Storm is heading towards the island (and might even bring some snow further inland in the higher elevations) so we decided to explore the island a little more and be “close to home” should we need to batten down any hatches. Unfortunately the wind was likely going to make flying the drone a little impossible, so we chose a couple spots on the southern coast that we hadn’t been to yet and started out.
(But first, into town for coffee and a tank of gas.)
Took the oceanside road out through Agios Nikitas and down towards the southern end of the island. As we got up around Kalamitsi and headed towards Agios Petros, the clouds started to descend on us, and eventually we got into one that made for some very moody driving. We considered heading towards the lighthouse, but ultimately decided that we’d stick with our plans, head into Vasiliki, and explore whatever southern beaches we could access.
This was the first time we found ourselves in Vasiliki proper. Usually we just skirt the town on the main road which goes by the rental apartments and a store or two, but we checked out the port today — Vasiliki runs a number of ferries to other islands south of here, Kefalonia and Ithaca — and found a cozy little downtown with some nicely painted tavernas and tourist cruise shops, mostly closed or being renovated before the summer season kicks back off again.
First beach we came across was Ammoussa Beach, a pretty small little cove protected on both sides by rocky outcroppings, with a restaurant and patio on the other side of the street that’s probably a great place to have a liter of wine and a little sun in the summer.
We poked around the back roads around there, mostly finding future beachfront houses and dead ends, before making our way back up to the main road and turning back towards home on the inland side of the loop.
We did take a little detour to a little harbor village called Syvota, also completely closed up, and we could see the boats bobbing pretty heavily and the water splashing up on the pier at the end of the village. Then grabbed some snacks and headed home, where the last of this week’s pastitsio was waiting to be reheated.