I'd already researched what we planned to do in Argostoli. Then forgot it! I did have notes somewhere, but they were hidden, I couldn't find them, and I got mixed up with another port. It wasn't until Tia (Terena), was looking through TripAdvisor that I remembered my plan - which was a walk. So, using Maps.me, (an app we've found absolutely brilliant on our foreign travel), we set off.
So. Out of the port, turn right and follow the coastline. Argostoli is a town on the side of a lagoon leading off from a bay on the island of Kefalonia. As we walked we were looking across the lagoon to the hills and mountains on the other side. It was beautiful
First stop were the sinkholes. Some weird geology means that the sea water disappears into them and re-appears about 1 1/2 miles away on the other side of the island. The flow of the sea water is enough to power a water mill. The mill was moving quite slowly when we visited, but I would imagine that high tide or rough seas could create a lot of power.
From there we walked on past a small pebbly beach and a few restaurants to an old disused lighthouse with lovely views.
Then we turned back on ourselves to find the path leading up to the Italian War Memorial. The track is a little bit rough in places and my open toed sandals weren't the best footwear. I managed OK though The memorial was quite interesting, giving details of how the Germans turned on the Italians very quickly when Italy signed and Armistice with the Allies in 1943. Several thousand were killed.
We carried on upwards toward what was marked as a veiwpoint at the top of the hill. Several times the trees lining the track opened out to show us glorious views of the lagoon and our ship. From the viewpoint itself were stunning views the other way, across the bay to the separate peninsular of Kefalonia. Quite beautiful.
We stopped for a lunch of fruit, before starting on our way down, into the town of Argostoli. It's actually really quite a nice place, with wide streets, inviting looking shops, and loads of places to eat - all under the shade of large parasols.
We found an icecream parlour, and armed with absolutely massive and delicious ice cream cones, we made our way through the town to the waterside, heading for a walkway across the lagoon.
It's not very deep at this point. I loved watching the fish on either side as we walked towards the monument stone in the middle. We could have gone all the way across, but the sun was hot and high in the sky, and our legs were beginning to complain.
We walked back towards the ship along the lagoon edge. The restaurant tables were full, and children threw bread, watching the hoardes of fish zoom in to eat it. Further along we came across several people watching and filming the lagoon. Turtles!
And of course we were as excited to see them as everyone else. Apparently they are Loggerhead sea turtles, they hang around to take advantage of what the fishermen throw away when they arrive back to the lagoon in the mornings, and the lagoon is actually a nature reserve helping to protect them.
We finally got back to the ship having walked 6 miles. I think, if we'd have been surer of the distance and the time, we may gone further....... Maybe we'll get to visit again.
So that was Argostoli, Kefalonia. We loved it. Definitely the place for a holiday in the future I think. We sat with the royal photographer Ken Lennox for dinner. That guy is just so full of stories. We could sit and listen to him all night. Brilliant.
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