KEFALONIA - a taste of untamed Greece
By now I have come across many interesting sites and information about Kefalonia. Here I will try to compile everything and anything about this unforgettable island, all the tricks and trinkets but also many beautiful memories and thoughts that some of us have decided to share with the world. And of course, my own reminiscence of the places I still consider a hidden piece of heaven, places that will be carved into my memory forever and that still make me return to this island year after year.
For those who do not know me, and those who do (respect ! ), it may seem quite odd for a Croatian girl to be so overwhelmed by anything else than the beautiful Adriatic sea. True, no place ever feels as good as home, no pine ever smells as fine as back home, no beach ever feels as beautiful as back in the deep blue Adriatic. We like to call it the ''Mediterranean as it once was''... But then, there's Kefalonia... And it feels like home! Once you get to know it's soul, you'll never stop coming back. A paradise lost and found, a place of unspoiled beauty, still mostly untouched by evil tentacles of mass tourism. Wherever & whenever in Greece, I always get that special feel about places. The 'greek' spirit. But Kefalonia has had and still has a true greek spirit in its purest form. No view from the balcony of a 5* hotel can ever make you feel as blessed as a dusty old dirt-track somewhere on the kefalonian west coast, a piece of rock to climb on and a breathtaking view of the Ionian sea in all its might, followed by a distant tinkle of a goat bell somewhere among countless olive groves. An ideal escape for all you nature lovers, hikers, photographers, all those seeking a very relaxing and alternative type of tourism and a taste of untamed Greece.
FACTFILE
Kefalonia is one of the biggest and indisputably the most beautiful islands in Greece, but still mostly unspoilt. Its 781 square kms lie on the seductive waters of the Ionian sea, about 30 miles off the western coast of the mainland.
The island's countless bays and inlets have given it it's odd shape and have abetted it's maritime traditions from the earliest of times. Two peninsulas jut out from the centre of the island, the Erissos peninsula in the north and the Paliki peninsula to the west and south. The rocky coastline of Kefalonia is studded with small and spotlessly clean pebble and sandy beaches of which the islanders are justifiably proud.
The climate of the island is temperate and sunny for most of the year. Winters are mild and rainy, summers are warm but not too hot as temperatures seldom rise above 40 degrees centigrade.
- the largest of the Ionian Islands with a landmass of 781 km2
- 53 nautical miles (3 hours) to Patras and 22.5 nautical miles (1 hour and 15min) to Killini on Mainland Greece
- Kefalonia rises in the south the mass of Mount Aenos to 1625m above sea level and is densely carpeted by the protected and rare Kefallonian black fir tree (abies cephalonica); the mountain is also home to its famous wild horses and has abundant flora and fauna, with 1014 rare species
- the continuous interchanging of the green and fertile to the barren and then rugged coastline and dreamlike beaches with clear blue waters is a reflection of the huge variety to be found within the island's landscape
Capital: ARGOSTOLI
Population: the island supports a mere 30,000 people, although many of these live in Athens during the winter
Currency: Euro
Eating out: Bottled water costs 40±80 cent; lunch for two costs around €15; dinner with wine for two costs around €40.
Kefalonia climate: Spring in Kefalonia sees temperatures of between 15C and 18C, with relatively dry days and around 7 or 8 hours of sunshine a day. Swimming in the sea is possible, and the pleasant weather during these months is ideal for sightseeing and walking holidays. June and July sees the temperatures rising to 23C - 30C, and frequently reaching 35C. With no rain and the sun shining for up to 12 hours of sun a day, the weather during the summer season is very reliable, making the island the perfect spot for a beach holiday. Temperatures remain high during the summer, as the island sees little winds to temper the heat.
The autumn months bring the likelihood of rain, although the weather remains warm and the sun still shines between 7 and 9 hours a day. Temperatures drop to 22C in September and 18C in October. Winters remain mild, with temperatures reaching lows of 9C, and plenty of rain expected throughout the season. This abundant rainfall, so typical of the Ionian islands, is integral in helping to maintain Kefalonias' lush green landscape.
Update!!: However this July (around 25th) I had a sort of misfortune to witness a heat wave that has afflicted mostly Mediterranean countries, and made the temperatures rise to, as I was informed, unbelievable 48C in Kefalonia, the air was thin and hard to breathe, and the chances of performing any kind of tourist activity were reduced to zero. A 10-minute walk to the beach seemed like a Sisyphean task from hell. In-car air-conditiong was at the maximum, on the verge of icicles forming on our toes, and only the brave ones had the guts to step out of the car. I believe this very product of global warming + a human factor (of course) were also responsible for the great forest fires around Skala and elsewhere on the island, and also for a major collapse of the electric system, the air-conditioners all over Kefalonia were on full throttle so the whole island witnessed a short total blackout.
What to avoid: Going out without sun block on; standing on black spiky sea rock creatures
| Will my mobile phone work?
Mobile phones are quite widely used on the islands now with several networks available so you shouldn't have any problems, except perhaps in the most remote or mountainous of places. Do watch out though, it is easy to run up a huge bill. You will get charged in the region of 0.70 gbp just to connect and you are likely to be charged for incoming calls, voice messages and anything your supplier can think to charge you for. 1953 earthquake: measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale severely affected most of kefalonian villages , with Fiscardo to the north being the only large town not to be severely affected. It hence holds the most original architecture with many of the Venetian style buildings in use today. |
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