Kefallonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, it also has the highest mountain of the islands, Ainos, 1628m. Last year we were in the main town of Argostoli and spent several days there in a deserted marina, taking the bus across the island - beautiful.
Now we've been here in Agia Eufemia for 6 days, 2 of them at anchor, then at the pier. The weather is very changeable, so we prefer the pier with its many tavernas and stores.
We hired a car for a day and went to see the places we hadn't seen before - simply amazing.
We first went along the large bay of Sami to the Melissani karst spring. Like many other tourists, we let ourselves be rowed through the crystal clear water, looked up into the sky and laughed at our rower's jokes. The water that collects there flows underground to the south for 14 days. After about 30 km it arrives at Argostoli. Last year we had seen where it comes to the surface again.
Melissani karst spring
Then we went up high into the national park on the Ainos peak with its huge forests of Kefallonia pines, which got their name from here. A bit like the Allgäu, but with indescribable views of Argostoli, the sea and the southernmost of the islands, Zakynthos. The western side is extremely steep, so that we look directly down to the turquoise sea 1600 m below us.
Ainos National Park
We continue through karstified, sometimes desert-like mountains down to Argostoli, then back up onto the road, which is cut into the steep slope high above the west coast, with views of bays with vertical rock faces.
Then a highlight: a tiny narrow road down to Myrtos Beach, said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. And it's true. Incredible turquoise, a huge white beach in front of vertical white cliffs with caves and grottos.
Myrtos Beach
As we were in the Northwest of the Island already we visited Assos, a spectacular village situated on a headland between two bays, with a Byzantine fortress. Car-free. Colourful little houses, a fishing port, beautiful tavernas - also wonderful. The return journey then takes us through rather lovely green valleys with palm trees, yuccas and cypresses, and is of course also extremely winding.
Assos
At the end of the trip, we returned to the taverna Palazzo al Mare, where we enjoyed excellent food and good wine - then we had to digest all our experiences with an ouzo on board.