Dafnoudi beach, Kefalonia - another piece of heaven on Earth

Mesmerizing white pebbled beach, surrounded by lush greenery, Dafnoudi is ideal for snorkeling and relaxation.

Located in the north of Kefalonia island, Erissos, it is the place you can combine with a day trip to the village of Fiskardo. By car it is 47 km away from Argostoli, approximately 1 hour 15 min.

Dafnoudi is the beach of the Antipata village and it’s a piece of heaven on Earth. On the way to Fiskardo, exactly where the village ends, we turn left and drive on for about 1,5 km. Don't worry, there are signs leading to the place where you can park your car on the side of the road. From that point onwards, the nature of Erissos is revealed intensely as the way to reach the beach is by following a path that leads to it. 

It’s a quite wide and safe path with very tall old cypress trees covering the hot summer sun, offering natural shade throughout the entire route, which only lasts about 10 minutes. Walking the path, one feels like he’s on a green mountain and expects to see anything else but a beautiful beach. But suddenly appears lovely Dafnoudi with its marvelous turquoise to green water.

I recommend you take some footwear suitable to tackle the trek down. Also be sure to take your own food/drinks as there are no facilities on the beach. There is some natural shade at the edge of the beach until noon so an umbrella is more than welcomed.

Dafnoudi is a small, untouched, white pebbled bay with a view towards Lefkada. The waters here are calm and the colors vary from blue to green. At the right side of the beach there is a beautiful cave with a small shaded beach inside. There in the intense coolness one can enjoy the view of the sea or swim and exit the cave swimming this time. It’s a romantic environment which remains unforgettable to the visitor and everybody wants to revisit.

The beach is a shelter for the monk seals Monachus - Monachus. If you are lucky you may come across one.

I've visited the beach for the first time at the beginning of August 2020. There were about 20 - 30 people there on a Saturday afternoon. I totally enjoyed swimming and sunbathing even though the pebbles on the beach can be quite annoying while laying on them.

I've went up a bit on both sides of the beach to take some pics and I didn't regret it. The views are wonderful.

The little cave on the right side proved to be a magnet for photos, girls and boys were trying their best pose for Instagram. 

Unfortunately after Ianos Medicane hit Kefalonia in the middle of September, Dafnoudi is almost unrecognizable. The whole beach has been affected. It looks like some Titan just blew the whole place up. You can see some pictures HERE.

Kefalonia provides some of the most exquisite places for snorkeling and sunbathing. Its natural beauty can be admired on beaches such as Petani, Vouti or Agia Eleni.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Agia Eleni beach, Kefalonia, Greece 2020 - an oasis of tranquility

First time I tried to get to this beach I got lost. The GPS took me and my friends in front of a huge private villa above Petani beach. But we didn't give up and we got to this oasis where we were pleasantly surprised by the sights.

Agia Eleni (38.260250, 20.367158) is a small hidden beach, south from Petani, on the western coast of Paliki, Kefalonia. It is located 14km by car from Lixouri (25 - 30min). On the way you will pass by small villages such as Monopolata and Damoulianata.

We found out about Agia Eleni from locals. Usually there are just a few people on the beach, but during the weekends of July and especially August there will be a bit more.

The road down is very narrow and twisty, so definitely not for nervous drivers, but it’s fine for most if you take your time. Just before the last curve towards the left side there is a small place where you can park for a few minutes. Walk 15 meters to the right side and get ready for a different, exciting view over Petani.

Once you get to Agia Eleni beach limestone and fine shingle await you. The water gets deep quite quickly to a depth of 6-10m across width of bay. The big rocks around the bay are the tips of large stacks that go straight down to the bottom. This is the best beach for snorkeling in Kefalonia. 

Several of the rock formations have mini caves/tunnels you can swim under and through, leading to the other side or into caves in the center of the rocks, open to sunlight from above. Perfect for providing even inexperienced snorkelers with an adventurous experience which is completely safe.

If you're feeling adventurous, like me, you can climb the rocks on the left side of the beach or swim. A whole new beach is hidden on that side, surrounded by huge rock drops. The views are quite spectacular.

Be sure to bring with you an umbrella and refreshments as this is a wild beach quite far from any restaurant or kioski. It is a pebble beach so special shoes might be requiered.

After we spent all day sunbathing and swimming it is time for a well deserved dinner. Another great tip we got from the locals is about Ladokolla stin Plagia restaurant. It is located in the village of Damoulianata, on our way back from Agia Eleni.

The chairs are colorful and with different messages painted on them. The waiters are super friendly and the food...the food was quite fantastic. It was the first time in Greece when I've tasted such great and fresh dishes.

 

My favorites are grilled cheese with home marmalade (I was not sure what to think about it but I was so glad I ordered it), baked pork meat on the stick with beer and honey and pieces of chicken with a sweat mustard dip and rice with vegetables. The quality/price ratio is great and you will not regret it.

These being said I totally recommend you to have this one day trip. It is so worthy. You can see also the hidden beach on the left side of Agia Eleni below.

Otherwise you can choose Agia Eleni's bigger sister, PETANI BEACH. 

Off to discover another corner of paradise on Kefalonia? KATO LAGADI will swipe you off your feet.

'till next time, take care!

Beldi

Athens in June - a rollercoaster of quality time with friends, culture and culinary delights

Excited to revisit it and after a cruel start of the year, I jumped on a plane and on 25th of June I landed in Athens. Except the mask and no service in the airplane nothing had changed. The Athens airport is a bit emptier than the usual. The people are unbothered, having coffees and slowly doing their jobs. There is a strike, surprise, surprise, so the subway is not running all afternoon. Luckily the shuttle bus is still running all day long.

The 4 days that I've spent in Athens were a mix of long walks in the heart of the town, watching sunsets from some of the most amazing locations that the city has to offer, tasting the greek cuisine and diving into the history.

The first evening found me in Alou Fun Park on the Ride Star Flyer, enjoying the view of Athens from a height of 72 meters, at a speed of 30km! "An unforgettable ride with your hands and feet hanging free!" It felt exhilarating and the child in me was thoroughly happy.

On the 2nd day I've decided to go to Piraeus and discover new places such as Δον Κιχώτης - Don Quixote Bar which offers incredible coastal views. The air was hot. The beers and the long walk made me hungry. I stopped to have lunch at Παράγκα - Paraga. The table was full with greek salad, calamari, grilled vegetables, fried potatoes and wine. Cats were lurking around. A few seagulls were floating between the fishing boats as the sea breeze helped me cool down a bit.

Later in the afternoon I had a stroll around Monastiraki and watched a beautiful sunset from the Areopagus hill near the Acropolis. The sound of bouzouki and the laughter of the people made me forget about all the craziness that was going on in the world this year.

On the 3rd day in Athens I came back to Monastiraki but this time to revisit The Ancient Agora and Hephaistos Temple. It felt like a private tour as almost nobody else was around.

 

For sunset I've decided to walk all the way up to Lycabettus Hill. I wasn't disappointed at all. The 360 degrees panorama of Athens include views of the Acropolis all the way to the Saronic Gulf and Koutalas Mt..

The last day was a lazy one. I've ran away from the heat and hid under the palm trees of the National Garden, near the Hellenic Parliament. Parrots, turtles, goats rabbits and many more are here to be found. In the evening I caught up with some friends at a terrace in Plaka.

 It's pointless to say how amazing were the dishes, drinks and desserts that I've tasted while in Athens. I am a very big fun of the mediterranean cuisine. I will just leave some photos below.

Summer started a bit late this year and with incertitude, but at least it started. The next day I went on my journey to Kefalonia where I've spent my 7th summer among beautiful people and places.

In the next article I'll be back to Athens, this time at the end of September, for new exciting places and experiences.

Explore Vouti, an exotic beach with crystal clear water

Dive into the Ionian blue at Petani beach

'Till next time, take care.

Beldi