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Ruta Bancos Gigantes or Huge Bench Route in Andalucia

A new rage is slowly spreading across Andalucia with its beginnings in the province of Malaga and that is huge benches are being installed in beauty spots across the region. The Huge Bench Route or  Ruta Bancos Gigantes #rutabancosgigantes can be found on Instagram  where they are more active with updates on the new installations of these enormous benches and they have a   Facebook  page too. Map of the Ruta Bancos Gigantes The initiative started by Forest Green an agrobroker company that supplies and works with treated wood to large construction and environmental companies in Spain. The huge bench route is steadily growing, with constant new installations spreading across Andalucia. The enormous handmade wooden benches are 4 metre long and 2.3 metre high, with the seat being 1.3 metres above ground and needing steps to get onto them, appearing in natural beauty spots hopes to encourage people out into and  enjoy the views and of course take photos to be ...

The Gorgeously Tacky Side of Old Corfu

A once great city now sadly decaying but with great charm. It touched me anyway, most of it. Not the tourist-trash shops where thousands of cruise passengers crawl the narrow streets buying junk gifts. Get beyond that, dig deeper into the shady alleys and the glory days can be imagined.

I´m a dreamer. Show me a ruin not a modern pristine build. Give me the rough edge worn look and we fit together well. I was in my element in the dishevelled, in need of love Old Corfu town.

'Corfu town is Venice and Naples, a touch of France and more than a dash of England, apart of course from being Greek' - Countess Flamburiari.

A fascinating mix of money and nationalities would have frequented the main Esplanadae, Europe´s largest square, and The Liston, a copy of the Parisian cafés in the Rue de Rivoli. This the hub of the old town, a rocky beach at one end and bandstand at the other, this was the spot for the nobility to sit in the sun drinking coffee and watch a spot of cricket.

When I arrived it was a raucous mass, I quickly dived down a dingy side street away from the throng of tourist-cruisers.

The Liston, Corfu

The town is a glorious maze of narrow easy-to-get-lost-in streets dominated by the 16th century fortress. Turn around and everywhere there are tiny churches or sadly decaying nobleman´s house.

Steps, crannies, nooks and grandeur that was abound, decaying gracefully. I imagine it in its heyday, rich and proud, but think I´d prefer it´s faded melancoly of today.

Among the bustle, look out for those shops and stalls selling local items like wild honey, fig cakes, handmade lace and gorgeous leather handbags.

The narrow streets radiating off from the Liston bustle with small shops selling just about everything you can think of, with the main trade being gold. Corfiot craftsmen are excellent mkaers and designers of Greek Gold jewellry and with their competitive prices you may be tempted.

I bought no gold or handbags but took away great memories of a once great city.



Sadly I have no photos to go with this post (except the one of The Liston taken from an earlier post) as my laptop with three years of photos was stolen. A warning to me and all not to put all your photos on one laptop - please back yours up today.

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