Gathering Kefalonia Memories

Avythos Beach, Kefalonia

Ammes Beach, Kefalonia

Dedicated to those special people who have been removed from the "visitor" list to claim their rightful place on our list of friends...

The Times of Your Life
❝ The memories are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow
...
Here comes the setting sun
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life? ❞
  (written by Roger Nichols/ Bill Lane, performed by Paul Anka)
 

Ammes Beach, Kefalonia

Footprints and Shadows on the Sand

Paliolinos, Kefalonia

As the season winds down—not in a haste, admittedly—there are still moments to be captured, memories to be stored, friendships to be cherished.

Late September arrivals of friends from abroad are the perfect excuse to push the rewind button on a season that for most of us is over.

I've certainly had more than my share of opportunities to "rewind" the season.

Chance encounters from last year that evolved into "virtual" communications over the winter, and have now become real life friendships.
A short drive to out-of-the-way places, footprints on a tiny beach, snaps of departing shadows...

Skala, Kefalonia

In a Blue State of Mind

Skala-Poros Coastline

Sky blue...

Cobalt...

Azure...

Cyan...

Ultramarine...

Powder blue...

Southeastern coastline, Kefalonia

 A palette as diverse as the emotions it evokes.
A hue array as wide as the sea.
A tone range as endless as the sky.
Yes, I'm in a blue state of mind and not complaining at all!

September's Warm Summer Sun

Argostoli Bay with St. George's Fortress in the background

The calm after the storm...
All "systems" are restored...

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Warm Summer Sun⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Warm summer sun,
Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind,
Blow softly here.
Green sod above,
Lie light, lie light.
Good night, dear heart,
Good night, good night.
⎯⎯⎯MARK TWAIN⎯⎯⎯

Kefalonia September Rain

Intrusive, yet welcome;
Inconvenient, yet rejuvenating;
Gloomy, yet refreshing;
Undesirable, yet long overdue—

September rain, Kefalonia

Island September rain

Don't fret, it's only a small interruption.
A small inconvenience, necessary to break up the unbearable streak of unusually high temperatures for the season.

In a couple of days, the sun will be back—along with the drier, lovely days of a long, Kefalonia-style Indian summer.

Lingering Summer

One last (and lasting) dip before saying goodbye to summer (Skala Beach)

It's mid-September...

Capturing memories in unexpected places

They are all gone...
Penny left Skala behind for the campus of Adelphi U...
Nicole said goodbye to her beach gear to prepare for autumn on Long Island...
Grace traded her carefree Kefalonia days to resume her home remodeling in NY...
Andreas gave up the beach party scene and is back on classroom duty in Manhattan... Anastasia put her sandals away to face orientation at Pace U...

A traditional selfie in an unlikely medium

Yes, they are all gone...

I have yet to organize the photos into folders, burn them to cd, or transfer them to flash stick, so I can email (or snail-mail) them to the States.
Maybe because it still doesn't feel like summer is over.
The days have shrunk and I've put away my beach gear as well.

But this summer has not yet given any serious indication that it wants to go away.
I think it knows that we're expecting new arrivals and is going out of its way to be gracious.

Ithaca: From Here to There and Back

If not for the brisk northwestern breeze blowing through the channel, the return journey from Ithaca to Kefalonia is uneventful.

Midway through crossing the channel, the eye wanders undecided. 
Left behind is the ultimate destination of dreams; ahead lies the overwhelming, massive floating rock that is home.

And the boat keeps shearing the water at a speed that leaves no time for regret, tilting a bit as the sea gets choppy.
 
As if to prepare you for the return to more familiar ground.

Ithaca outlined in the afternoon sky, with Kefalonia lurking in the background

Sailboats gliding between Kefalonia and Ithaca

Returning to Kefalonia with a northwestern breeze in the channel

And, without any undue guilt, as I mentioned when I started this blog, a mention of Captain Vangelis and his beautiful "Mythos" Glass Bottom Boat—the most gracious host on all my sea outings.

Thank you, Vangelis!

And, in case you missed the journey:
➥Ithaca Part I
➥Ithaca Part II
➥Ithaca Part III

Ithaca: Don't You Love Her Madly? (Part III)

On the way to Kioni, Ithaca

The third leg of the journey is a visit to Kioni, the traditional seaside village tucked away in the northeastern shore of Ithaca. Windmills, small cottages, and tiny chapels come into view—perched on rocky land intrusions into the gleaming sea.

Kioni itself is not as "mood intensive" as Vathy, but with an aura of its own.

Quayside at Kioni, Ithaca

Attention grabbing elements at Kioni, Ithaca

One last stop before leaving Ithaca...
One last dip in the enticing, blue waters of Filiatro Beach...

Aqua-blue perfect Filiatro Beach, Ithaca

To be continued......
Not the posts, THE JOURNEY...

In case you missed previous posts in the series:
➥Ithaca Part I
➥Ithaca Part II

Ithaca: Don't You Love Her Madly? (Part II)

The second leg of the journey is a stopover at Vathy, Ithaca's capital.
➥here's Part I, in case you missed it

St. Andrew's chapel at the entrance of Vathy Bay, Ithaca

The town is lazily sprawled along the inner horseshoe section of the deep, fjord-like bay.
A place to see and do a lot, or absolutely nothing.

Vathy, Ithaca

 It all depends on one's mood* (which is the key word in describing Vathy, to begin with).

Sailboats at Vathy, Ithaca

*note: I've been to Vathy at different times of the year and I find rainy spring or autumn days the most mood-definining and inspirational. I concede, though, that for most people a sunny day would be preferable!

Vathy Bay, Ithaca

The journey and the posts...
To be Continued...

Ithaca: Don't You Love Her Madly?

The only thing that beats being aboard a boat crossing the serene waters separating Kefalonia from Ithaca on a sunny September Sunday, is being on Ithaca .

1st stop: Gidaki Beach

Oh, how I had missed her!
So unpretentious, so soothing, so nostalgic, so vibrantly blue...

Testing the waters at Gidaki Beach

Gidaki Beach, Ithaca

Splash!

Diving from the deck at Gidaki Beach

Immersed in aqua-blue waters

Sailing from Gidaki Beach to Vathy, Ithaca

The journey and the posts...
To be Continued...

It Ain't Over Yet!

Fanari Beach, Kefalonia

September blue is a bit more vivid and arrogant, a bit more defined...
The day is shrinking as the sun becomes a bit lazier and cuts back on the overtime...
Compensating for this decline in quantity by quality..
Looking down from a different angle in the sky...
Bringing everything into sharper focus...
Summer lingers on...

(keeping my fingers crossed as I've "promised" late September blue seas and skies to Emma and Neal and Lynn and Andy)

Kefalonia's Simple Palate Pleasers

A traditional Kefalonian quick meal

It's pronounced ree-gha-NA-da  and is simple to prepare, delicious, and nutritionally balanced.

Nowadays, it is featured as an appetizer, or starter, on restaurant and tavern menus. For locals, though, it has always been a favorite light main meal for Summer.

All you need are a few simple ingredients: a sliced loaf of bread (preferably the previous day's), a few juicy tomatoes, crushed feta cheese (a must, no substitutes here), virgin olive oil, and oregano to sprinkle on top.

Please don't ask for instructions, it's not my thing...
Look at the photo and improvise, you shouldn't have a problem.
ENJOY!

Illusion is Reality in Kefalonia Sunsets

Dias Islet, Kefalonia

While true to my fundamental principle of "uncut and unedited" photos, sometimes I like to play around with camera settings and software. 

On this occasion, either the top photo had its sunset orange cast removed, or the bottom photo was "enriched" with saturated hues and taken with a polarizing lens. 

I won't tell, you decide which is illusion and which is reality! 

Or, better yet, choose the setting you'd prefer to be reality if you happened to be the one daydreaming at day's end at Avythos Beach...

Dias Islet, Kefalonia

Hint: if you are familiar with wind conditions, all you have to do is look at the cloud formations and the cresting wave... But, why take the fun out of it?

To Every Thing There is a Season, With or Without a Reason

September Sunrise

❝ September morn
We danced until the night became a brand new day— ❞

There is a delusional continuity that bridges August into September, Summer into Fall, carefree days into routine-laden weeks and months.

Nothing is obvious about this transition—not in the temperature, the sky, nor the sea.

Were it not for some subtle changes in the tale-telling horizon, September would creep up on us without further ado.

But subtle as they may be, the signs are there.
Dawn is a bit more hazy, the sun rises crowned by indecisive clouds, and the sky takes on a warmer hue for the occasion.

No, Summer is by no means over.
But Fall is here, nevertheless...