For those of you who are living in Corfu, what sort of businesses remain open during the winter? For example I would imagine that you still have a few restaurants, food stores etc, but what about travel agents, coffee shops etc? Do builders work more in the winter than the summer? Are there any specific winter trades? Efharisto!
Message posted by Bill on 27 January 2009 at 12:34pm - IP Logged
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Check your pm's alterego, I sent you a message about building trades a couple of days ago.
As for retail businesses, yes some stay open year round, they tend to be run as family businesses apart from the large supermarkets. Cafes, bars and shops are plentiful in Town and also places like Acharavi and Lefkimmi, though very little remains open in the resorts.
Of course there are many other industries - banking, accountancy, legal professions, insurance, local government etc - white collar work, which is year round too. These jobs are nearly exclusively held by Greek nationals, and of course it is essential to have fluent language skills to work in them.
Many of the seasonal businesses are run by Greeks who then tend their olives during the winter (with some 4 million trees here, olive growing is still something a lot of people do)so agriculture too is, if not exactly big business, busy during the winter months.
Message posted by alterego on 27 January 2009 at 2:08pm - IP Logged
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Oh thanks! I didn't realise I had a PM. Sorry, I've been away from forums for a while. Yes, I read that many jobs will be given to Greek nationals, as is usual for most countries I think. In New Zealand they need to prove they don't have a native who can do the job. I am learning Greek, I'm not sure how fluent I will be, but I learn a bit each day and I'm confident I will get there.
Thank you for the response. I'm trying to find out as much as I can as it may be worth us both trying to build skills here before moving.
Message posted by alterego on 27 January 2009 at 2:14pm - IP Logged
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The only things that shut all winter are the things that the Greeks offer just for the tourists:
Western style clubs and pubs and restaurants
Tourist "souvenir" shops
Tourist coach trips and boat trips
Tourist hotels and apartments
I've been very pleasantly surprised at what is left and how active the island is even throughout the winter.
Building trades suppliers are open all year round, as are the domestic electrical goods suppliers and furniture shops. Also supermarkets, clothing shops, insurance companies, solicitors, notaries, schools, village tavernas, airport, churches, ferries etc.
And there are a lot of interesting activities going on over winter, some village parties, some weddings, some saint day celebrations, christmas, easter, some musical festivals, name day parties, church festivals, concerts, theatre performances, cinema etc.
Pretty good really! I'm busier with social activities in winter here than when I lived in the UK!
Best regards,
Rob
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