As You Set Out for Ithaka, Hope Your Road is a Long One…

As You Set Out for Ithaka, Hope Your Road is a Long One…

This morning we leave Kefalonia for Ithaca (or Ithaka if you prefer!). With freshly baked bougatsas in hand, we take the side street next to Fatto a Mano bakery, which brings us directly to the harbour front. Waiting is the ferry Ionio Pelagos, engines thrumming and the faintest whiff of smoke from the funnel. Habitually…

One Night in Sami – Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

One Night in Sami – Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

Today marks our final full day on Kefalonia — and I can’t quite believe how quickly the time has flown. We’re trading the bustle of Argostoli for the peaceful charm of Sami, where we’ll spend our last night before moving on. After one last sweep of the lovely Portogal Apartments, we lug our bags downstairs,…

Over the Hill to Lassi – a Well Deserved Beach Day!

Over the Hill to Lassi – a Well Deserved Beach Day!

After 2 days of marching the length and breadth of Argostoli, we felt (I felt) that today we deserved a more relaxing day. The nearest sandy beaches are over the hill towards Lassi. Peter had also spotted another ‘interesting’ landmark on the map that he thought we should visit along the way – the Cave…

Turtles, Caves and Just One Cornetto – A Whistle Stop Tour of North Kefalonia

Turtles, Caves and Just One Cornetto – A Whistle Stop Tour of North Kefalonia

I must admit that choosing where to stay on Kefalonia was initially a bit of a head-scratcher. Being the largest Ionian island and the 6th largest island in Greece overall, there’s a lot of ground to cover. We chose Argostoli, the island’s capital, purely for logistical reasons. Not only is the main bus station located…

A Visit to Salamina and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre

A Visit to Salamina and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre

This is just a holding post until I get time to write about the places that I visited. My last day in Athens. I decided on a whim to visit the island of Salamina. To be more specific I went to visit the Archaeological site of Salamis to ensure I got the most out of…

Leaving Sochos and Back to Thessaloniki

Leaving Sochos and Back to Thessaloniki

Ancient Pella and Aigai and the Acropolis of Thessaloniki – Sans Photos! Today, I will return to Thessaloniki for a couple of days. I finished the tedious chore of packing and then headed out to take one last walk around Sochos village. The contrast between the craziness of the Clean Monday festivities and this morning…

Clean Monday – The Presentation of the Koudounoforoi

Clean Monday – The Presentation of the Koudounoforoi

The morning of Clean Monday began with a light smattering of snow that settled on the hills above Sochos. Here in the village, the flakes melted as soon as they hit the ground. Such is the early March weather in Northern Macedonia. Today is the finale of Carnival. Clean Monday or Kathara Deftera marks the…