Talking Location With… Phil Johnson: PAXOS and CORFU

21st June 2023

#TalkingLocationWith…. Phil Johnson, author of Run to the Blue, set on Greece.

“Run to the Blue” was inspired by the bright, magical blue waters of Paxos, the delights of Corfu, and vibrancy and atmosphere of Parga, all in the fabulous Ionian Sea of Greece. These three locations all offer something different. Parga is bustling, bright, and beautiful. Narrow, steep streets offer a maze of shops, vistas and eateries. A commanding castle watches over the town, the bay, and the kilometre long Voltos beach. Parga is easily reachable by flying to Preveza/Aktion airport, or via ferry from Corfu to Igoumenitsa. Parga is peaceful today, but it holds a secret of a scary past when the local women danced to the deaths from nearby cliffs rather than be enslaved by a terrible tyrant, Ali Pasha. Today, it’s the sound of happy holiday makers which dominate the ancient streets.

Across the water some 11 miles to the west is the picture perfect paradise of Paxos. Small and special with secret paths offering quiet walks and enthralling escapes. Here peace and tranquillity can be found with the pretty ports of Longos and Lakka, ready to offer a great range of tavernas and bars. I set some of the major scenes of “Run to the Blue” in Paxos, with high energy action and romantic escapades for my protagonist, on the run TV reporter Tess Anderson, and the enigmatic, mysterious American yachtsman Jason. I always had Lakka in mind for scenes for a future book long before I wrote “Run to the Blue” – the title refers to the blue waters of Lakka bay.

Lakka

The island’s capital Gaios is a bright bubbling gem of a port, with waterfront shops and cafes to lose a few days in. Further to the south is the island’s geographical treasure, the Tripitos Arch, another pivotal point in the unfolding story of Tess and Jason. It’s a lovely, long but gentle walk from Gaios or Mongonissi, but do ensure you have enough water in high summer. Sensible shows for the crumbly path are advised too! and please don’t attempt crossing the arch itself unless you’re confident, it’s a scary drop either side! But don’t worry, it’s easy to see from the safety of path from where I took the photograph shown.

Lakka bay is an absolute favourite. Shallow blue water washes over white, yellow sand giving the bay it’s vibrant blue colour. It’s a magnet for yachts, and my wife and I have spent many days floating here and watching the world from the nearby bars, one of which was the inspiration for the bar in the book, I’ll leave you to work out which. A walled garden taverna inside the small but seductive town was the scene for a life changing night for my Tess, based on a romantic meal my wife and I shared there many years ago.

‘to tripitos’

Paxos is reachable from Corfu via the wonderfully named “Flying Dolphin”, the hydrofoil which runs from Corfu town. Larger ferries and water taxi’s are also available, and in the summer, day trips from Parga cross the short stretch of sea to take tourists to sample the little island’s charm. According to mythology the god Pan died on Paxos, it’s certainly a magical place, and wandering along the little paths which seem to date back centuries, you’ll soon tune in to the atmosphere as the past meets the present.

Longos

Anti Paxos is just off the southern tip of Paxos island. It boasts bright blue bays and tranquil hideaways. Beach bars and tavernas attend to the needs of the many day trippers who arrive for a swim and lunch in its wonderful waters.

Corfu to the north offers so much, from the brash party town of Kavos on the island’s southern tip, to the long stretches of sand at Arillas in the north west, where Tess once shared a holiday with her husband Sven. The north east coast is of course famed for the location of the Durrells house. The east coast boasts a former Venetian and British naval base now a major Marina at Gouvia, just north of Corfu town, the island’s capital. Here, beautiful boulevards echo with the sounds of tourists and locals alike; it’s a perfect place to linger with a coffee or a cold beer watching the world go by. Then, as evening draws closer you can easily lose yourself in the narrow streets under idyllic architecture. Rubble junkies will love the massive castle with its towering walls watching over the approaches from the south.

Tripitos Arch

Greece is inspirational, Paxos, Corfu and Parga are gems, each with their own attractions and delights, and all are heavily referenced in “Run to the Blue”. If you go there, you’ll find it hard not to return, again and again. I hope I’ve given a taste of these perfect places. They certainly changed the life of Tess Anderson, and they might change yours too, and in a very nice way.

Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson, who writes as PN Johnson, is a former BBC and ITV journalist. “Run to the Blue” was published this spring, 2023, and his other thriller, “Killer in the Crowd”, which is set in the world of 1980’s music and today, was published in 2022. Both by Burning Chair Publishing. Phil was a Finalist in last year’s Page Turner Awards, in the category of a book ideally suited for film or TV.

He is a member of both the Crime Writer’s Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

You can find Phil via Linktree @pnjohnsonauthor / Twitter @PhilJohnson01 / Facebook @PNJohnsonAuthor / IG @pnjohnson_author 

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