Four days later and a few set-backs (mostly with Olympic Airlines) we're still here on blazing Zante. Yesterday, we made the best of it by signing up for an all-day boat trip around the island and saw some unbelievable sites...photos to come. Today we're supposed to fly out at night so we're venturing back to one of the amazing sites from yesterday for the top-end-view. We may be camping out in the airport tonight so wish us luck but hopefully we'll make it to Santorini by morning...
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Thursday, July 26, 2007
Stuck on Zante
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Zante Fires
Candlelight and moonlight illuminated our small rickety dinner table for the second night in a row.
Horse and buggy pairs clamored by at regular intervals and little British girls played "driving home" on
the tiny car toy at the place next door, though nothing could be seen. The air was filled with the sweet
scent of honey, cucumber, grill, garlic, and tomato. The man with the accordian drifted into our
earshot again with the same familiar tune we had hear the night before. Were we in the 21st century or
had we somehow had a lapse in time and been taken back 100 years? We we in Italy? Greece? Great
Britain? How confusing the sounds and smells and sights we could hardly see by moonlight.
Ten minutes earlier...
Just like clockwork - as I was putting on my sandals to leave for a late dinner - a gasp was let out by all
at the tiny hotel pool area below as the electricity went out for the second night in a row. "Time for
dinner" Mike proclaimed. "It sure is!" I agreed.
We ventured out down the street, skipping the Irish Pub with "Toad" in the name to wander down the tiny
street a while longer in the twilight before a swordfish special lured us into a restaurant which may have
been the Greek equivalent to the Cheesecake Factory judging by the diverse and rather large menu.
After the usual hummus appetizer, we overheard the couple behind us with thick British accent inquire
about the power outages - this one was still out unlike the shorter one the night before. The Greek
waiter replied with a mix of thick Greek accent mixed with English that it was the fires on the mountain
that were causing the power to go out all across the island. We scurried across the street together to
take in the site of the fire above - spreading slowly across the mountain top. Fire trucks could be seen
climbing the winding roads but helicopters would be needed in the daytime to fully contain them.
The air was still thick and heavy as we returned to the hotel after another leisurely dinner under the
stars. Moonlight illuminated the reflections on the pool and I noticed a few quietly soaking in the water -
well after the 8 PM curfew. We purchased two citronella candles in the grocery at the front of the hotel and made our way up to the muggy room, opening all the doors and plopping down on the bed. The
sound of a very large bug zooming past my head and running into the wall woke me up to the
impounding heat that felt reminiscent of a sauna. I contemplated throwing on my swimsuit and taking in
the cool pool water and then sleeping on a deck chair... lifted myself from the bed about to grab for my
suit ....just as the gasp again filled the air below... then applause. The power was back. Ahhhh.... air.
Sleeep...........
Post a CommentMonday, July 23, 2007
Accident on Zante
This morning, we got up bright and early and Susan caught a flight back to Athens so she can fly home
to the US. Soon thereafter we dropped off the rental car and caught a cab to Pesada where we caught
the ferry to Zakinthos (Zante for short), the island south of Kefalonia. Zante is known as the "Venice of
the East" and is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous.
Some shots of Pesada fishing boats and the Ferry while we waited to board.
We had a hot breakfast on the ferry and enjoyed some iTunes while sitting on the top deck with was
quite breezy but had great views of the sunrise.
Some shots of Mike I got on the Ferry
View of Skinari port
We docked in Skinari, on the northern part of Zante, which was so small of a little village that not even
the buses go there. Half hour later, after determining that a cab was the only way to get down the island
to civilization, we plopped down in a cafe, had a cold drink as they called for a cab.
Somehow in the midst of handing the little old greek man of a cab driver my bag, I missed my footing
down the steps and found myself toppling over as he tried his best to catch both me and the bag. I
finally caught my footing without falling but looked down to find a big gash out of my toe and blood
everywhere. A nice foreign guy ran up with a first aid kit, sprayed it with antiseptic, and
bandaged it up for me without saying a word. I don't think my baby band-aid would have
worked anyways. He had really pretty blonde girls with him - they smiled and waved when we
drove off in the cab finally.
Thanks to a throbbing foot and the unbearable heat, I spent the majority of the day practicing my siesta
skills after we found a quaint hotel in a tiny village named Alikanas about 20 minutes north of the capital
- Zakinthos Town. Mike went to find out about transportation and food... and determined that the island
was overcome with British by the sprinkling of English pubs down the street.
Views from the hotel.
Thanks to a main power outage on the island for encouragement, we ventured out for dinner, me
limping and wobbling about so as not to further increase the throbbing pain in my foot. After dinner, we
made a pact that if I could resist screaming while cleaning out the wound further, I should be rewarded
with the Baklava that we took to go for desert. Thanks to a call home to mom and advice of my aunt (a
nurse) I instead soaked it in some of Mike's contact solution which has hydrogen peroxide in it.... I surly
would have screamed otherwise!
Alas, my foot should be fine... nothing a little TLC, English Cider, Greek Hummus, and Baklava can't
cure!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Myrtos: Most Beautiful Beach in the World
After a long few days of traveling, touring, and shooting Susan, Mike, and I ventured out in our rental car
along the winding cliffs of Kefalonia back to Myrtos Beach... voted one of the Top Ten Most Beautiful
Beaches in the world.
It was a bit scary driving there but very much worth it... the view is spectacular and the water just as
much.... crystal clear blue and green. The beach itself was very rocky... mostly stones under your toes
even in the ocean which made it difficult to walk on so floating was preferred.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Castles, Saints, Caves, Wineries, Fishing Villages, and the Most Beautiful Beach
...continued....
7:30 AM - One touch-down and visit to Hertz rent-a-car later, we were loaded up in a small Ford
navigating our way up to Argostoli to the hotel where we'd be staying on Kefalonia
8:00 AM - Confirmed room upgrade to suite with three beds at Mirabel Hotel and Susan and I ate breakfast #2 for the day since the first one was before 4AM. Plus, eggs and cheese and tasty pastries
were much better than tea and toast.
Views from our downtown Argostoli balcony at Mirabel Hotel
8:30 AM - Head to Hotel Mediterranea where we would meet up with the wedding party and guests from America to tour Kefalonia with Farrah and Nick who are to be wed on Saturday. A gorgeous view of the blue green ocean and a cute kitty cat entertains us out back as we wait for everyone to arrive.
9:15 AM - Alas, we're on greek time so leaving on schedule is never expected. We're all loaded up an
ready for the tour.
Since our internet has been so limited here I'll have to fill in the complete details of these gorgeous places later but here are some photos to enjoy in the meantime...
First stop - a quaint village in the mountains - ruins of St.George's Castle.
Next we headed to the resting place of Saint Gerassimos then to a local winery for a tour and tasting.
Cooling off in the Drogarati Caves near Sami where the cast of Captain Corelli's Mandalin stayed while filming.
The next stop was one of my favorites... the Melissani Lake and Caves. Beautiful!!!
By then we had worked up an appetite so we drove to the far north of the island through the windy mountains to Fiskardo, an adorable fishing village, for lunch at the marina.
On the way back to the south part of the island at the end of the tour, we stopped at the overlook of gorgeous Myrtos Beach to snap a quick photo of some of the wedding party.
We made it to Kefalonia!
3:15 AM - Wake up call from Art Hotel after going to bed by 8:30pm after hiking Acropolis
3:45 AM - Hotel people are so sweet and set out breakfast early for us. We enjoy a traditional greek
breakfast (practically nothing... they're not breakfast people apparently... most make due with a coffee
and cigarette... yuck!) of tea and toast and some sort of yummy chocolate bread
3:50 AM - Hop in cab and head towards airport in order to catch 5:30 AM flight to Kefalonia (the only
other choice is a 8pm flight... only two flights a day in and out of the island)
4 AM - Susan and I fear for our lives in back seat as we hit the highway at record speeds of we don't
know what because it's in kilometers. Mike seems okay in the front seat because he likes speed racing.
4:20 AM - We go skidding off the side of the highway at record speeds. My life flashes in front of my
eyes and Susan proclaims "flat tire!" right as the smell of burning rubber hits us.
4:21 AM - Cabbie insists he can change tire and still get us to the airport in time.
4:30 AM - Cabbie is not having luck getting old tire off. He starts to call for another cab to come get us.
Susan is trying to flag down the few cabs that drive by - they're all occupied. One finally drives by with a
light on and skids off the highway, backs up to our position on the side of the road, loads us up and
we're on the way again.
4:35 AM - Make it to the airport and run to be greeted by massive lines that we couldn't possibly get
through on time.
4:40 AM - Find a line that is shorter and wait patiently in it.
4: 55 AM - Get to front of line and the lady takes a look at Susan's print out and tells her she has to go
buy a ticket on the OTHER side of the airport lobby. We run over. There's a big line there too.
5:15 AM - Still waiting in new line. Susan pushes her way to the front with all our passports and waits,
waits, waits. All the Greek folks are helped first... even the ones behind her.
5:20 AM - She is finally helped and told that mine and Mike's ticket are supposed to be picked up at the
FIRST counter we were at. I go back to original lady and she is rude again and turns us away again.
5:25 AM - Other line turns us away too and says rude original lady has to help us and to go to the end of
her line. The lady won't help us.
5:28 AM - Rude original lady finally says "anyone to Kefalonia" and we finally get helped.
5:35 AM - Make it to security with tickets.
5:39 AM - Wait on bus on the other side of security with all the other people going to Kefalonia.
5:45 AM - Still waiting on bus. We realize at that point that Olympic Airlines apparently have no regard
to schedules or lines or anything.
6 AM - Finally on board and our plane lifts off and heads towards Kefalonia just as the sun is rising over
Athens.
6:15 AM - I close my eyes and relax. Pheew. What an insane 3 hours!
.... to be continued
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