Oosterdam European Adventure, Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece...

Being a new port for me, I was up and on deck for sail into Argostoli on the island of Kefalonia. Photography this morning was a bit of a challenge because of the sun and the haze. The approach to the harbor offered some picturesque landscape of the forests, rolling hills, and turquoise waters. We met our guide Lambros for a walking tour of Fanaria and highlights. We left the port and headed along a coastal trail. The first stop on the walk was the Katavothers water wheels…the locals call this the Argostoli Sinkholes….The seawater flows into the underground sinkholes and generates power harnessed in a small power plant. Next, we visited Agrostoli’s famous landmark, Saint Theodore Lighthouse. Also known as Fanari, this lighthouse is a circular structure with 20 columns. It was built in 1829 by the British and is still functional. The road continued along the water and some nice beaches below…I took a trail off the road and was able to get much closer the hidden beaches and coves. After an uphill climb through olive trees and a forest, we made a stop visiting the Italian Memorial dedicated to the 9250 Italian soldiers who during World War II either died battling the Germans, were executed or died during transportation to detention camps. We continued down to the city heading for the Central Square. Before arriving at Central Square, we passed Kosmetatou House, a beautiful mansion that survived the catastrophic earthquake of 1953. The square had many cafes and restaurants so we stopped for a rest and a delicious Greek lunch. Leaving our guide at Central Square we walked back to the ship along the waterfront looking for souvenirs. Today, was a scenic walking tour where nature and the sea converged in a delightful journey.