Along the south and east coast of Kefalonia

We set out early today to explore the south side of the island. We see the sun now and then but we assume that today will not be a beach day because it is also a bit cooler and there is a strong wind. From Lakithra we go down the narrow roads again, we are still quite high up the hills. We start again at the back of the airport, which lies close to the sea and where the planes fly over your head like on many Greek islands. I continue to find it a spectacular sight, especially when you look up, lying in the sea when it looks like you can touch them.

From the airport to the south are a number of small beaches that are less known and where it is normally a little quieter, but today there is no one at all and the water looks fierce. Elisabeth once was almost dragged into the strong current a few years ago on Lefkas, I think, so we did get respect for the power of the water.

The various small beaches on this side of Kefalonia are often hidden or can only be reached by stairs from the sometimes high rocks. At Pessada we see a beautiful, completely deserted beach at the bottom of steep high rocks. That is not always without danger because 2 months after our trip a part of a rock collapses on Zakynthos, on a beach where many tourists were. And with the earthquakes that they have now and thenm, there is always a risk, wherever you are.
At the little harbor on the right, the apostle Paul seems to have been shipwrecked, says a small shrine.

We come through a number of small villages that are nice but not very special until we reach the southeast point of the island. There lies Skala where among other things the remains of a Roman villa from the 2nd century ad. cab be visited. There are still six rooms visible and some mosaics are still in good shape. The use of mosaics on the floor was very common in Roman villas and manor farms. In many countries around the Mediterranean, these floors are just in the open air, but here they have made a roof against erosion caused by the rain.

This trip we want to take some more pictures of images and icons in Greek Orthodox churches, we have not done that much. For us the icons are a kind of art form but for the Greek they have a lot more meaning. That is why it is nice that there is no one in the St. George chapel so that we can quietly look around and photograph. The icons (biblical images painted on wood) have a vibrant color, as if they were just made and the style is simple, but also intrusive.

Of course, the Greek-Ortodox church claims, like many ohers, to have the real truth in lease. Coincidentally I have a book, 'What is orthodoxy' in which is explained why that is: because it is so ..., because it is written ... and so on. What strikes me most is that this belief strongly adhere to traditions and renounces innovations. That is also not necessary, they say, we already have the truth and everything else is arranged by traditions that we must follow. Strange reasons that we can not always follow, but fortunately everyone can believe what he / she wants, as far as we are concerned.

Next to the church are the foundations of an old shrine from the 6th century BC. But the site is fenced and there is only an information board that tells that these remains were discovered in 1812 with some objects (such as pottery for determining the date) but that it is not known for which deity the temple was built.
According to our travel guide, Skala has a lot of sun and little wind, but today it is the other way around. There are beautiful, long sandy beaches, but they are mostly empty and we also find it too cold today.

Along the east coast we drive north, towards Poros where we arrived the day before yesterday with the ferry but on the way we are bothered by a cow who is not willing to move aside, it takes a while before it goes to the side.
Poros is only a small town and, even though it is quiet now, there are usually more tourists than residents (about 1,000). We walk around and choose a spot on one of the terraces overlooking the sea. In our guide we read that in the gorge behind Poros you can also see a cave where prehistoric remains have been found, but it is not known whether you can actually visit it. We are going to visit 2 other caves anyway on Kefalonia so we save this one for another time.

When we leave again, we take the route through the gorge and also see a sign to a Mycenaean grave from 1,350 BC, a so-called tholos. However, the gate is closed and there is no one to see, so we have to settle for a photo from afar. Here too, we see a roof over the excavation, a good sign that it is being taken care of. Now they should start to earn some money by admitting visitors. The economic crisis may well be over here, but there are still so many opportunities to make money from the art and cultural treasures that the country has.

We slowly return between the forested mountain slopes. It is raining more and more often and it has become really cold, below 20 degrees. The roads we take now are very bad and occasionally there is missing a piece or there are thick boulders along and on the road so we do not progress very fast.

Occasionally we are driving through the fog but when it suddenly becomes clear again, we have a beautiful view of the valley behind the mountains. And when we go into the valley, we see a castle on a rock in the middle of it, that we hadn't noticed before. Later we find out that we can even see it from the parking lot at our apartment.
We are just in time at home because the rain is now continuously falling and there is a strong wind, no weather to be outside. Yet we also see the first mosquitoes since we are here. Is that a sign that the weather is going to be better?