We've been living on this beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia now for 17 months. We live close to Sami which is a ferry port/harbour lying on the central East coast of the island, ideal for exploring all of Kefalonia. So.... for the past 17 months as we walk the dogs along the beach every day from Sami to Karavomylos we take in the view of the island of Ithaca which is only just over 2 miles away. Also for the past 17 months we've only ever seen one side of the island. I've always wondered what it was like on the other side. Bit like the moon I suppose!
Ithaca as seen from Kefalonia. 
Ithaca is 14 miles long and 4 miles wide at its widest point. It consists of two parts connected by the narrow isthmus of Aetos just 1,969 feet wide. The two parts enclose the bay of Molos where the harbor of Vathy, the capital, is situated. One of the alternative names for Ithaca is Piccola Kefalonia -meaning small Kefalonia.
When we first arrived on Kefalonia, we said that we would never take the view of Ithaca for granted, as it is stunning, so we constantly remind ourselves just how incredible it is. It's not hard to do this as it seems almost all our photos have all or some part of Ithaca in them. Our favourite drive is the coastal route which takes us from Sami through Agia Effimia and up to Fiskardo in the very North of Kefalonia, so Ithaca is there in every shot!
Dog walk - Kefalonia on the left in the foreground, Ithaca in the distance.
Karavomylos harbour (with our boat Athina Vaso). Ithaca in the distance.
The ferry on its way from Ithaca (right) to Kefalonia (left)
Stunning view even with snow. Kefalonia on the left, Ithaca on the right.
I wonder if they had snowmen on Ithaca in January this year? We did!
The strait of Ithaca separating Kefalonia (left) from Ithaca (right).
Mark - Kefalonia on the left, Ithaca on the right and behind Mark
Driving the coastal route - Neochori on Kefalonia, overlooking Ithaca
Driving the coastal route - Komitata on Kefalonia, overlooking Ithaca
Sami bay with Ithaca in the distance - taken from the Argostoli road
Looking at Ithaca through eucalyptus vertical blinds.
Ithaca at night.
.............Even the Sami football team have views of Ithaca!
.......and because a video is just a bit better than photos for atmosphere, here's Rocky and Bobby admiring the view of Ithaca - NOT!
We could go to Ithaca in Athina Vaso the boat and it would take about 45 minutes, but once there we'd have to find alternative transport to tour the island. We've heard so much about Ithaca - how picturesque, beautiful and unspoilt it is, but we've never actually been there......until now......or should I say I've been to Ithaca. Mark hasn't.
This all came about because our friend Deb visited just recently and she wanted to go on a boat cruise. As the cruises are all day ones, both Mark and I couldn't go as we didn't want to leave the dogs all day at home, so Mark stayed behind and Deb and I had the day to ourselves. Thanks Mark!
So Ithaca is famous for being the home of the legendary Odysseus, King of Ithaca and "Homer's Odyssey". Homer's Odyssey is written by the Greek poet Homer in 8th century BC, and portrays Odysseus's adventures home from Troy at the end of the Trojan war. The journey took 10 years and involved contact with lotus eaters and Cyclops, amongst other monsters. Some journey.....
Ithaca Part 2 will be the blog post covering the journey across in the camper van, this time with Mark and the dogs, either later this year or spring next year, exploring more of the island.
For now though......Here's a snippet of our day trip boat cruise to see the other side of the moon, stopping off at Kioni, Gidaki beach and Vathy.
All aboard - Me and Deb in Agia Effimia - the starting point.
Me - "I need to be in control"
Deb - "No - I need to be in control!"
Leaving Agia Effimia
Approaching Kioni
......and of course the video - approaching Kioni
Kioni was very picturesque - we wandered around and had lunch at one of the tavernas.
Not sure what shop?
Red red wine.....
Me and Deb
For sale
...and the inside
An old ruin but could be made to look beautiful.
Next stop of point was Gidaki beach. Even though it was September, it was a hot day and we welcomed the chance to cool off and sink (after lunch) into the turquoise water of Gidaki beach. When I say turquoise, I mean TURQUOISE!
Gidaki beach
We were frantic to get in the water as was everyone else. People just didn't swim around the boat though - there seemed to be an overall urge to swim ashore and once they were ashore, they stood on the beach and looked back at the boat. Bit weird really. As if the boat was about to sink!
When we got ashore I thought it would be a good idea to walk to the end of the beach, so we started off but then Deb looked back and noticed that everyone seemed to be swimming back to the boat. They didn't tell us how long we had at the beach and I had assumed we would be there for about 30 minutes or so..... but no...... just enough time for a dip.
Panic stations! Deb had said she wasn't that good a swimmer and it would take her a while to swim back. Oops!
I remember looking back and seeing Deb in the water. I heard her say "I don't seem to be getting anywhere!"
Is Deb onboard? No? - not sure where she is?
We travelled from Gidaki beach to Vathy, the capital of Ithaca. We couldn't see Vathy from the coastline as it's hidden in a bay within a bay. Something quite secretive about it. On the way in there was a gorgeous little church on the headland. Must get the watercolour paints out!
St Andreas church with the little island of Atokos in the distance.
Lazaretto island
Looking from Vathy to show the exit of the harbour around Lazaretto island
Vathy
Deb and I
Me at Vathy
Deb and I stopped for more food here at a little cafe called Toxotis. What drew our attention was the colourful cushions and matching flowers in the plant pots. No it wasn't the menu!
There was a photo in the menu of what seemed to be a shortbread biscuit with banana, ice-cream and chocolate sauce and underneath descriptions of the varieties and combinations of toppings. When we asked the waiter if we could have the shortbread biscuit with the pineapple, coconut, chocolate, ice cream and grand marnier - he said that was available as a photo only!
Anyway... we ended up being served a pineapple, ice cream and chocolate crepe. It was lovely but I was so looking forward to shortbread......
Toxotis and the crepes. Deb with mouth full.
Toxotis
Once boarded it was the journey back to Agia Effimia. We had just left the harbour, standing on the top deck looking out over the sparkly blue sea, when it came over the tannoy system that if a man had lost his mobile phone to please call at the command deck where it could be retrieved.
Deb suddenly started rummaging furiously around in her bag for her phone. Guess what - it wasn't there! She went to retrieve it in the command centre. It had been handed in to one of the crew of the cruise ship. Where had it been picked up? We thought the likely scenario was that she had left it at Toxotis. The crew didn't tell us but we were grateful to whoever it was. The crew thought it was a man's phone as it was in a blue waterproof case.
It wasn't until I got home and uploaded the photos that I saw her mobile phone on the chair in Toxotis! Check it out in the photo above. The waiter must have picked it up and handed it in. How he knew we were from the cruise ship we'll never know unless he followed us after we left. Bless him. There are still honest people around. I've since left a message on their Facebook Page to thank them.
Leaving Vathy, passing the church of St. Andreas again to go home.
Deb - "Home - It's that way"
Ithaca done.....at least a little bit.
Watch out for Ithaca Part 2......coming soon.
