Zakynthos

• Andyfreshwater's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Zakynthos

Trip Start Apr 15, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Apr 01, 2010 Next
Entry

  Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece
Thursday, May 15, 2008

Zakynthos
 
Well here we are on the sunny Greek isle of Zakynthos, the most southerly and largest of the Ionian Islands, located off the southwest coast of Greece. The Island is lovely and green due to the high rainfall it receives in the winter time; luckily for us it still remains one of the sunniest places in Greece in the summer. The weather for our trips has been perfect, sunny days and cool nights, the only downside being the bally mosquitoes that have as usual been enjoying a feast by way of my ample body!
 
Our accommodation here is the Village Garden Hotel in Kalamaki, a small cluster of very nicely appointed studios and apartments set amidst lush gardens. The apartments are built in a traditional rustic style, no white washed concrete here. They are owned and managed by Carol, our English host

Zakynthos

. She doesn't stop, always darting around adding personal touches to the accommodations such as fresh flowers from the gardens, and generally being on hand to provide for all the guests needs, she really is one in a million, a perfect host.
 
My sister and brother-in-law have joined us for our first two weeks here; they have been staying just up the road. It has been great to have their company and has given us the chance to hire a car to discover the island with them; we have enjoyed some great walks too. The landscape at this time of the year looks fantastic; all of the hills are clad in a multi-coloured carpet of wild flowers. Three quarters of the Island is mountainous, however the last quarter is incredibly fertile and is put to good use with every square inch cultivated with vegetables, grape vines and millions of olive trees, some hundreds of years old which over the years have become twisted into some weird and wonderful shapes.
 
The west coast is very rugged with sheer white cliffs cascading into a cobalt blue sea, our day trips have discovered some amazing scenery, small coves, caves and probably the most photographed bay on the island, Na-vaghio, where a shipwreck sits on a powder white beach lapped by the milky blue sea, the view from the elevated platform on top of the cliff is just stunning

Zakynthos

. In contrast the south and east coast tends to have long stretches of golden sand, this where you will find the bulk of the tourist resorts.
 
In 1953 an earthquake struck just off shore causing mass damage to several of the Ionian Islands. It wasn't the earthquake which caused the catastrophic damage, it was more to do with the time of day the earthquake struck, and it was lunchtime. The residents fearing for their lives ran from the buildings without time to switch off their cooking stoves. The stoves toppled in the quake resulting in mass fire, few of the islands historical buildings survived.  The resilient Islanders have rebuilt their island into the thriving hub it is today.
 
Food, we can't forget food! Eating out on the island is despite the poor Euro exchange rate still very reasonable. One can eat well for £12 including house wine! We are on a strict budget, so have been striking a balance of self catering and treating ourselves. The local produce is delicious; however you do need to hunt down the local shops as the tourist shops tend to sell pre-packed items. Best are the local feta cut from the block which is stored in tubs of brine, the local Olives and Olive oil is world quality too. In our resorts there are many restaurants to choose from, but the best are always the typically Greek ones, where they serve delicious Meze platters giving lots of small portions of local dishes, a great way to discover new foods. The house specialities are always the Beef Stifado and Lamb Kleftico which are usually closely guarded recipes handed down through the generations, always with that little extra secret ingredient which makes each restaurateur's dish just that little bit different!  

Slideshow Print this entry Share

Previous Entry Next Entry