Greece - Kefalonia

Kefalonia - May 2000

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands, and the setting for the best-selling novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin.  Situated to the west of mainland Greece, the island was virtually flattened by a severe earthquake in 1953.  The Ionians are famous as the main  European nesting ground for the protected Loggerhead Turtle, who use the beaches at the south of the island near Skala to lay eggs.

Fiskardo

We stayed on the outskirts of Fiskardo, one of the few towns left untouched by the 1953 earthquake, which levelled most of the island.

Located at the far north of the island the geology here protected the area from the quake. Fiskardo is infeasibly pretty,with it's Venetian architecture and picturesque harbour.  The downside is the number of visitors it attracts, mostly yacht flotillas which pack in the harbour every night.   The view from our villa towards Ithaca, showing one of the boats that wouldn't fit into Fiskardo's harbour

View of our villa, at the south end of Fiskardo.

Myrtos
Myrtos Bay is one of the most dramatic in the whole of Greece, the rich colours of the sea contrast starkly with the whiteness of the beach.

Argostoli
Argostoli has been the capital of the Island since 1757, though it was totally rebuilt after the earthquake in 1953.  A bridge constructed by the British in 1813 links the town to the opposite side of the bay, and the road north, the obelisk shown in the photograph commemorates the completion of the bridge.

Assos
	We visited Assos, which is huddled in the isthmus between the mainland and a peninsular, in the evening.  David watched the sun go down from the ruins of the Venetian fort at the top of the hill.  Kathy decided she preferred to sit in the taverna with a glass of wine than take the 1/2 hour hike to the top.

Sunset from the Fort

View from a taverna

 

Melisani Lake	Drogarati Cave
This underground lake was discovered after the 1953 earthquake, when the part of the   rock roof collapsed.  The amazing colours of the water are best appreciated when the sun is high.	Because of it's excellent acoustics, the large stalagmite infested chamber has been used for concerts.  Maria Callas sang here.

 

Lixouri	Agios Evfimia
The Lixouri peninsular is quieter than the main part of the island.  The major town is Lixouri, which lies directly across the bay from the islands capital, Argostoli.	Situated on the east coast of the island, north of Sami, Agios Evfimia is a pleasant little fishing village.  We visited twice because of the excellent Stifado served in a taverna on the harbour wall.

 

St. Gerassimos	Foki Bay
St. Gerassimos monastery attracts pilgrims from all over Greece, he was famed as a miracle worker, who re-organised  the monastery on the Omala plain, conveniently the best wine producing land of the island. When his body was moved in 1581, 2 years after his death, it was found to be in perfect condition, and was said to have even exuded a pleasant odour!	Just south of our villa in Fiskardo, Foki Bay is a quiet beach, ideal for relaxing, often there are yachts moored there.

 

Sami		Diving
Sami was being used for the making of the Captain Corelli film at the time of our visit.		David went diving in a bay near Fiskardo, the highlights were the wreck shown above and a jellyfish which was just to transparent to be photographed.