Kefalonia
Me and my family took a 2 week break to the small Greek island, Kefalonia in the summer of 2013. This would be the second time in my life that I would have vacationed in Greece, however, since I was only 1 during our first visit, I don't really remember much.
I will, however, remember this trip for years. This summer holiday made me fall in love with Greece. The sparkling Ionian sea, the hot hot heat hitting your back as you walk down dusty alleyways to find off-beat, home-grown restaurants and bars. It has without a doubt become my favourite spot in Europe.
I stayed in Lassi, in a villa a bit up the hill away from the main drag. The view from our pool overlooked Lassi beach, and it was gorgeous.
We couldn't wait to get down there and cool off in the crystal blue sea. Being one of Kefalonia's most popular resorts, the beach boasts a well stocked and reasonably priced beach bar- serving anything from Powerade to help the hangover to ice cold pints to, well, help the hangover. The food is perfect for a quick lunch in the sand, and has something for everyone.
On our tour around Kefalonia in our rented Fiat, we found a smaller, quieter beach that had clear waters for miles. Although it doesn't have soft, white sand like other beaches in the area boast, Antisamos beach is one of the most glorious views you'll ever see. Hollywood seemed to agree, as scenes from the famous Captain Corelli's Mandalin was filmed right on that beach.
The food we had throughout the entire break was well-priced and delicious, however, when it came to cocktails- it was a bit steep. During one sunset we stopped off at a bar on a gorgeous location next to the sea- the outside area was stunning and well presented, it was the perfect place for a drink, which made paying 10 euros for a small Appletini sting a little less.
This holiday is one of my favourites so far, and I plan on returning later on in life. Usually on family holidays, my parents try to fit as many cultural activities in as possible, which means early rises and late finishes in 30 degree weather. These 2 weeks were different, they were relaxed and slow, we traveled around the small island with ease, looking at the stunning views as we went. It was certainly relaxing, and just the holiday for me.