It has been a year full of new experiences since my last post. The highlight was, of course, the summer which I've spent on the heavenly beautiful island of Kefalonia,Greece. Here are my top pics for the 2016 Kefalonia Calendar. #summer2015
On the cover there is a picture I took on the small Atheras beach, on the west side of the island. July took me there where the water is shallow and warm because of the narrow bay. Gathering small white pebbles to write the name of my favourite island on the sand was my pleasure.
I found the iconic Myrtos beach as mesmerizing as the previous summer. The road between Myrtos and Assos is still under construction since the earthquakes that took place in the spring of 2014. The view still breathtaking. I wonder how does it feel to be on that yacht. Aren't you too?!
Visiting the Castle of St. Paul, the first capital of the island, was an absolute delight. The 360 view from Ainos Mt. till Argostoli and all around it blew my mind; the restaurants are more expensive than your average tavernas, but the food, the atmosphere and the souvenirs made me forget that.
For the 3rd year in a row I spent my summer in Kounopetra, the southern point of the Paliki peninsula(west). The moving stone is a must see and the view towards Lassi and Ainos Mt. are perfect at the sunset. Close is a wide beach with shallow water, perfect for families with kids and a small traditional harbour.
This year my favourite beach was Petani, incredible views, clear blue water, sand or pebbles, restaurants, fresh food, u name it. On the left side of the main beach there is a hidden one, which is delightful. Don't forget to stop for a cold Mythos on the way back , up, at Petani Bay Hotel for a stunning sunset.
All across the island you will find beautiful and colourful little traditional villages and harbours. But Assos is one of a kind. It's joyful. It's romantic. The water is cold but so clear, the view from the fortress is incredible and the colourful houses make you think that you're visiting the Amalfi Coast.
I feel so thankful for having the luck to visit Platia Ammos beach in 2013. After the earthquakes that took place 2 years ago, more than half of the stairs that they were used to go down were broken and now the only way to reach the beach is by boat.
As I was telling you before, Assos is a splash of colour, same as Fiskardo, but less expensive if we take in consideration that the latter one is packed with private yachts and movie stars such as Angelina Jolie or Sarah Jessica Parker pop up out of the blue for a lunch. Here's a part of one of the most beautiful houses in Assos. Everyone who visited this place took a photo with the blue door on the down left corner. Wink.
Surrounded by green forests, with its pebble shore, close to Sami there is an absolutely gorgeous beach named Antisamos. Plenty of sunbeds, water sports, music bars, iced drinks and beautiful people await. Not far away from it you can find the ruins of the Ancient Same with great views over the bay.
Did I tell you how much I love sunsets at the sea side? Well, now you know! I took this incredible photo on Vrahinari beach, Kounopetra, a place where you can relax far away from the crowded beaches. I also reccomend the other nearby beach, Vatsa (hippie vibe, sandy floors, fish nets, pumpkins and aww, the food, unbelievably tasty).
There are two caves on the island. One is Melissani, the cave of Pan and the Nymphs with its cold lake (a must see) and the other one is Drogarati. The great acoustic make it a beautiful opera hall for the summer concerts.The famous Maria Callas once sang in here.
Katavothres is a beautiful restaurant/club where you can spend the hottest nights of the summer partying till the sunrise but it's also an unique phenomenon. There is a watermill where the sea enters underground. For two weeks it travels in underground rivers across the island untill reaches the Melissani Lake almost fifteen kilometers away. From there the water flows into the sea at the village of Karavomilos, close to Sami.
For the last page of the calendar I chose a photo I took in late August on Ainos Mt., the tallest of the island(1,628 metres). Most of the mountain range is designated as a park area and is covered with Greek fir and black pine. On clear days, the view includes the NW Peloponnese and Aetolia along with the islands of Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Ithaca.
These being said/written I hope you enjoyed my 2016 Kefalonia Calendar. All I can add is that the island is incredible, the photos don't do it justice. I recommend it for nature lovers, families and all of you who want to leave the daily routine and crowded places behind.
Embark in a relaxing journey on this still partly wild island.
P.S.: Stay close for my next article "10 Reasons why to visit Kefalonia". COMING SOON !!!
P.S.S: Find more photographies and daily updates on my FACEBOOK PAGE !!!
Beldi