Trips throughout Greece

Athens - Pireaus - Cape Sounion - Poros - Santorini - Zakynthos - Rhodes - Mikonos - Delos - Corinth - Theater of Epidauro - Nafplio - Mycenae - Delphi - Arahova - Ioannina - Vikos Gorges - Meteora - Messenia and Peloponnesus

Zakynthos, also called Zante, is one of the Ionian Islands. They are 6 in total, and we can emphasize Corfu, Ithaca, Zakynthos and Kefalonia. These places are linked to the story of Homeric Ulysses, the legendary hero who lived and reigned in Ithaca. He fought during the Troy war. 20 years after his departure he returned to his native country through fantastic adventures that are related in the Odyssey of Homer. His wife Penelope wove a cloth that she undid during the night, because she had promised that she would marry any of the suitors when she finished it. The last stages of his travel, where he meet the "feacios", has been attributed to the island of Corfu. When Ulysses reached Ithaca he killed all the suitors with the help of his son Telemachus.

The Ionian Islands are located at the west of Greece, in a region of high seism activity, and superb mountainous landscapes and magnificent beaches and creeks feature them. There is quite a lot of vegetation, with many olive trees, cypresses, citric trees and vineyards.

The Turkish occupied for shortthe Ionian Islands. However the Venetians lived here from the 14th to the 18th centuries, a period of intense cultural activity, that has leaded to a high resemblance between the architecture of their villages and Venice. The capital of Zakynthos is a clear example, and it is reflected in the tower, the church and many buildings. There is a mixture of Greek and Italian style.
The 19th century was rather agitated and the islands belonged successively to French, Russians, British and finally Greeks in 1864.

The island that we preferred the most to visit was Corfu but it was really far away from Athens and we weren't going to make the most of that weekend. We decided Zakynthos, although it is not precisely close. We took a bus from Athens to the western Peloponnesus that lasts for more than 5 h. The way the Greeks drive is quite dangerous and this is the reason that they are the European Union's citizens with more traffic accidents. The main roads are a constant risk and they are very habitual situations where three widthways cars circulate at the same time despite each direction only allows for one lane. When a car wants to overtake the car going first it enters the verge and continues driving without being altered. The overtaking car situates in the middle of the two lanes and finally the car coming in front enters the verge as well. The thing becomes even better when buses and trucks are involved, or when a bus overtakes a truck while a car comes from the front. At the end you get used to it.

Zakynthos is the second more visited Ionian Island, after Corfu. It is called "flower from Orient". We can speak about two differentiated parts, the southern side crowded with tourists, and the wilder northern side, mountainous and leafy, much less frequented.

The city was capital and main harbour during the Venetian occupation, so the city was covered in churches, palaces and squares with fountains and arcades. The numerous Venetian buildings were destroyed in 1953, in an earthquake followed by a great fire. However the reconstruction was very accurate and worked. It reminds the Italian cities not only because of the buildings but also for the lively atmosphere during day and night. The maritime walk is very pleasant and there are many fish taverns.

The Venetian fortress that dominates the town worth a visit, particularly considering the formidable views over the bay and the coastline. It is located on top of the Bokali's hill, 100 m. high. We didn't get into it.
The city centre is the Solomou's square , called like this to commemorate the compositor of the Greek national hymn, who was born here. It is surrounded with elegant buildings, it is wide, pedestrian and there are terraces scattered everywhere: cafes, pubs and restaurants.

The city has a few interesting spots, but the best of all is the environment and the tranquillity that you can breathe. It invites to walk and drink or eat something in a lively terrace while you enjoy the elegant buildings.

We rented a small car, the cheapest one, to go for a drive during the first day. We chose to move through the peninsula's beaches, located at the Southeast. The first place was Gerakas' beach , the southern beach of the peninsula. It is a lovely beach in the middle of the nature. The water is pure and crystalline. The beach is famous because of the "Caretta-Caretta" turtles, which arrive here to bury the eggs in the sand since thousands of years ago.

It is banned to sleep in this beach or even to light a bonfire. You are only allowed to stay in the closest strip from water and they are very careful in the entire region to avoid altering the ecosystem despite the tourism. The ovulating period coincides with the tourist high season. The beach is very long so there is enough space to be relatively alone, to have a relaxing walk or to have a refreshing bath.
Afterwards we drove to the Porto Zorro's beach , another impressive beach deserving a postcard. The tide here is much stronger, as a bay like in Gerakas does not protect it.

We continued towards the lighthouse of Keri . It is better to arrive here during the dusk, because you will enjoy a formidable sunset. This lighthouse is located in the western end of the island, the most mountainous spot. The cliffs seem mountains that have been cut with an axe. They fall completely vertical to the brilliant blue water and caves. The landscape from our height, the dusk and the landscape made this fantastic spot unforgettable.
In our way back we detained in the village of Keri .

There were no tourists there. It was a calm village. A couple of taverns with some Greeks sat on their tabourets in disperse tables. Some of them play tavli (a kind of draughts game), others simply have a coffee or an ouzo, playing distractedly with their komboloi. They look at us with little interest, because they are used to tourists, I guess, and they go on with their lives. We sat to have a frappe in one table and this moment was one of the most authentic in Greece. We enjoyed the true Greece, which in this village was being shown for us, the only tourists in this current village. The contrast between Laganas and Keri is huge.

We drove back to Zakynthos, tasting the island landscapes among vineyards and mountains, sea views or disperse houses, while we circulated alone throughout the road. In the capital we had a tasty dinner in a terrace in Solomou's square, and afterwards we had an ice cream. In the food you can notice the Italian influence. We went to sleep very exhausted but very happy after this magnificent day.
The next day we went to the harbour to search for a cruise around the island. This is a highly recommendable experience if you visit Zakynthos, and I would even add that it is compulsory because of some of the stops during the sailing.

From the distance we observed a magnificent colour spectra, but unfortunately that was all. At the same moment that the boat turns around the northern point and the way towards the south starts the landscape changes drastically, with white cliffs that seem a clean cut of the green mountains.

In a moment we entered the most astonishing beach I have ever seen: the Ship's Wreck . The boat sails towards a small wreck surrounded by high cliffs, one of the most popular postcards of Greece . The name of this beach comes from the ship that ran aground here 20 years ago. The crew, who didn't possess the required documents, disappeared before the police arrival and this ship still remains here. The name is Panagiotis.

The spectacle is compelling and it is even more formidable during the approach because of the turquoise brilliant colour of the water.

It is simply unforgettable and I guess that a few places around the world can show a comparable colour. The boat stopped at the end of the beach and they allowed one hour to enjoy this spot. The explanation for this colour is found in the white clean smooth pebbles that form the beach, and strongly reflect the light.

Besides there is not much thin sand to make the water cloudy. We had a bath, we dove with our diving glasses and we finally sat marvelled on the pebbles nearby the shore.

We walked around the wrecked ship, enjoying the imposing cliffs that surround and close the beach, which is only accessible through the sea. In the highest point of these cliffs there is a top viewpoint that causes vertigo.

I guess that if the day is cloudy it wouldn't so superb, therefore we were lucky to have sun.

The trip continues to the Vromi bay , which leads to the village of Vromi , in another magnificent environment. Without getting down the boat goes on throughout the cliffs, while the sea changes the colour to green and blue randomly. I imagined myself with an own yacht and stopping wherever I like to. The boat stopped to allow us for a dip in one of these spots. This one had a peculiarity, some natural stone arcades linked to the rocky walls . Diving here was wonderful. The trip goes on across nice landscapes towards the south, passing in front of the places that we had visited last day: Keri, Laganas, Gerakas and Zakynthos the last.

Despite during the cruise they claim about their rich fauna consisting on turtles and seals, we couldn't see any of such animals.
In the afternoon we travelled towards Athens , firstly in a ferry until the Peloponnesus and then in bus. The fights from Athens are cheap and therefore a good option, but the bus is much cheaper and we wanted to have the money for travelling the next weekends to other spots.