Roemin abit

We were very unlucky with the weather on this holiday but the thunder storms and cool rainy days did not stop us doing our thing and we enjoyed the return visit after 40 years. The Kefalonia Grande Hotel was a very friendly boutique hotel with a minimalistic design, it did not have a pool and not really grand at all, although the retired mayor has breakfast there every morning. The breakfast buffet was very good and as we were only B&B guests we lunched and dined out every day, except for dinner in the hotel on the first day. We chose the hotel so that we would be on the promenade, close to the main square and walking distance to the bus terminus and ferry port. We used the €2 bus to go to two beaches at Lassi, with nice tavernas where we had drinks and lunch, then a taxi back.  We had dinner twice at the Captains Table restaurant which was highly rated and just along the prom and twice at restaurants on the main square. We flew from EMA on Wednesday and landed in a thunder sto...

We are off home today but not being picked up until 6:30 so we have a full day in Argostoli. It's also forecast to be the sunniest and driest day of the holiday would you believe. We stayed local and went down to the De Bosset bridge again. I walked all the way over the lagoon and met Rosemary at the obelisk on the way back. We didn't spot any turtles but chatted to the young turtle survey girl, she hadn't seen any either. We had lunch in a small Greek taverna/take away full of local workers. It closes at 5 pm or when they run out of food. Very tasty authentic cooking and run by a family, all the male staff looked the same. I had stuffed tomatoes and peppers, while Rosemary had pork chop. All selected from trays of food on the counter. Best lunch value of the week. Next we did the pedestrianised shopping street and bought a very small amount of tack and an ice-cream at I Scream shop. Wandered back to the hotel, shared a massive banana waffle en route and relaxed...

It looks more promising today on the weather forecast, but that remains to be seen as the dark clouds seem to come from nowhere. Hoping to try a proper beach today on the Lassi side later. Didn't bother to take an umbrella today, so needless to say, we got a bit wet in sharp showers on the walk to the bus station. We went all the way round the airport loop on the bus and back to Makris Gialos beach. I spotted the hotel we stayed in 40 years ago en route, but it seemed to be closed. We walked down to a traditional taverna perched above the beach and had a very good meze selection with a lovely view over the sea. Sunny and warm this afternoon so I descended the beach steps after lunch and had a brief paddle.  We found ourselves between buses again (every 2 hours!) so took a taxi back to our hotel. Just sitting in a coffee shop at the side of the hotel and down comes the rain again. Will it ever clear up.

We awoke in a flash this morning, lightning that is. It's going to be a wet morning again but hopefully a dry afternoon. May go to Sami this afternoon on the bus as there is a big cruise boat in port. We did go to Sami on the bus, €4 each way through the mountains - goats, donkeys and all. It was grey and drizzling in Sami so we did not see it at it's best, but not much to see in fact, except lots of sailing boats, some nice craft shops and plenty of restaurants. I had fish soup for lunch, Rosemary had mussels and we caught an earlier bus back. It seems to be drying up a bit as we approach Argostoli. The TUI cruisers were filling all the Argostoli bars and cafés. Went to the Captain's table for a late dinner, Moussaka and  Lamb Steflika, then spent a lot of time chatting to the Albanian manager. Clouds have cleared and there is a brilliant full moon. Maybe tomorrow .....

Hurrah, the day has started sunny and warm, the bay is flat calm and the boats moored up in front of the hotels are loading up with funseekers. We are sitting on the terrace enjoying breakfast with a mix of modern Greek and English Christmas songs on the music system. We walked down to the bus station and were delighted to see a big turtle swimming around a small fishing boat that had caught some Octopus. The bad weather had stopped most of the fishing boats from going out so we were very lucky. We jumped on the local airport bus that also stops at Lassi and walked down a steep access road to Gradakia beach. We spent over an hour on the beach bar sofas where we enjoyed cocktails and a tuna sandwich in the sun. The path back up to the main road recommended by the barman was more suited to goats than geriatrics but we made it. We had an ice-cream and drink at Nonna's coffee bar on the Lassi road then we took a taxi back to the hotel (it's the best €8 we spent so far s...

No, not a luxury ferry, just the regular local ferry that links Argostoli with Lixouri a small town just around the peninsular. It's only €3 each way and a scenic 20min journey, or would be if it wasn't raining.  It's just another shower to contend with before enjoying a delicious orange cake and cappuccino in the Corna cafe on sea front. Lixouri was similar to Argostoli, a promenade, shopping area and no local beach. It was almost deserted with the promenade cafes mostly empty orclosed. We had a wander around, not much to see and bought €7 worth of bread, ham and tomatoes from a super market to eat back on our balcony. The sun finally made an appearance today at 4pm,  after we had returned on the ferry.

After doing a lot of walking yesterday we are having a rest day. This is just as well because as I write this after breakfast sitting on the terrace  we are in the eye of a thunder storm with water pouring down the road beside me like a river. It should soon pass. We had a short stroll between storms along the pedestrianised shopping street and a chat with a coffee shop owner. We ventured out in the evening to see where the ferry terminal was located and dashed into Dash for a crafty G&T before dining at Baroque le Bistro. I had a tomahawk pork steak and Rosemary a mini kebab. Another shower on the way back to the hotel.  Umbrellas have lots of exercise on this holiday.

We spent the day wandering around the town to get our bearings. Had a coffee in the main square which has restaurants all round but was very quiet with some closed. Walked down to the bus station to get some schedules and joined the turtle watchers for a while. We had a snack lunch near the old fish market, more turtle watching then back to the Grande for a rest before dinner. A couple of scattered showers but some sunny intervals and warm. We had a nice dinner of fresh Sea Bream (me)  and Cod at the Captains Table just up the promenade. There was an altercation between 2 Jewish diners and Free Palestine marchers who banged on the windows as they passed.

Flying this afternoon to Argostoli with Jet 2, we had a taxi to East Midlands at midday. Plenty of time to start the holiday with a Prosecco and tapas before we boarded the plane at 3 o'clock. Nice clear views of France and Italy on route but landed in a thunder storm. The hotel is right on the promenade and we have a room with a Juliet balcony and a side view of the bay.