Freelance Holidays Kefalonia Magazine 2018

KEFALONIA
• S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 •
O U R I S L A N D G U I D E
HELPFUL SAFETY
PLACES TO EXPLORE &
TIPS & ADVICE
DISCOVER
How to get the most out of
your self-catering villa
Detailed beach guide &
places to visit

YOUR CONTACT PERSON
Diane Steger Koronaki
Greece Operations Director
Crete- Kefalonia
Office on Crete:
Diana's Travel
Chryssi Akti, Chania
Crete
+30 28210 33575
Mobile phone
+30 6944 453 008
imessage-Whatsapp-viber
email: diane.steger@freelance-holidays.co.uk
Welcome to Kefalonia!
For over 30 years I have been living in Greece & this year
marks my 30th year working with Freelance Holidays. I love
to be of assistance & do my best to ensure people have a
great holiday!
The following guide provides useful information at your
fingertips when you need it. Please ensure to read about the
important section about living in a holiday home which will
help you get acquainted with the area you are in & around
the island in general.
Feel free to contact me throughout your stay if you need any
assistance. My motto is "Report it- to Sort it". I am based on
the island of Crete but travel back & forth to Kefalonia during
the summer. I also have an assistant, who lives on Kefalonia,
Jane Rutherford, who is able to step in when I need her.
OUR LOCAL AGENT:
Freelance Holidays is locally
represented by CBR Travel. They
have offices dotted around the
island. Feel free to contact them
for excursions & car hire on the
below numbers:
Argostoli office for Excursions:
+30 26710 27175
Lassi office for Car hire Only:
+30 26710 22770
Office hours 9am-9pm
You have freedom from 'rep meetings' & can call us if ever
you need anything during your holiday.
Have a wonderful stay!
Diane
"Report it to Sort it"
KEFALONIA | PAGE 1

contents
3-10
HEALTH & SAFETY
General Safety Issues, Cleaning Service,
Living in a Holiday Home, Using
the Air Conditioner, Keeping Healthy
& Swimming Pool Rules
11-23
SHOPPING & EATING OUT
Speaking Greek, Public Holidays,
General facilities & Map F of Argostoli
Facilities, Shopping for Food, Greek
Food, Eating Out Guide, Recipes, Siesta
24-35
EXPLORING KEFALONIA
Beaches, Beach Guide, Exploring the
Island, Map D with Places to visit, and
Ithaki Island
36
DEPARTURE DAY
Vacating your Accommodation,
Returning Car Hire & Taxi Transfers
37-45
MAP SECTION
Area Maps Showing Nearest Facilities to
our Villas
Map 1- Lakythra & villa
Map 2- Lourdas & villas
Map 3- Karavados/Trapezaki & villas
Map 4- Sami area & villa
Map 5- Sami town & villa
Map 6- Fiscardo area & villas
Map 7- Katelios & villas
Map 8- Spartia & villas
Map 9- Skala & villas
KEFALONIA | PAGE 2

GENERAL SAFETY
INFORMATION
One of the joys of travelling is to experience a different
way of life. It may be different from what you are used to
at home & for a short period of time you have to adapt.
Please follow the guidelines below ensure a safe &
healthy holiday. Get to know your surroundings of the
property & ensure your children are kept safe!
CHILDREN
As we know children are naturally curious, especially
when on holiday where there are lots of areas and things
to be explored. Please ensure that children are not left
unsupervised at anytime during your holiday and be extra
careful around the swimming pool, on balconies, stairs,
raised terraces or gardens.
BALCONIES
If you are travelling with young children, please make sure
that they are not left unsupervised. Keep furniture away
from the railings so they don't climb up. Please do not
stand, climb or lean on balconies or balustrades.
BBQ
Please do not leave the BBQ unattended when in use and
make sure that it is extinguished after use. Please
remember not to put hot ashes in plastic rubbish bags
and please leave the BBQ area clean when finished.
Charcoal for the BBQ & firelighters are sold in mini
markets sometimes in a brown bag or loose in plastic
shopping bags. To ask for it in Greek just say ‘karvouna’.
***As normal in Greece, you have to
put the toilet paper in the bins that
are provided and not in the toilet!
It will block drains & require a visit from
a plumber. Please tell all members in
your party of this rule. This also applies
for public toilets.
BATHROOMS
Tiled floors, when wet, are very slippery so take
caution when coming out of the tub or shower & do
not walk barefoot with very wet feet!
A special cloth bath mat (towel material) is provided.
The hot water from the taps can, on occasions, be
scolding hot. Particular care should be taken when
bathing or showering children.
DRINKING WATER
All of the houses in the area of Magganos - Fiscardo
(the north part) rely on their water supply to be
delivered via tanker, which is usually sourced from a
desalination plant in Fiscardo. Therefore it is
NECESSARY to use bottled water for cooking &
drinking when staying in these areas!
These deliveries are quite expensive so please
use tap water sparingly when staying in these
regions.
The towns on the south of Kefalonia do not have this
system & the water is treated & piped to the various
villages. Therefore you can drink it from the taps
although if you are prone to stomach irritations & for
small children it is best to stick with bottled water,
which luckily is still quite inexpensive when bought at
mini markets & supermarkets.
Please report to Diane if you experience a water cut.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 3

LIVING IN A
HOLIDAY HOME
As you are renting the property of a private owner we ask
that you will give it the same care and consideration as
you would your own.
HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE
The housekeeper, will come in every 3rd or 4th day to
service the villa. Unless you have booked for less than a
week, then they will not change your sheets but you will
get fresh towels.
The pool towels are for the duration of your stay & they
not laundered or changed mid-stay. Note that on the
departure day the property needs to be ready for the next
arrivals, so please respect the 10am departure time.
Tipping is acceptable if you are happy with the service.
When
the housekeeper comes
midweek, it is a good idea to
keep out of the way so
that the job can be efficient
INSECTS
Mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches and other insects
are endemic in warmer climates, particularly in
country areas. Ant sprays are a good repellent but
it also helps to keep crumbs & grains of sugar to a
minimum.
Mosquitoes can be kept at bay by a good repellent,
which can be purchased in the local mini markets
and supermarkets. For inside, it is best that you use
machines with tablets or liquid in your
bedroom. Check the bedside tables as usually
there are machines left for your use. Note that you
need to replace the tablets every 8 hours (they
start off blue then go white). There are green coils
that can burn outside which give off fumes. DO
NOT leave them on the table, they are for the floor
which are tiled/ cement.
STRAY CATS
Stray cats & dogs are quite common in Greece &
the temptation to feed & look after them can be
irresistible but please do not use the plates & bowls
from the house. Also please do not let any cats
inside the accommodation as they can damage the
furniture & the next guests may be allergic to them.
A note of warning for a property located in the
countryside, leaving doors open & unattended
especially at night is an invitation for mice to come
in.
RUBBISH & RECYCLING
Please do not leave bags of rubbish outside as you are in
the country & it can attract mice & insects.
If you wish to get rid of your rubbish in between the
housekeeping service, please follow the signs on the bins
according.
The non-recyclables & toilet bin rubbish go in the green
bins & will be removed by the cleaner.
You will see several blue bins with different labels on the
front & a different coloured lid on the bin.
All Paper recyclables will go into one blue bin with
YELLOW lid.
Metal tins- plastic bottles- glass bottles & cartons go into
the blue bin with the RED lid.
Save energy & turn off lights
during the daytime
ELECTRICITY & LIGHTS
Power cuts are common. So if the power does go
off, first check if it is an area cut with your nearest
neighbour. If a neighbouring house does have
power, then contact Diane.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 4

REMOVING PROPERTY
We must ask you DO NOT take household items such as
towels, blankets and patio furniture away from the
property as these can invariably get damaged, lost or
broken, spoiling the next guests’ comfort. Please do not
use the white bath towels as floor mats. In addition,
indoor furniture must not be taken outside.
HOME SECURITY
BREAKAGES / DAMAGE
We realize that accidents do occur from time to time and
it would be helpful if you could let us know or the owner
of any damages at the first opportunity, so that
replacements can be speedily obtained. As stated in the
booking conditions you would be required to cover
replacement costs as appropriate.
Please take care of shutters and doors and screensespecially
on windy days or drafts that are created
when two doors are open at the same time. Ensure that
shutters are held open with the fastener or closed
properly, otherwise they will bang open & closed in the
wind & get damaged. Close umbrellas when you are
away from the property, as strong winds can happen
without notice. You will be held responsible for damages
to the property if damages occur due to your
negligence.
Please note that it is normal here in Greece for entrance
doors NOT to have a handle on the outside. So it is
therefore very easy to get locked out if the door slams
shut in a breeze or if you just forget the key! If your key
is in the lock on the inside, this makes it impossible to
open it from the outside with another key. A locksmith is
then required to get the door open and you will be
responsible to pay him.
Helpful hints to avoid getting locked out:
• keep the key in your pocket
• leave the key on the outside of the door (when
you are around the property)
• find a hiding place outside of the house so all
members of the party have access
• use something to brace the door open.
If you are unfortunate and get locked out please
do not attempt to climb through windows or break
down doors. Please call Diane so that she can sort
out a spare to be sent to you via the owner or a
taxi.
Note that the costs to get a spare key to you will
be your responsibility.
SECURITY
Generally speaking, theft is a rare occurrence
in Kefalonia, but to be on the safe side, please take
the following security measures:
• If your villa has a safe, please ensure you use it
for all your valuables & passports.
• Always lock the villa securely when you go out
and secure all shutters, windows & doors.
• When you are by the pool, please ensure that all
doors and windows that cannot be seen from the
pool are closed & locked and that your
possessions are not on show.
• Never leave personal items such as mobile
phones, tablets & cameras unattended.
• Jewelry, cash & passports should be kept safe.
• Keep a separate record of your passport
numbers and details of your credit cards.
• Keep your car locked and never leave things on
display in the vehicle. Make sure they are out of
sight and secured in the boot.
In the unlikely event of a theft, notify Diane . A
theft must be reported within 24hours.
TOURIST POLICE STATIONS:
Argostoli +30 26710 28404
Sami +30 26740 22100
Skala/Poros +30 26740 72070
Fiskardo +30 26740 41460
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KEFALOINA|
| PAGE 5
KEFALONIA

AIR CONDITIONING
BE GREEN AND ECONOMICAL!
Air conditioning units are very demanding of electricity & it is normal for a power cut to happen on the hottest days
which is when everyone has their air con working.. Whilst we do appreciate that you will have paid for teh use of air
conditioning, we would ask, for everyone's benefit that you take the following precautions:
Temperature gauge in Celsius should be set
between 20˚-22˚ in summer and in winter no
more than 24˚.
Please keep ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS SHUT
when the air conditioning is in use, otherwise
the unit will just keep working non-stop and
waste electricity.
Please do not leave the unit on when you are
NOT in the accommodation. It only takes about
a ½ an hour to get the property to the
temperature required.
There are only a few times during the summer
months when there is a heat wave where
temperatures soar in the 30’s, but other than
those times we advise that you do not leave the
a/c units on over night. One, it is a waste of
energy and two it isn’t a very healthy
environment to sleep with the a/c on. The
evening breezes are a better way to cool down.
Just open the windows and shut the shutters.
Ensure to have the anti-mosquito machine
plugged in with the tablet. And you will find that
the temperature is quite reasonable.
USING THE REMOTE CONTROL
Ensure the windows are closed as most rental properties have 'electronic traps' on the windows & the
air conditioners will not start if the window is even slightly open!
In general the unit is set at the necessary temperature required from the previous guests or by the owner,
and it is just a matter of pointing the remote at the machine & pushing the ON/OFF button.
It usually takes a few minutes before any air will start to blow out of the vents, so just be patient.
The MODE button tells you of the setting that the machine is sets on.
The snowflake symbol is for COOL air
Sunshine symbol is for HOT air
The FAN blade setting means that it will just circulate the air in the room, at room temperature.
The SWING button will make the vents move and the air circulates in the room regardless of what
mode you are in.
KEFALOINA| PAGE 2
KEFALONIA | PAGE 6

KEEPING HEALTHY
The main health hazard in Greece is overexposure to the sun, so wear a hat and sunglasses during the summer
months and use a high-factor suntan lotion, especially for the first days of your arrival. See the Beaches page for
more sun tanning tips.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid any danger of dehydration.
Pharmacies (farmakia) are
recognized by a red or green cross on
a white background. Greek
pharmacists are highly trained and
can usually advise on treatments for
minor complaints. They are also able
to dispense a number of medicines
which in other countries are available
only by prescription. In the larger
towns pharmacists operate a Rota to
provide 24-hour coverage- details are
posted in pharmacy windows.
HOURS Mon-Fri 09.00-14.00 &
Tue/Thur/Fri 18.00-21.00 (During the
summer months some may be open
9am-9pm
DOCTORS & DESTISTS
Argostoli
DOCTOR
Dr Andreas Michailides – private GP with excellent
English: TEL. +30 26710 23338 – office
+30 6932 287600 - emergencies
Surgery hours 09.00–13.00 & 18.00-20.30 Mon – Sat
Dr Petros Karayiannis
+30 26710 27600 - Surgery
+30 6978 055930 - Emergencies
DENTIST
Dr Tatiana Pollatos – private dentist with excellent
English. TEL. +30 26710 22060 - office
+30 6944 372465 - mobile
With appointment only
Fiscardo -Private GP
Dr Stefanos Papadakis -speaks English
+30 26740 41213 surgery
+30 6947 561600 mobile
Skala -Private GP
Dr John Kafrilas +30 6932 079438 mobile
Free Health Centres
Skala Health Centre +30 26710 83222
Vasilikades Health Centre +30 26740 22060
Sami Health Centre +30 26740 22807
Tsanata (near Poros) +30 26710 72217
Lixouri Health Centre +30 26710 91233
Guests in Fiskardo requiring an ambulance are advised to call the local voluntary ambulance team. This organization has
English speaking trained volunteers who will get you to hospital much more quickly than waiting for an ambulance from
Argostoli. The telephone number is: +30 26740 41081
DIRECTIONS TO THE GENERAL HOSPITAL
The hospital is located on the edge of Argostoli on the south side.
(see Map F for its location)
Hospital +30 26710 24641-6
ALSO PLEASE INFORM DIANE OF ANY
MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SO SHE CAN
ASSIST
PAGE 2
KEFALOINA|
| PAGE 7
KEFALONIA

FIRST AID TIPS
Listed below are a few simple first aid tips for things that can happen in a hot country that is on the sea.
Please note
that these are
only
suggestions.
Professional
advice should
always be
sought.
JELLYFISH STING
Urine, ammonia or “Waspeze”
SEA URCHIN SPIKES
Spread toothpaste in a thin layer over the area and this will draw the spikes out.
Please consult a doctor as the spikes do need to come out.
WASP STING
Vinegar or ammonia
SEVERE SUNBURN
Spread cold plain yogurt over the affected area. Leave until burning subsides.
Apply plenty of moisturizing cream.
SUNSTROKE
Put a cold wet towel on the back of the neck & all your pulse points, lie in a cool dark room, drink lots of liquid. A
soft drink with a teaspoon of salt and sugar is an excellent tonic, or buy rehydration salts from the chemist. Avoid
all alcoholic drinks.
STOMACH UPSETS
Greek coffee with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Rice in its own liquid with lots of lemon juice.
Camomile tea.
PRICKLY HEAT
Do not cover up the area. Let it breathe. Clean the area with astringent. ie vinegar, aftershave or face tonic and
stay in the shade.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 8

SWIMMING POOL RULES
For many people and especially children, the swimming pool is a major attraction and a very important part of their
holiday. In the circumstances we would ask you to follow these simple rules to ensure everyone’s safety.
YOUR POOL IS NOT ATTENDED BY A LIFEGUARD
Parents please ensure to watch your children.
Never leave children unattended in or near the swimming pool, even for a moment. Don’t leave them in a
flotation device or under the supervision of another young child. Stay within an arm’s length of touching
your children at all times.
When supervising children in a swimming pool, don’t allow yourself to be distracted by conversation or other
activities. Keep your attention on them at all times.
Never run around near the pool & especially with
wet feet. The tiled floors are extremely slippery &
dangerous!
Do not push others into the pool or jump on
others into the pool.
Do not swim alone.
See the depth markings on the pools edge
before entering a pool. Enter a swimming pool
feet first. Absolutely no diving is allowed for
obvious dangers.
Villa Odysseus, Spartia
KEFALONIA | PAGE 9

U S I N G T H E S W I M M I N G
POOL
POOL MAINTENANCE
The pool automatically filtrates throughout the course of the day at various times set by a timer. The lights are
also on a timer & will turn on & off automatically.
The pools are maintained by the owners themselves and/or staff & they will have to access the pool area to
maintain it. They regulate the chemical balance to keep the pool free from bacteria and algae. A leaf net is
provided to allow you to remove any leaves or dead insects floating in the pool. Plus it is really helpful if you keep
the grates free by clearing them of debris in between the maintenance. It will help the pool filter better.
THE DON’TS
It is important to take special care to do nothing which might upset this chemical balance as pools can lose their
sparkle and become misty very quickly, especially in the heat of high season when evaporation levels are highest.
Do not lather up with suntan oil & then jump straight away in the pool, the oil will remain in the pool & it forms
an ugly scum on the sides. Rinse off the excess oil before going in.
If coming from the beach, rinse off sand before going into the pool.
Keeping the pool free of debris helps with the chemical balance, keeps the filter working efficiently and of course
makes it much more pleasant to use.
LET US KNOW
If you suspect that filter system appears
to have failed due to an electric or water
cut or any cloudiness in your pool or
you can’t see the bottom, please notify
our agents so that the problem can be
swiftly rectified. The quicker you report
it, the faster we can fix it.
The following are a few common
sense things to remember...
* Avoid swimming for at least an hour
after eating a substantial meal.
* We also recommend that you take a
shower after swimming to remove any
remaining chlorinated water from your
hair and body.
* Do not use or have glass dishes near
the pool.
* Do not use the pool if you have been
drinking.
* Avoid swimming after dark.
* Use the bathroom & not the pool.
Villa Sakos, Skala
Swimming and Ear Infections:
During the height of the summer ear infections can easily occur. The
wax gets trapped, stays wet & bacteria can grow. It is more common
for children to be affected as their ear canals are smaller. So ensure
they aren't spending excessive amounts of time in the water & their
ears are allowed to dry.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 10

SPEAKING GREEK
English is spoken quite a bit on the island & of course,
English is taught in school from the 3rd grade. Despite
that it is always useful to have a few words of Greek and
the locals do appreciate the effort!
GREETINGS
Hello = Yasas (Yasu- Informal)
Goodbye = Adeeo or Yasus
Good morning = Kalimera
Good evening = Kalispera
Good night = Kalinihta
Please / Thank you = Parakalo / Efharisto
Yes / No = Nay / Ohee
You're Welcome = Parakalo
How are you? = Ti kanete? & Ti kanees? (informal)
I’m well, thanks. = eemay kala, efharisto
FOOD
breakfast = pro-ee-no
lunch = mesimeriano
dinner = vradhino
beef = vodhino
bread = psomee
beer = bee-ra
cheese= tee-ri
chicken= kotopoulo
lamb = arn-ee
Water = nero
wine = krasi
I’m a vegetarian = eemay hortofagos
SMALL TALK
What’s your name? Pos sas lene
My name is - Me lene
Where are you from? - Apo pou iste?
I’m from = eemay apo
England = tin anglia
Scotland = ti skotia
Australia = tin afstralia
Ireland = tin irlandhia
America = tin ameriki
Yesterday / Today / Tomorrow = Ekthes/Semera/Avreeo
Tonight/ Now = Apopse/Tora
Up / Down = Epano / Kato
Big / Small = Megalo / Mikro
Good / Bad = Kalos / Kakos
Cheap / Expensive = Ftheenos/ Akrivos
Hot / Cold = Zestos / Krios
Here / There = Etho/Ekee
Early / Late = Noris / Arga
Easy / Difficult = Efkolo / Thiskolo
Beautiful = Oraya
NUMBERS
1- Ena 6-Eksee
2-Theeo 7-Efta
3-Treea 8-Okto
4-Tessera 9-Enya
5-Penday 10-Theka
KEFALOINA| PAGE 2
KEFALONIA | PAGE 11

Here is a list of the Greek & Kefalonian public
holidays when banks, museums, and most
shops are closed:
PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS
6th April Good Friday (Orthodox) Banks
are closed but shops are open in the daytime
7th April Easter Saturday (Orthodox)
8th April Easter Sunday (Orthodox)
1st May May Day The Labour Day holiday
Locals pick flowers & make wreaths to hang
on their door to celebrate spring.
21st May Aniversary of the union of the
Ionian Islands with Greece in 1864. Local
parades and dancing.
28th May Holy Ghost's Day (banks are shutshops
open)
Ag Gerassimos
15th August Assumption of Virgin Mary Greeks celebrate the day with family reunions. In the evening there is
an all-night market at the main St Gerassimos church in Omala as part of the festival. The whole population is on
the move either side of this day, so it’s a good time to avoid any kind of transportation.
16th August St Gerassimos Festival –The parade begins at approx 11am. The saint in his silver sarcophagus is
paraded from the main church along the road. Pilgrims come from all over Greece to witness this.
20th Ocober St. Gerassimos festival- Parade at 11am as before, with the market the previous evening.
28th October Ochi Day (‘No!’ Day) Ochi” Day commemorates General Metaxas’s refusal of the Italians ultimatum
in 1940 and precipitated the fall of Greece in the Second World War. Parades with school children & military in
large town.
NAME DAYS
Hardly a day passes in Greece without celebrations in honour of somebody or something - a saint, a
village festival, a harvest or a patriotic event. Each name has one place - a chapel, a monastery or a
village - where on major saints' days the people bearing the name of that saint tend to gather.
These 'name-days' are more important to Greeks than their birthdays.
The tradition is the person who celebrates their name day offers friends/family a sweet or takes
them out for a meal. Hence the baptism of a child in Greece, which is when the child not only is then
baptised Greek Orthodox, but the name is official give to the child by the "nonos" or Godparent & he
or she is then referred to as the 'koumbaro'.
***On the "Kefalonia Appreciation Society" website you will
find a calendar of events throughout the summer & where
they are celebrated see: www.kefapps.com/festival.html
KEFALONIA | PAGE 12

GENERAL
FACILITIES
(Refer to 'Map F' to find places mentioned below)
BANKS
All banks are open Monday - Thursday 08.00 - 14.30 & Fridays 08.00 – 14.00. Saturdays all Banks are closed.
There are ATM machines outside most banks as well as other shops in Argostoli & of course most large villages.
Most shops & restaurants accept credit cards as long as the wifi is working! Look for the signs in the shops or ask if
they accept credit/debit cards, don't "assume" all shops have these facilities.
POST
You will find the main post office is located in Agostolis & it is open 08.00 – 14.00 Mon – Fri. You can purchase
stamps from many of the tourist shops and kiosks & drop your post cards in one of the post boxes which are
yellow with bugle on the front. You can find these in most resorts.
Antissamos Beach
MOBILE PHONES ABROAD
When using your foreign mobile phone, you
roam between networks depending upon
the frequency and your location on
Kefalonia.
Cosmote, WIND and Vodafone are the
three Greek networks.
All numbers (mobile or landlines) in Greece
are 10 digit numbers.
ORDINARY SHOP HOURS
Mon-Sat 9.00-14.00 & Tue- Thur &
Fri evenings 18.00-21.00.
The Souvenir Shops are usually
open all day until late in the
evening.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 13

KEFALONIA | PAGE 14

S H O P P I N G F O R
FOOD
GROCERY SHOPPING
Large supermarkets such as Lidl & AB and Halkiadakis are all located on the main road between Travliata (below St
George’s castle) and in Argostoli itself, along the seaside road.
They are open from 8am until 9pm Monday – Saturday and closed Sundays and Public Holidays. (although in the
summer months they tend to remain open on Sundays.)
Most resorts have mini markets which stock basics & then some. They are usually open all day til late in the evenings.
Another place to shop for fresh fruit &
veg is in Argostoli on the seafront.
There is a butcher and a fish shop
nearby as well with the fresh fish.
Plus early in the morning if you walk
along the seafront in Argostoli, the
fisherman sell the fresh catch of the
day, directly to you!
*** You may even see the turtle that
hangs around in the harbour & you
may well get to see people hand
feeding it!
FOOD STORAGE
In hot weather, the fridge works most effectively when it is set on a low
temperature. Please do not change the setting as this will cause the fridge to
ice up.
Please do not overfill the fridge as this impairs it effectiveness.
Avoid leaving the fridge door open.
It is essential that any food stored outside the fridge is properly covered and
protected to avoid ants and other pests.
Any spillages should be mopped up immediately.
KEFALONIA PAGE 15

EATING
Food is a very important part of life and hopefully you will
appreciate the simplicity of the Greek cuisine. The food is
prepared quite simply. Fish is usually baked or grilled and
served with a lemon & olive oil sauce. Meats are usually
grilled or cooked as a stew. Spices are minimal such as salt
& pepper & some local herbs (mint- oregano- thyme- basil).
GREEK STYLE
The oil (always olive oil) must be the best, the fish very
fresh, the meat tasty and the vegetables preferably just
picked from the garden. Then and only then, can a meal
have the potential of being a good meal.
Klimatis Taverna, Lourdas Beach
Kyani Atki, Argostoli
For Greeks, a meal is a social occasion and
accordingly, food is ordered for the "table", not
for the individuals. You order a bit of
everything, spread it around the table, or more
often cover the table with different dishes and
everybody picks at everything. If or when more
food is needed, more is ordered. This gives you
a better opportunity to try lots of food and you
won’t get stuck with a whole plate of something
that you may not like. You can of course stick to
the Western habit of not sharing & each person
ordering a dish for themselves, which is what
most restaurants are used to but taverna style
is 'all in the middle'.
Few Greeks are vegetarians but there is plenty of choice for vegetarians and it is quite well accepted that some
people don't eat meat so don't worry, you won't starve.
A few words of warning - fish quoted on the menu is usually per kilo not per helping. Also when you look at a
menu, don't assume that all the dishes listed are available, especially in early & late seaons, there's a price
penciled in next to the dish, it's not onthe menu!
Greeks eat lunch generally at about 2.00pm and dinner no earlier than 9.00pm. This is why if you walk around
looking for a restaurant patronised by the "locals" as a sign of quality, it is very likely to be deserted before
9.00pm. It is not unusual to arrive at a restaurant at midnight, especially in summer
Tipping in normal & you can hand it to the waiter or leave it on the table. Note there is always a bread charge per
person as a 'cover' charge.
Most of the tavernas & restaurants do provide booster seats or high chairs for the little ones, but you may wantt
o have yours along or your pushchair.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 16

G E T F A M I L I A R W I T H
GREEK FOOD
Here are some examples of local dishes that you may
come across when looking at a menu with a rough idea
.
of how they are prepared.
SALADS & STARTERS
Greek Salad: Sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, green
peppers, onions and feta cheese topped with olive oil &
oregano.
Cabbage Salad: Shredded cabbage & carrots with olive
oil and vinegar.
Tuna Salad: Usually generous amounts of lettuce as
the base, with sliced tomatoes and chunks of tuna in a
mayonnaise sauce.
Marouli: Shredded Greek lettuce with a sprinkling of
fresh dill, fresh onions & topped with vinegar & olive
oil.
Tzatziki: Yoghurt, shredded cucumber and ground
fresh garlic, all blended to form a thick dip.
Skordialia: Garlic & boiled potato dip.
Taramosalata: A light pink dip made of cod's roe.
Augbergine Dip: Aubergines & yogurt.
Sami- waterfront taverna
Saganaki: Fried 'Graviera' cheese, best eaten when
hot.
Horta: Special wild greens boiled and sometimes
accompanied with boiled courgettes & potatoes.
Tyropitakia: Pastry stuffed with mizithra & anthotiro
cheese.
Dolmahdes: Vine leaves stuffed with and rice.
Fried Mushrooms/Fried Courgettes/Fried
Augbergines: All sliced, rolled in flour and deep fried.
Courgette Balls:
Courgettes & cheese
rolled up and pan
fried in olive oil.
Fried
Potatoes:/Chips:
Fresh potatoes deepfried
in olive oil. You
can tell if it is a good
taverna if the
potatoes are fresh
and not frozen.
Meatballs: Fresh
mince meat with
parsley and oregano
fried in olive oil.
Greek Salad or Horiatiki
KEFALONIA | PAGE 17

GREEK FOOD
GRILLED MEATS
The usual chicken, pork chops, and lamb
chops are available at most tavernas, and
sometimes lamb cooked in the oven. Pork or
chicken souvlaki are huge chunks of meat on a
skewer.
Grilled beef burgers may be available too, but
they are usually just burgers, without the bun!
Always ask if they are served with side dishes
to avoid over ordering.
Most restaurants will serve the meat with
either rice or potatoes. With the Italian
influence on the island, pasta is common on
the menus in restaurants too.
Pork chop at Klimatis, Lourdas Beach
FISH
Shrimp: Usually you can order them deep-fried or boiled. Don't be too
surprised if they are served with the shells on.
Shrimp (garides) saganaki: Usually baked with feta cheese and tomato
sauce.
Octopus: Grilled or boiled; the latter seems to be the favoured way to
prepare them. Try them with lemon juice or vinegar. Part of the tenderizing
process is hanging them outside on a clothes line!
Kalamari: Squid is prepared in several ways; deep-fried, boiled or you may
find it cooked in a tomato sauce with potatoes.
Soupia: Cuttlefish is another favourite on the grill. Best with lemon juice and
olive oil.
Marithes: Small deep-fried whitebait.
I
Octapus- Dolmahdes-Greek Salad
Ksifias: Swordfish; can be grilled or in an
oven dish with onions.
Barbounia: Red mullet;
Tsipoura- Bream
Fagri- Sea bream
All fresh fish is priced per kilo, grilled or
fried.
Salmon - Grilled and served as a portion.
Marithes
KEFALONIA | PAGE 18

GREEK FOOD
GREEK SPECIALTIES
Sami
Moussaka: Layers of aubergine, minced meat, potato with bechamel sauce.
Papoutsakia: Literally ‘little shoes’, aubergines sliced in half, stuffed with minced meat in a tomato sauce and
topped with feta cheese and baked in the oven. Sometimes this dish is served without meat for vegetarians.
Gemista: Stuffed tomatoes, green peppers and courgettes. Usually with rice and tomatoes & herbs.
Stiffatho: Rabbit or beef, cooked slowly in a rich sauce of tomato, onion, cinnamon, orange peel and laurel.
Kefalonia Meat Pie : A dish unique to Kefalonia with chunks of meat (usually beef), rice, onions, garlic, spices in a
rich sauce surrounded by pastry.
DESSERTS
Baklava: Layers of flaky pastry with finely
chopped nuts, soaked in honey.
Kataifi: Shredded - kataifi pastry in a
sugary syrup, filled with chopped nuts.
Glika tou Koutaliou: Preserved fruits in a
sugary syrup.
Galaktoboureko: Thick milk based cream
in a flaky pasty which has been cooked
then topped with a light syrup.
Yoghurt and honey, ice creams and
cheese pies with honey are also
favourites.
Medusa Taverna, Katelios
KEFALONIA | PAGE 19

KEFALONIA | PAGE 20

FISCARDO AREA
Captain’s Cabin- Good choice
of food & large portions &
superb friendly staff.
Tassia - very well known local
personality - has been on
greek TV, situated on
harbourside, interesting twists
on Greek food, more gourmet.
FOKI BEACH
Foki Taverna grilled
meats/fish, simple & good.
MAGGANOS Ionio & Kefallionia
both very good.
ANTIPATA VILLAGE
Picnic- Fantastic little deli
serving wide variety of fresh
and delicious food throughout
the day, but the breakfasts are
renowned...and the Eggs
Benedict served Sun.
mornings!
ALATIES
Acqua Alaties has superb
seafood dishes.
LAKYTHRA
Lord Byron – good selection of food, nice
views. (See Area Map 1 for location.)
SPARTIA
Olive Garden – on the road to Spartia- lovely
atmosphere, good food & lots of locals.
Waterway- above the beach, with lovely view,
wide selection of dishes. (See Area Map 8)
LOURDAS
Lorraine’s- selection of local dishes- made from
her vegetable garden below.
Klimati or Blue Sea– lovely setting on the beach
and both have good food.
Andromeda- All dishes are very good.
(See Area Map 2)
Please feel free to
share your suggested
favourites or comments,
to help future guests!
AGIA EFIMIA
Paradise - tucked away from the main
harbour area, good local food overlooks
paradise beach
Finikas - on the harbour front - good
choice of local and international - very
friendly
Fior D’Amore- Great coffee shop with
cake!
KATELIOS
Kateleios:- Known
for it's fish tavernas
- any along the
front offer a good
selection of local
dishes, fish and
international
cuisine in particular
Medusa Taverna
(See Area Map 7)
SAMI
Akroyiali –fish
taverna on
promonade. Limni
Karavomilos serves
wide variety, lovely
setting.
Kokoras for souvlaki
& mixed meat
dishes. (See Area
Map H & 5 for
locations)
SKALA
Good selection of
restaurants and
tavernas along the
main high street and
along the beach front
all offering a good
selection of
international, and/or
local cuisine:-
Old Times Taverna –
known for the
Kefalonia meat pie
Paspalis - a mixed
menu - family runexcellent
moussaka
Nautilius – (the boat)
fantastic position
overlooking the sea &
beach below, great
sea food.
Symposium –
upmarket with a
singer most nights –
and a
good range of food.
(See Map 9)
KEFALONIA | PAGE 21

GREEK RECIPES
Here are a few simple starters that don’t take too long to prepare, and you are still enjoying
Greek flavours at home.
Ingredients:
500g yogurt
1 sm cucumber
or ½ large
4-5 cloves of garlic
Salt & pepper
1 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
TZATZIKI
Put the yogurt in a medium sized bowl. In a second bowl, grate the
cucumber with the skin. Once grated, squeeze the pulp and get rid of
excess juice. Add cucumber to the yogurt. Crush & add the garlic Add
the remaining ingredients & mix well. It is best to let it in the fridge
for a few hours so the flavours blend. If you want it hotter add more
garlic. Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 slices of Graviera
cheese
(no thicker than ½ cm)
1 egg
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp water
Olive oil
SAGANAKI
Mix the egg, flour & water to make a batter. Coat the cheese with the
batter. Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan enough to deep fry the
cheese. When the oil is very hot add the cheese and turn if over as it
I
becomes golden brown. Sprinkle with black pepper & if desired a
squeeze of a lemon.
Ingredients:
1 kilo Prawns
1 lemon- cut in half
1 lg onion-finely chopped
2 sm green pepper -chopped
1 wine glass of white wine
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
200 g Feta Cheese- broken in small
pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
50g Edam cheese- grated
SHRIMP SAGANAKI
Boil the prawns for 10 mins in water with the lemon.
Drain & keep 400ml of the water. Peel them when they cool
down. Fry the onion in the oil until they are soft, then add
the chopped pepper. Add the wine and let it cook for 2-3
mins, then add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and
some of the prawn stock. Bring this to a boil and simmer for
about 20mins, allow to thicken. Add more stock if it is too
thick. Then add the peeled prawns and feta to taste- the
cheese should melt. The saganaki should be baked in the
oven for 10 mins and topped with grated Edam cheese.
Serves 4-6
KEFALONIA | PAGE 22

FAST FOOD OPTIONS
There are plenty of small shops or stand up food joints that
serve pizza, crepes (sweet & savory) as well as burgers
(especially in Argostoli). It is a good alternative if you wish to
have a quick meal.
The souvlaki or gyros is Greece's answer to fast food & it is
a favourite for most Greeks. Pork or chicken is grilled on a
revolving spit, then thinly shaved off & placed in the warm
pita bread, topped with onions, tomatoes, fried potatoes
and yogurt. You can choose tzatziki or another sauce too.
You can leave out an ingredient as well.
If a souvlaki isn't enough, there is the option of a mixed
plate or "pikilia" which is a variety of meats on the grill as
well as the shaved pork or chicken & fried potatoes as well
on a plater (or take away box). Ensure you get pita to dip in
the tzatziki!
Greek souvlaki or Gyro ("yee-ro")
SIESTA TIME
Be aware that the
Greeks have a siesta
time. It's a great way to
relax, especially in the
heat of the day. So
please keep the noise
down during the 3pm-
6pm for your
neighbours.
During these hours
the Greeks do not call
one another to respect
each other's quiet time
as well.
Foki Beach
KEFALONIA | PAGE 23

O N T H E
SAFETY by the SEA
Please be careful when swimming,
especially when the sea is rough as
there may be strong currents. Few
beaches are supervised, but if the
RED FLAG is flying, DON’T SWIM. if
a lifeguard isn’t present at the
beach, use your common sense, if
it looks rough, don’t swim! Yellow
flag- swim with caution and White
flag – calm- no restrictions.
There really is a reason for not
swimming after you eat and the
reason is that your body is using
all it’s energy to digest the food in
your stomach and it does so by
taking energy from other parts of
your body that aren’t need it i.e.
your limbs. Therefore, if you do try
to swim energetically after eating –
your body hasn’t got time to
prepare the limbs and disperse the
energy which means you will not
have the strength to cope with
strenuous exercise like swimming.
So be wise and swim before eating
– relax, digest at least 2 hours and
then swim.
BEACH
Lourdas Beach
SUN TANNING TIPS
-Take your time. The longer it
takes to tan the longer it will
last.
-Use a high factor cream and
reduce gradually.
-Avoid tanning during the
hottest part of the day ie.
Between 12.00 and
17.00.Apply creams as often
as possible after swimming.
-Remember that even if
cloudy UV rays still beam
through to do damage.
-On a boat be very careful. Not
only is the breeze deceiving
but you also get the rays
bouncing off the water.
-After showering always use
plenty of after-sun cream or
moisturizer to replace the oils
lost in the skin.
-Avoid falling asleep in the
sun, if you are feeling tired sit
in the shade.
BEACHES
There are plenty of beaches
which suit many different
tastes.
As you will see on Map A & B there are secluded coves
with fewer people, long sandy stretches of beach and of
course, the more populated ones that are packed with sun
beds and a great place for people watching as well as
tanning.
The beaches that are closer to Argostoli town tend to be
very popular as they are easily accessible and have
tavernas/cafeterias close at hand which makes the day on
the beach very comfortable but rather busy.
Makris Gialos Beach
KEFALONIA | PAGE 24

KEFALONIA | PAGE 25

KEFALONIA | PAGE 26

E X P L O R I N G K E F A L O N I A
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, with dramatic scenery encompassing mountains, rugged coastlines,
spectacular beaches and stunning interior landscapes. Kefalonia is an island that begs exploration to discover all
that it has to offer its’ visitors – of the many things to explore and experience a must would be the spectacular
ISLAND
Drogarati Cave with its multicolored stalagmites and excellent natural acoustics, the mystical Melisani Lake an
underground lake once home to gods and nymphs which still has its ethereal atmosphere, as well the islands
most important churches dedicated to the patron saint – St. Gerasimos, whose relics still remain in the church.
Not only does the island have spectacular scenery to enjoy but also a fascinating history to uncover, with
archaeological finds dating back to the Mycenaean era when Odysseus set sail for Troy with 12 ships from
Kefalonia – many of the archaeological sites around the island can be explored independently or in the folklore
and archaeological museums of Argostoli items from the islands past can be viewed.
Kefalonia once had 365 towns and villages but now just
around 200 of those remain due to a catastrophic
earthquake back in 1953. Hidden away in the villages
monasteries and churches can be found along with fertile
valleys of grape-vines and olive groves.
Foki
The island has had its share of famous people; the
shipping magnate Vergotis who rebuilt his whole village of
Kourkoumelata with neoclassical designs and a boatshaped
coffee bar after the earthquakes of 1953. Yannis
Metaxas once a prime minister of Greece and who
originated from the village of Metaxata where Lord Byron
stayed and gained inspiration for his poetry. From the
arts the famous Greek satirist Andreas Laskaratos
originated from Lixouri.
The islands capital town today is Argostoli, named as the new capital of Kefalonia in 1757, up until that point the
capital was at St Georges Castle the more important of the two Venetian castles on the island. To the north of the
island lies Myrtos Beach, the most photographed and famous beach on Kefalonia with white sand and pebble
beach and deep aquamarine sea.
From Myrtos the village of Assos is visible - a tiny hamlet nestling at the base of a peninsula crowned by an
imposing Venetian fortress. Further north is the village of Fiscardo which retains its Venetian style with a pretty
harbour lined with fishing boats and luxury yachts. Along the south coast some more wonderful beaches can be
found, mostly sandy and some favored by marine turtles which are closely monitored by a local turtle protection
group.
No matter what your interests are Kefalonia has something to offer everyone, discovering the island by car or
coach, Kefalonia is a paradise for lovers of nature, walkers and ramblers, swimmers and snorkelers. Or you can
just relax on one of the many beaches from small pebbly coves to silver and red sands and enjoy your immediate
surroundings.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 27

KEFALONIA | PAGE 28

ARGOSTOLI
Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia situated on one side of a natural
bay. A modern working town with some evidence of the past intact.
Local fishermen can be seen early morning along the quayside
selling fresh fish from their nighttime catch. The town has a main
shopping street, the Lithostrata in which many designer shops can
be found. The main square is the place to be seen whilst enjoying a
coffee in one of the many café bars, the square is named after
Panagis Vallianou, a famous philanthropist whose statue is situated
in one corner of the square.
In Kabana Square at the far end of the Lithostrata you can climb up
to the top of the bell tower and admire the panoramic views of
Argostoli and the beyond. Argostoli has two museums, the
Archeological which houses a collection of artifacts discovered from
different eras on Kefalonia and the Korgialenios Cultural and
Historical Museum which is housed underneath the towns library,
inside costumes, household items and tools of everyday life in
Kefalonia are on display.
The natural bay of Argostoli is divided by The Drapano Bridge, which
was constructed by the British in 1813, originally made of wood and
then later of stone the bridge spans the bay creating the Koutavos
Bay which is a haven for many migrating birds and wildlife.
LOURDAS
The resort of Lourdas is situated in the middle of the southern coast on a steep hillside which leads down from the
main Argostoli to Poros road all the way down to the coast where a wonderful pale sand and shingle beach can be
found with incredible turquoise seas lapping the shore. The landscape leading down to the beach can be described
as rural, dotted with private and tourist accommodation, tavernas, restaurants.
The village square of Lourdata has a natural spring where in the past the local ladies would wash their
clothes.Lourdas bay is one of the largest bays of Kefalonia and is fringed with a beach which stretches for approx
2kms. The views are stunning from the beach looking out to sea. On clear days the neighboring island of Zakynthos
can be seen.
Looking inland a stunning view of
the islands highest mountain Mt
Aenos, with its pine and fir trees can
be seen backing the beach.
Many of the locals have their
allotments where they grow local
produce, because of the protection
the mountain offers the area.
Tropical plants and fruits are grown
here successfully and crops
harvested earlier than normal.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 29

SKALA
Skala village is today located on the coast in the southern area
of the island; the village rebuilt after the earthquakes of 1953
offers a spectacular beach, a mix of sand and shingle,
stretching along the coast for 4kms.
Its distinguishing feature being the pine trees that separate the
main part of the beach from the village. Skala offers a choice
of lively beach life – with sun beds and umbrellas for hire,
water sports to enjoy and a selection of beach side cafes, bars
and tavernas to relax in. By walking to either end of the beach
you can get away from it all and find your secluded piece of
paradise.
The main village of Skala offers a good selection of restaurants, tavernas, cafes, bars and shops which cater for
everyone’s needs, at the bottom of the high street and before you follow the steps leading down to the beach the
village square can be found which is where all local celebrations are hosted.
Skala is an ideal resort for walkers who can discover a wealth of natural beauty in the surrounding countryside, in
particular in the hills and mountains behind the village as this is where the ruins of the old village of Skala remain.
Near to the village square are some well preserved Roman mosaic floors which can be found in the middle of a sun-lit
olive grove.
KATELIOS
Katelios is a fishing village situated in the south eastern part of Kefalonia and over the years has grown into a resort
but still keeping its’ traditional feel. Visitors to Katelios and the nearby long sandy beach known locally as Turtle Beach
are asked to respect the environment here as it is in this area that the giant loggerhead turtles come to nest every
summer. The loggerhead turtles are an endangered species and to aid with their protection in this area a conservation
group has been in operation for many years with its headquarters and visitors centre in Kateleios.
Kato Katelios is a seaside village with a several tavernas and café bars sprinkled along the shore line, as the livelihood
of the village once greatly depended on the sea the village is well know for its fish tavernas.
Katelios is a haven for those who want to explore with many
local places of interest nearby such as the local wine estate
in Mavrata which produces some award winning wines, the
Sissia Monastery said to have been discovered and named
after Saint Francis of Assisi, not forgetting the church of the
Virgin Lagouvarda in the nearby village of Markopoulou
where harmless snakes gather on the churches feast day.
The church is built on the site of the old Virgin's Monastery
which was destroyed by the Turks. It is said that the nuns
escaped from the poisonous snakes when they appeared on
the Virgin's icon. Every year between the 6th and 15th
August harmless snakes appear miraculously around the
Virgin’s icon in continuous remembrance of this miracle,
proving the continued presence of the Virgin and Her
protection to all devout worshipers.
The snakes are considered to be a symbol of good luck, only
twice in the islands history did the snakes not appear, first
during the German occupation of Kefalonia during the 2nd
World War and again during the earthquakes of 1953.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 30

POROS
The port-town of Poros is situated on the south eastern
tip of Kefalonia and provides a daily ferry service
between Kefalonia and Killini on mainland Greece. After
the earthquake of 1953, when the few fishermen's
houses which made up the village were destroyed, it was
rebuilt with the assistance of the British. The town is set
amidst the dramatic scenery of mountains Atros and
Pahni and its coastline provides beaches and a safe port.
As you enter into Poros you will pass through a ravine
with an 80 meter deep precipice, with steep slopes
where you will see hollows in the rocks - the footprints
of the mythological Hercules. River Vohinas springs from
a 'bottomless' lake, which is a dry bed river in the
summer months but in winter, flows through Poros.
Poros is not a resort area in the traditional sense but
does attract the more independently minded traveler
each summer who enjoy the relaxed pace and
traditional Greek atmosphere.
Walkers and hikers visiting to Poros may like to pay a visit
to the islands oldest monastery, the Theotokou Atros
Monastery, at an altitude of 760 meters above sea level
and over looking Poros, the bell tower dates to the
middle ages whilst the original monastery was built in
Byzantine times.
The Monastery has had a very colourful history being
destroyed 17 times but always being rebuilt by the
monks themselves. On three occasions the monastery
was attacked by the Saracens causing 127 monks to
lose their lives after which a fortress was built at the
monastery, this fortress is considered to be the oldest
building on Kefalonia. The monastery celebrates on
the 8th September the feast of the Virgin’s birth, today
just one monk lives at the Atros Monastery.
ASSOS
The Assos peninsular is situated on the northwest coast;
Assos is a small village which nestles in a horse shoe shaped
harbour at the bottom of a long and winding road which leads
the visitor through olive groves and pine trees. Assos is a very
rustic village with about 100 inhabitants, due to not being
totally destroyed by the earthquakes of 1953 there are some
fine examples of the old Venetian styled architecture from
times gone by.
Around the harbour are a few tavernas and a small pebble
beach. The rebuilding of Assos after the 1953 earthquakes
was with the aid of the French, to commemorate them for
their help the village square has been named ‘Paris’.
High on top of the peninsular opposite the village is one of the
islands two Venetian castles. The castle dates back to 1593,
during its history it has served as the capital of northern
Kefalonia, a fortress to defend the area, a quarantine facility
as well as a prison.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 31

AGIA EFIMIA
Agia Efimia is situated on the eastern coast just a
short distance from Sami, the pretty fishing village is a
small port which today is very popular with sailing
yachts and the many luxury yachts which cruise the
Ionian every year. The village has a number of small
pebble beaches; the most popular in this area is
Paradise Beach. The islands most famous and
stunning beach, Myrtos Beach, is just a 20 minute
drive from Agia Efimia. In the past Agia Efimia was
once one of the island's more important centers of
trade with stately homes and mansions. However the
whole village was destroyed in the 1953 earthquake
and completely rebuilt with help from the French.
Agia Efimia is a traditional Greek village whose
harbour is lined with restaurants, tavernas and bars
which reflect an uncommercialised Greek ambience
rather than tourist-inspired catering. You will find
some of the best food on the island as well as
traditionally wood-fired bread from the local bakery
for which the area is well known.
Although Agia Efimia has a very traditional atmosphere
about it, the village is an ideal base for activities such as
scuba diving, motor boat or catamaran hire, walking
and horse riding.
Close to Agia Efmia is the The Monastery of Theotokas
Themata (Our Lady of Themata) was built in 11th
century. The Greek word 'themata' translates to
'matters'. According to local tradition; anyone with
problems that worried them would visit the monastery
with its miraculous icon. They prayed to the Virgin Mary
and asked her for solutions to these matters. The
church is set in spacious grounds with panoramic views
of the whole area.
FISCARDO
The picturesque village of Fiskardo is situated on the northern tip of
Kefalonia surrounded by olive, cypress and pine trees. Today Fiskardo
is a cosmopolitan village, very popular with the rich and famous,
situated around a natural harbour with many tavernas, restaurants and
cafes to relax in and enjoy spectacular views across to the nearby
islands of Ithaka and Lefkada. Passage ways lead away from the main
quayside in which more examples of the Venetian architecture still
exists as Fiskardo suffered very little damage compared with the rest of
Kefalonia in the earthquakes of 1953.
The village is thought to have taken its
name from the Norman pirate Roberto
Guiscardo who died in there in 1805 and
over the years Guiscardo evolved into
Fiskardo.
Fiskardo has many archeological sites and
buildings of importance, on the headland
opposite the village the remains of a 16th
century lighthouse exists. In more recent
years a tomb dating to the Roman period
was uncovered in which many important
objects were discovered. Other
discoveries include an ancient burial site, a
small theatre and a throne-like indentation
in some local rocks which the locals have
named ‘throne of Queen Fiskarda. In the
village of Antipata just a few minutes drive
from Fiskardo is a church dedicated to the
Virgin Mary but built in the Russian
Orthodox style, in the shape of a cross and
with a distinctive Russian influenced dome.
KEFALONIA | PAGE 32

Sami is situated on the eastern coast of
Kefalonia, although this is the island main
working port Sami is still a picturesque town,
with its wide bay tree lined waterfront and
spectacular views across to the neighboring
island of Ithaka. The harbour is full of fishing
boats and yachts in the summer months with
tavernas, café bars and restaurants lining the
quayside.
SAMI
The town became more popular with visitors
after the Hollywood film Captains Corelli’s
Mandolin was filmed mostly in and around
Sami and Anti Samos beach.
Sami has a very interesting history and dates
back to the prehistoric period, in ancient times
Sami was one of the four main cities of
Kefalonia with its own ruling powers and
coinage, evidence of the old Acropolis of Sami,
the Cyclopean walls and other important
remains can be found in the hills surrounding
the town.
Antisammos
The most popular sights to visit in the Sami area are the
Drogarati Cave and the Melisani Lake, both situated just a
short distance from Sami.
The Drogarati Cave is said to be 150 million years old and
has impressive stalactites and stalagmites inside, the
main chamber is 37m below ground level, with 128 steps
to negotiate to reach it, the climb is well worth it.
The cave also has excellent natural acoustics so from
time to time now and in the past concerts are held in the
cave.
The Melisani Lake is a spectacular
underground lake, situated in a domed cave,
part of the roof of this cave collapsed meaning
now when the sun is overhead some
spectacular shades of blue can be seen in the
water. Small rowing boats take visitors on a
tour around the lake, the boat men point out
stalactites which take on the shape of various
creatures. The lake has always been
associated with mythology – the God Pan is
thought to have once lived in the lake, one
myth as to how the lake came by its name is
that the nymph Melisani committed suicide in
the lake because Pan would not reciprocate
her love.
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OMALA
VALLEY
The Omala Valley is set in the middle of the island in the foothills of Kefalonias highest
mountain – Mt Aenos, the third highest mountain in Greece. The mountains higher
peaks is covered with the Kefalus Silver fir tree which was once unique to the island
–Odysseus is said to have used the wood from these trees to build his ships for Troy.
Today part of the mountain has been made into a National Park with everything within
its boundaries protected. Also found on the mountain are wild horses said to have
descended from the horses used by Alexander the Great.
The Omala Valley is also home to the islands Patron Saint, St. Gerasimos –
after being ordained the saint spent many years travelling finally arriving
on Kefalonia in 1555, first living in a cave in Lassi and then moving to the
Omala Valley where he helped rebuild an abandoned ruined church, and
founding a nunnery, he continued to live in a cave which was situated
directly under the newly rebuilt church.
In the valley today there are two
churches dedicated to the saint, his
relics are held in a glass and silver case
inside a silver sarcophagus in the old
church above his tomb. He is still
greatly revered and honoured by the
islanders and visitors alike, his remains
and memory are celebrated twice a
year on 16th August and again on 20th
October, events which attract pilgrims
from all over the world.
His time in the valley was spent teaching and healing the local people – his
powers of curing those with mental illnesses soon became well known.
LASSI
One of the islands main resorts offering something for everyone, an excellent selection of restaurants, tavernas, and
café bars can be found along the main central road. Leading off the main road are smaller roads taking you to Lassi’s
beautiful coast line and some of the islands more beautiful sandy beaches Makris Yialos and Platis Yialos, meaning
long and wide beach respectively.
It is often overlooked that the islands patron saint on his arrival first inhabited a cave on the hillside in Lassi, staying
for 5 years before moving across to the Omala Valley, the cave where he first lived has now been incorporated into a
church, dedicated to the saint, the original cave has a natural opening on one side which offered the saint natural
light and sea views. Visitors are always welcome to visit the small but perfect church.
Lassi is situated just behind the
main town of Argostoli and has
two roads leading into the
town, the main high street of
the resort leads down into
Argostoli alternatively you can
follow the coast road know
locally as the ‘romantic walk’
into Argostoli, along the way
many coves can be discovered
offering total privacy.
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LIXOURI
Lixouri is the second largest town on Kefalonia and is the capital of the Pali peninsula,
which is often called the Lixouri peninsula. Most of the Pali peninsula is agricultural, with
numerous vineyards, fruit orchards, olive groves, large market gardens and herds of goats
and sheep, many of the villages remain unchanged reflecting the more traditional life that
used to be found all over Kefalonia.
The Lixouri peninsular has many stunning beaches including the red sandy beach of Xi
situated on the southern coast of the peninsular, the beach is backed by clay cliffs, many
visitors to the beach often extract the clay mix it with a little water and then use it as a
face or body pack – once dry and washed off your skin will feel rejuvenated. Not the only
strange phenomenon in this particular area, a moving rock called the Kounepetra which
rocks gently can also be found.
Lixouri is also where the Kipouria monastery is located, dating back to the 18th century
and set on the edge of a vertical precipice – only one monk inhabits the monastery now,
over the years he has dedicated himself to the rebuilding of all that was destroyed in the
1953 earthquakes. The islands most stunning sunsets can be viewed from the monastery.
ITHAKI ISLAND
The island of Ithaka is separated from Kefalonia by a narrow channel which is just 3km wide. The island is a haven for
history lovers and those who really want to get away from it all! The island like Kefalonia, is mountainous with pine
forests, cypress trees and of course the coves which really make this place a paradise.
The island was made famous by the lyric poet Homer and
his stories of the adventures of Odysseus. Odysseus spent
so many years yearning for the day he would step back onto
the soil of his beloved Ithaka during is travels after the
Trojan War. As you explore the island you can understand
Odysseus and the pull of this magnificent place.
The southern part of the Ithaka is home to a number of
beautiful beaches and historic sites while the northern part
of the island is where the majority of the villages can be
found.
A trip to Ithaka can only be completed by a visit to the village of Stavros. In the village you will find the patisserie
which makes the traditional sweet of Ithaka ‘Rovani’. Also the small museum is a must for any history buff
wanting to know more about Odysseus. The museum has a great collection of finds from around the island
dating to the time of Homer and his stories of Odysseus.
Vathy is the capital of Ithaka and has been since the 16th century, the town has a population of around 2,500
people, and over half of the islands total population. The town was built along the coastline to take advantage of
the natural port.
On both sides of the port you will see the fort that was built by the French during 1807 to stop the English. On
the left side of the shore was a famous dockyard which through the 19th century constructed over 200 ships.
The main town was destroyed in the earthquakes of 1953, however the town was re-built in the same Venetian
style. After the earthquake Vathy became heritage listed and a law passed in 1978 ruling that any new building
must be built in keeping with the traditional style
KEFALONIA | PAGE 35

DEPARTURE DAY
We ask that you vacate by 10.00 am on the day of departure (unless otherwise stated by owner
or cleaner or if you have paid for the 'late check-out') to facilitate cleaning/preparation in
readiness for the next arrivals.
Please leave the keys for the accommodation in the door outside or wherever you found them
at the beginning of your holiday.
KEFALONIA AIRPORT (EFL)
The airport building is relatively small
and there are only three check-in
desks so it may take some time to get
checked in, and patience is a necessity.
The weekends are the change over
days for the UK flights. In order to find
the tail of the queue or start a queue,
it is best to find the rep of the tour
operator of that flight (i.e Thomas
Cook or Thompson), and ask them for
instructions as they will usually know
where to place you. You do not want
to be standing in a queue and find out
you have missed your flight, so do ask
the other passengers in the queue to
be on the safe side.
TAXIS
If you have a prepaid taxi transfer back to the airport, you would have
received the pick-up time on the email from Diane before you arrived in
Kefalonia. Please call or email Diane, well in advance, if you need to
change it or wish to confirm the time.
CAR HIRE RETURNS
When returning to the airport, please return your hire car to the
appropriate office/drop off point,
if you have a CBR car please return your car at their airport office. It is
best to drive up to the terminal building and drop off your luggage, then
park the car and leave the keys as advised when you received the car.
Make sure you have checked that the petrol is the same amount as it
was when you received the car and double check that you have all your
belongings ie glove box, under the seat & door pockets included.
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DESTINATIONS
Other Freelance Holidays
Crete
Sardinia
Sicily
Mallorca
Menorca