Two Sore Backs

We leave the Peloponnese at the port of Kyllini.

We arrive at Poros a few hours later.

We add a passenger: Kath is hitchhiking to Sami-just up the road. We meet on the ferry, breaking the ice by talking about our common footwear. Kath also sports Bedrock Sandals. These sandals are popular in N America although she is a very well travelled Aussie.

We head to Sami.

We haven’t booked accommodation. We end up driving across the island, checking out a few villages along the way and find a perfect location.

Driving across the island is noteworthy. The island is extremely hilly with deep gorges. Roads are windy and you are either climbing or descending. Our rental car does remarkably well on these roads.

We stay in Divarata. We have a terrific little apartment. Our hosts Anna and Spiros are very pleasant. We sample Anna’s apricot preserves (great with Greek yoghurt).

The property has a great view and lovely gardens (and a hammock). I am reminded of BC’s Okanagan valley.

Bonus: we are only a short walk away from some terrific tavernas.

The highlights on Cephalonia are the wonderful seaside towns and beaches we visit. The water is so BLUE!

One of our favourite beaches, Mitros, is just down the road from our apartment. On our first evening we head down the road on foot and get a distant view of the beach at sunset.

That switchback down to the beach looks a little overwhelming on foot so we’ll drive down tomorrow for a swim.

Day 2. Before heading to the beach, we find a great breakfast place in the village.

The mountainside is steep. The switchbacks down to the beach are impressive. The main highway runs along the top of the ridge.

These next few photos are taken a few days later as we drive north out of Divarata, stopping at a scenic viewpoint high above Mitros beach. The beach looks tiny. It isn’t.

This next photo shows the descent and switchbacks to the beach. The first night we walked as far as the top of the road on the far upper left.

Beach time!

Most Greek beaches we visit are pebbly. There is a white film on the rocks that ends up on hats and clothes. It is harmless.

The beach has a steep drop off. The pebbles tend to give way so it is two steps into the water and then you are swimming in clear blue water and can’t touch bottom.

Day 3. We explore the south of Cephalonia. Our destination is Avithos Beach. This beach is sandy and shallow.

We visit a nearby winery. The weather is moody today: it is more conducive to wine tasting than lounging at the beach.

Day 4. We head north today with stops at that viewpoint and then on to Asos, Fiskardo, Kimilia Beach and finally to catch the sunset at Amelies Beach.

Asos is a quant village with a nice beach.

The sure sign of a nice beach is a row of umbrellas.

We head to the very north, to Fiskardo, where the bigger yachts and sailboats hang out.

Next stop is nearby Kimilia Beach. It is an easy hike in to a lovely, uncrowded beach. We come across a nest along the path. We think the nest is for turtles.

Our final stop is Amelies Beach for the sunset.

Day 5 is our last full day on Cephalonia, and we hike into Fteri Beach. This is a full day. The hike is a challenging 6 km (90 minutes) on a hot day.

There is scrambling along rocks. The path is tricky in places. (There is also water taxi service to the beach – next time 😉.)

Our reward is a few hours at an amazing beach.

Here is a dive sequence –

We bring plenty of water to sustain us for the return 6km journey. I am very happy to get back to the car.

Day 6 is Moving Day. Before leaving we make one last visit to Mitros Beach. It is Saturday and much busier. The sky and water are so darned BLUE!

Then it is back to Sami to catch a ferry: next stop is Ithaca.