Cephalonia

A little about Cephalonia

The largest island in the Ionian, Cephalonia is a land of contrasts. Just for starters don’t miss the view from the castle at Assos. On yours left, spread out beneath your feet, lays the enchanting turquoise bay of Myrtos renowned for its afternoon sun and soft white sand. Or you might swim in the crystal clear water of Poros. You can also go up to the top of Mt. Enos (1.628 meters above sea level). Its slopes are covered with tall, cedar-like fir trees that grow nowhere else in the world. On other parts of the island you’ll run into groves tilled with olive or orange trees and hillsides studded with grapevines; breathtaking golden beaches and deep coves, rugged rocky shores or visit famous caves.

A delicious green island as we have visit in the middle of September month, the weather was fine 26 - 30o. We had chosen to stay in Argostoli ( capital on the Island), and use a rented scooter when we wanted to go to the beach.
But first we rented a car for some days, to go around on the Island.
First day our plane was:

- Skala where there is a long and broad sandy beach.
- Poros a small fisher villages and from here there are ferry both to the mainland, Kilini - 1.15 hour.
- Sami had to wait for another day, so we just stopped to have a cold frappe - from here you can take ferries to the mainland and to Ithaca.
- Fiskardo, the most northern harbour on Cephalonia, has kept its traditional colors. Lying opposite and very close to Ithaca, it is surrounded by a thick cypress glade. Here You can be certain meeting a lot of tourist. Ferry to Lefkada.
- Assos lies incredible beautiful - and south from here You will find the famous Myrtos beach.

Well back in Argostoli we had droven 210 km, not so much, but it really had taken some longer than expected.
The roads are not so wide and the maps we had receive/bought must have been very old - we found a lot more roads with asphalt. There is also very " high" down some places and I really like to have some kind of protection/fence when I can look straight down.
So this day there was no time to swim the sea.

Argostoli, the capital, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953, very little remains; one or two houses, the arched bridge stretching across the lagoon and the obelisk at its Centre, which commemorates the date of its construction 1813.
Close to the bridge here is a kafenion, and here is nice to sit down and sequel with in traffic - ½ l beer - 500 Dr. - free choice between Amstel and Heineken.
You will find a “SHOPPING STREET” a big Square/Platia, and a nice seafront where there is market on Saturdays.

Makris Gialos beach is situated in Lassi only 3 km from Argostoli; it’s a sandy beach.
Here are also the most hotels on the island, and a lot of taverns, mini markets and car/scooters rentals.

Sami is a small town where there is some hotels hotel. This summer it was location for a film with Nicholas Gage: Captain Corellis Mandolin, the history was taken place in Argostoli, but here the houses were new and therefore became Sami the place they made the film.
Not far from Sami you can see cave Milissani, for 1500 Dr. You will have a little trip with a boat and a man will tell You about the cave. Be there at noon where the sun is overhead, even it means more tourists - but more beautiful to look at.

A trip on scooter to Ithaca became a delicious experience. With boat from Sami 9 o’clock in the morning.
Ithaca is separated from Cephalonia by a channel some 2 to 4 kilometers wide. The west coast of the island is steep and almost barren in contrast to the green, gentle shoreline on the east.
Ithaca was breathtaking at this time on the day - haze lying over the small Islands in the sea, I really was thinking at Odysseus.

“Throughout the ages Ithaca has been known as the home of Odysseus. For years Homer’s hero wandered before he finally returned to his island kingdom. Though he visited beautiful, exotic, far-flung lands, Ithaca never left his mind for a moment.
And even today, once you’ve been to Ithaca, it’s difficult to forget this small, mountainous island with its captivating coves that conjure up some earthly paradise.”

We visited Stavros and Frikes small and beautiful villages, here we had a BIG problem no more petrol on the scooter and the petrol-station was closed down for this summer. But a very kindly man in Frikes sold us 2 l - thank You.