Νοσταλγώντας το νησί (Missing the island)

Entering autumn, I find myself feeling nostalgic reminiscing all the great moments I experienced this past summer. Without any doubt, one of the most remarkable time of this period was when I travelled to Kefalonia, Greece. The verdant island with its breath-taking beaches and crystal-clear waters of which smaragdine colours were a dream to swim in are one to remember! It is the biggest Ionian Island and the green of its mountains full of pines, cypresses and olive trees blends with the viridescent of the water making it truly unique and a beloved destination. The land carries a rich history in cultural tradition, and I was lucky enough to be shown Kefalonia’s culinary tradition, traditional villages, upbeat nightlife and pristine beaches that conquered me completely, by a native family.

I had the chance to travel around the island visiting some of the most key-places like Argostoli, the capital that is a modern, yet picturesque town built around a hill, with a city-like life, filled with various shops, cafes, bars and beaches nearby. Although, the entire of Kefalonia was totally ruined by the earthquake in 1953, in Argostoli there are still sites that depict the old Venetian architecture. I stayed in Lixouri these days. The second biggest town of the island and an ideal place for those who love peace and quiet. The houses there were gravely damaged from the previously intense seismic actions too, but were rebuilt from scratch, respecting a unified, traditional architecture. I have enjoyed delicious frappé coffees, pastry sweets and the local cuisine at the port and at the square with the famous unnaturally-big ficus tree. Very close from there I visited the Kipouria Monastery where I could enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets on the island, along with an interesting hike in the wild woods towards Cape Schiza. Fiscardo must have been my favourite village with its charm and beauty. Having survived the utterly catastrophic earthquakes of 1953, most of the buildings preserve their traditional local colour that travels you back in time: the grand mansions with their elegant balconies, the old two-storey houses, the dark red-tiled rooftops, the evergreen mountainsides, the iridescent blue of the sea and the overall scenery is simply enchanting. I, also, visited the cave lake of Melissani; a wonder of nature, birthplace of the nymphs in mythology and one of the most impressive sights of the world which was discovered in 1951. The magic of the landscape is partly because of the roof that has collapsed, and you have a view of the sky while being in a cave and on a boat. If you visit around midday, when the sun is high and the rays come through, you’ll see the light transforming the cave-lake making the cyan waters shine, giving a magical, soothing feeling.

I am wearing a very casual outfit, composed by a basic, white t-shirt –depicting an ancient, vase-like Greek scene from a music festival called ’Saristra Festival’, that coincidentally takes place in Kefalonia every summer in August– and khaki shorts with an asymmetric cut and a fastener. These go along with an oversized denim kimono, multi-colour sandals with colourful orange touches and a navy cap. In such a sunny place, a pair of good sunglasses is essential and mine has a golden finish with a mirror effect, adding some more colours to the final look. I am ready for some sightseeing and headed to the beach with this summery backpack with the colourful print of letters screaming “HOLIDAYS”. This rucksack never fails to put a smile on my face. Now, seeing it hanging in my wardrobe makes me feel warmly nostalgic.