Talking of which we were at a little secluded cove the other day - beach all to ourselves. The water was a sparkly turquoise colour perfectly clear and warm, Mark was snorkelling and I was just swimming around taking in the beauty of which is Sami Bay. We'd been there about an hour and were just sitting on our deck chairs, me reading a book and Mark looking through the binoculars at a yacht which had just anchored nearby when all of a sudden two families descended upon us complete with really excited kids with masks, snorkels, fishing nets - the whole kit and caboodle! The man must have felt sorry for us as he passed us and said "We'll only be about half an hour". Not that we minded at all - it was great to see kids enjoying themselves at the beach without a phone in sight. It did make me laugh to myself that we must be getting old when we prefer deckchairs, brollies and books to banana boats and all the other extreme watersports that we enjoyed when our son was young.
Mark at the secluded cove before the mass invasion!
Me swimming
Sami in the distance - you can just see the two ferries.
Banana boating with our son Tom in days gone by (on Kefalonia)!
Our newest rescue plants acquired from friends - the cacti - have flowered! Well at least one has. Meet Spike and Humpty Dumpty. Both Spike and Humpty Dumpty fell off the garden wall into the neighbours garden in the high winds and decapitated a few ears between them, but they're OK. Mark saved them, but not without injury - a few spikes in his hands. Spike is feeling a bit sorry for himself as his pot broken too so he is desperate to be repotted but we keep putting it off as I can imagine us needing super thick gloves to do it!
It's amazing how fast they grow! Humpty Dumpty was originally just the large oval shape back in April but he has acquired multiple ears now. I've even been successful in taking cuttings off a cactus near us (a red flowering one) and growing them in pots. Believe it or not I don't actually like cacti but Mark does and I like a challenge! The wall around the garden is now called Cactus Alley.
Spike on the left and Humpty Dumpty on the right - before the fall.
If you read my last post, you will remember me saying that the swallows looked like they were searching for a place to nest above the air conditioning unit at our villa. Well they found a place but it wasn't there. They decided to build their nest on the bracket of the canopy which overhangs the kitchen window. Crazy. I don't think they could afford a prime location such as the one at the water tower at the marina in Sami overlooking Sami Bay and Ithaca! They've had to come inland a bit! They have great views of the mountains though.
I have to say the finished product is a mean feat of engineering. They are not bothered at all about us being in the garden. Bobby chases them when they do a fly past and they in turn dive bomb him. The latest news is that they had five chicks but unfortunately we found one dead on the patio. Probably fallen out of the nest. Hopefully the other four survive. You can tell when it's feeding time as they all make a racket. The nest is beside our bedroom door and we sleep with the door open at night as it's so warm, so we can often hear the chicks cheeping away.
I had a quick peep at the nest one night (from a distance as not to disturb them) and found the four chicks and the mother in the nest (not sure how on earth they all fit in!) and the father sitting on the arm of the canopy watching over them. He knows his place!
The photo below reminded me of the video of the Queen song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' 😂
Canna lilies
Getting back to swimming - I was stung by a jellyfish for the first time ever, a few weeks ago at a lovely little cove.
Ellenika beach - site of the jellyfish
The water mill - lovely colours of the stonework in the sun
Possibly a jail/storehouse (barred windows)
Large house or school perhaps
House
In between gadding about, swimming, gardening and dog walking we have the upkeep of the house to consider. We have a long garden wall which has a mural on it. I'm thinking of re-painting it with sunflowers on (as we live at Sunflower Villa of course). Need to get my paints out and start designing.......how will I fit that in 🤔
I have to say the finished product is a mean feat of engineering. They are not bothered at all about us being in the garden. Bobby chases them when they do a fly past and they in turn dive bomb him. The latest news is that they had five chicks but unfortunately we found one dead on the patio. Probably fallen out of the nest. Hopefully the other four survive. You can tell when it's feeding time as they all make a racket. The nest is beside our bedroom door and we sleep with the door open at night as it's so warm, so we can often hear the chicks cheeping away.
I had a quick peep at the nest one night (from a distance as not to disturb them) and found the four chicks and the mother in the nest (not sure how on earth they all fit in!) and the father sitting on the arm of the canopy watching over them. He knows his place!
The photo below reminded me of the video of the Queen song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' 😂
'Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see'
Look up to the skies and see'
The swallow version of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Feed me!
Feed me!
The other night we heard an unusual bird call type sound which we didn't recognise. At first we thought it was an owl but when Mark ventured outside, he noticed the sound was very close. In fact it was coming from the bottom of the garden and it was a Balkan Frog! I think it was the mating call. Singing away it was, until he obviously heard Mark's footsteps and then 'plop' it was gone into the murky depths of the pond. It must have re-surfaced later as it went on to sing a symphony!
Our Balkan frog
The cicadas are singing their symphonies night and day too at the moment. I can only liken the sound to an early warning system. There are different pitches too, some high some low and you get so used to the noise that you are more aware when they stop completely en masse! It really takes you by surprise. It's soooo....... quiet. Not long though before they start chanting again.
The garden is really starting to spring into life. The plum trees are yielding their plums though we lost about 50% of them when we had really strong winds in May. They're really juicy and it's lovely on a morning while having breakfast in the garden just to grab a plum or two from the tree. The trouble is that they all ripen at the same time and I don't like waste so we've given some away. I must look like a plum now.
Our Balkan frog
The garden is really starting to spring into life. The plum trees are yielding their plums though we lost about 50% of them when we had really strong winds in May. They're really juicy and it's lovely on a morning while having breakfast in the garden just to grab a plum or two from the tree. The trouble is that they all ripen at the same time and I don't like waste so we've given some away. I must look like a plum now.
Plum tree
The lilies in tubs are putting on a grand show. They're huge! We have some peach and red ones. I've taken the seed pods off after they've flowered and storing the seeds for next year. We'll be able to have lots of pots of lilies (hopefully)! I'm trying one seed out at the moment just to see if anything grows. I've put it in with an umbrella plant for company just for now. 😂
Canna lilies
I'm terrible in the garden if something looks dead - I'll want to pull it out and replace it but fortunately Mark is the exact opposite. We originally had a Lantana in the garden growing up an arch but we had to take the arch down as the wood was rotten. We dug up the Lantana and put it in a pot while we decided what to do with it. It lost its leaves and even last year I'd given up on it as it seemed to be just wood and no leaves. When the pergola was finished, we decided it would be nice growing up one of the posts so we took it out of the pot and back into the garden. Still no growth and no leaves. At this point I wasn't really surprised as it didn't know whether it was coming or going! I was all set to dispose of it. Mark said there was still green under the bark and to leave it alone (chill!) and hey presto it must have heard my threats as it's suddenly burst into life and what a lovely colour it is. Swallowtail butterflies seems to like it too.
Lantana growing up the pergola post along with a Wisteria
Swallowtail butterflies like the Lantana
Cicada after a downpour - you can even see water droplets on its lace wings!
Getting back to swimming - I was stung by a jellyfish for the first time ever, a few weeks ago at a lovely little cove.
Ellenika beach - site of the jellyfish
I went out swimming and felt like my arm had brushed against some nettles. Thought nothing of it but there was a weird sensation on my arm so eventually I stopped to take a look but there were no marks there. I decided to return to the shore the same way I went out (unfortunately) and felt numerous brushings on my legs and arms. At this point I realized what it was and swam like I was being followed by a great white shark, to the shore. OK it wasn't a Portuguese man o' war but I now send Mark in with his mask and snorkel to give the all clear before I get in any water!
The culprit - it even looks evil!
We had a trip out to St George's Castle in May, to have chicken curry at the cafe/bar - 'ΤΟ ΚΑΣΤΡΟ' (The Castle) which is located just before the entrance. The chicken curry was recommended to us and it certainly didn't disappoint. The cafe/bar itself is very pretty and has stunning views. Reminded me a little of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland.
St George's Castle
The view from the castle across the sea with Zante on the horizon.
ΤΟ ΚΑΣΤΡΟ (The Castle) - Cafe/Bar
Very pretty entrance
We went out on my birthday at the end of May to one of our local favourite tavernas. We had sat down and were ready to order when Mark asked if I realised I had a sticker on my sunglasses. How did I not see that? I then asked the waiter if he could take a photo of us both which he did, then he asked if I would like one taken from the backside? Both of us refrained from laughing and said yes. The night was off to a good start!
Photo from the backside!
The Ionian earthquake, of August 12th 1953, devastated most of the island of Kefalonia. Lots of ruins remain to this day. The village of Old Vlachata about 15 minutes from us was abandoned after the earthquake. It still remains on the hillside above Karavomylos with only trees and shrubs occupying the ruins.
Although living close by, we'd never seen it, so we decided to see for ourselves the devastation that the earthquake left behind. According to published historical sources the village existed already before the 16th century. I couldn't find too much information on the village, pre-earthquake, when I was researching it so it was left to our initiative as to what the buildings could have been used for. We could be completely wrong of course! We found evidence of stone ovens and lots of water wells.
It was so quiet when we were there - nobody around and only the clanking of goat bells to keep us company. It was a hot day so we went with plenty water though there were lots of olive and fig trees for shade.
No walking boots for us! - You can't beat flip flops and sandals for walking on stony ground! Mark snagged the front part of his sandal on a protruding piece of stone and it came completely off. He had to stomp his way around from then on. That will teach us.
As the earthquake hit in 1953, most of the buildings on Kefalonia are new, so the Venetian architecture of the ruins (colour and style) gives us just a glimpse into the past and how the buildings used to look.
The main village square - Saristra - plays host to an annual arts and music festival every year.
Site of Old Vlachata
Although living close by, we'd never seen it, so we decided to see for ourselves the devastation that the earthquake left behind. According to published historical sources the village existed already before the 16th century. I couldn't find too much information on the village, pre-earthquake, when I was researching it so it was left to our initiative as to what the buildings could have been used for. We could be completely wrong of course! We found evidence of stone ovens and lots of water wells.
It was so quiet when we were there - nobody around and only the clanking of goat bells to keep us company. It was a hot day so we went with plenty water though there were lots of olive and fig trees for shade.
No walking boots for us! - You can't beat flip flops and sandals for walking on stony ground! Mark snagged the front part of his sandal on a protruding piece of stone and it came completely off. He had to stomp his way around from then on. That will teach us.
As the earthquake hit in 1953, most of the buildings on Kefalonia are new, so the Venetian architecture of the ruins (colour and style) gives us just a glimpse into the past and how the buildings used to look.
The main village square - Saristra - plays host to an annual arts and music festival every year.
The water mill - lovely colours of the stonework in the sun
Water mill showing the dried up river bed
Possibly the main municipal building at the entrance to the village
Possibly a jail/storehouse (barred windows)
Row of houses on a street
House
Large house or school perhaps
One of many water wells
Another house
Cooking area
In between gadding about, swimming, gardening and dog walking we have the upkeep of the house to consider. We have a long garden wall which has a mural on it. I'm thinking of re-painting it with sunflowers on (as we live at Sunflower Villa of course). Need to get my paints out and start designing.......how will I fit that in 🤔
Hopefully it will be ready for next blog post! Though I think not! Wait and see......
