have most of the pebble beaches while the west is where you find the sand. Wes’s favourite is Mirtiotissa, which Lawrence Durrell described as the most beautiful, whereas I’m keen on Barbati; it’s a pebble beach but the water is lovely and clean."
Read more in the April 2010 issue of Living Abroad magazine
