POSTCARD FROM KEFALONIA - 29 August – 10 September 2016

I had a rather tedious journey from London to Kefalonia.  My BA flight to Athens was an hour late, but that did not matter as I then had five hours in Athens airport, not much fun.  I arrived at Kefalonia at 8pm and eventually set off from the airport at 8.30pm on a long and pretty dreadful journey to the Almyra Hotel in Fiskardo.  Apparently the road was badly affected by an earthquake two years ago and has never been repaired so one has to go up into the mountains and down again to get to Fiskardo.  The roads were in bad repair with rocks falling along the wayside.  An hour and a half later I got to the hotel which, sadly, is only about 3 stars.  It took a bit of getting used to - no safe in the room, water not really drinkable but no water in the room unless you pay for it!  No toweling robe etc etc.  Was meant to have glorious views from my room but I really haven’t!  I am learning to live with it!  Also wherever I go seem to be bugged by swarms of wasps – on the balcony, by the pool, at breakfast!

Spent the first day by the pool not doing very much, but service down there was nil. In spite of there being a bar by the pool, it was unattended so you have to go in search of someone to serve you a drink!  Wifi works occasionally by the pool, and there are loads of wasps around which is not very nice!  In the evening I went into Fiskardo for dinner and found the most delightful little fishing village.  Had an excellent supper down there.  Found a restaurant owned by the husband of the manager of my hotel so got a 10% discount! 

On day three I was awoken by my room/bed shaking for a few seconds.  A small earth tremor which was a bit scary.  Not had that experience before!  That evening was a barbecue in the hotel, which was quite nice, but we experienced another tremor!

Friday was my birthday – and it was very quiet by the pool all day with the wasps!  We had yet another mini tremor in the morning, but nothing more.  Had a quiet dinner in Fiskardo and an early night.

My friend Sue arrived on Saturday, so that evening we celebrated both our birthdays with some fizz on my balcony before going to a local restaurant for a good meal with some Greek music.

On Monday we took a boat trip to Ithaca.  The outward journey was great, stopping for a swim in a little bay, then a drink in a small village, and finally for some lunch in a little fishing village.  However the return journey was very choppy and we all got rather wet!  We had a good dinner in Fiskardo that evening back at the restaurant owned by the hotel manager’s husband.

Tuesday was a dreadful day – absolutely deluged down all morning.  Around 1.30pm it eased very slightly, so we had a wet walk down to the village for a drink and some taramasalata.  The rain stopped for a couple of hours, during which time we did a two mile walk out to the lighthouses and back up to our hotel.  Wednesday, thankfully, the sun came back, and I think a lot of the wasps had drowned so much easier day, although we were awoken by yet another earth tremor.

On Thursday however we were back to the storms again, being woken in the very early hours by loud claps of thunder.  The storm went on well into the morning, so Sue and I decided to take a taxi over to Assos for Sue to see what the pretty little village is like.  Sadly it was very wet and windy there but it got us out and about.  Happily the weather eased a little in the afternoon so that we could take a walk into Fiskardo.  Our last day, Friday, was sunny on and off so we managed most of the day by the pool.

My journey home was very elongated with a 6.40 flight to Athens and then a long wait for my 4.20 flight to London but eventually I got home by 8pm…. exhausted!  For me a rather disappointing trip.