Ithaka & Skhounis Bay
Every Western high school student has read of Odysseus and his toils, and his long journey home. This archetypal story still rings true with travelers and homebodies alike. Today, we visited Odysseus’ island home of Ithaka, and discovered its many charms.
After a leisurely breakfast and morning walk along the waterfront, we boarded buses in the island’s port town of Vathi for a driving tour of the island. We took the coastal road to a beautiful monastery, perched on the island’s highest peak. Here, we found fields of wildflowers, panoramic views and quiet contemplative moments.
We continued to the interior village of Stavros, where we enjoyed a Greek coffee and photographing scenes of village life. Returning to the port, some chose to have lunch ashore, while others perused the local artisans’ shops.
After lunch we repositioned a short distance to Skhounis Bay for a lovely warm afternoon of swimming and kayaking. Following the water activities, National Geographic Expert Grace Fielder held an interesting talk named “The Myth of Maps”, a suitable topic now that we are leaving Greece and heading towards the fascinating and sometimes turbulent Balkan region.
The day finished with our Greek party. Delicious pieces of grilled octopus were swept down with large glasses of Greek ouzo, and the chefs offered a large buffet with all of the best that Greece has to offer. As we watched the sun go down on our last day in Greece, we understood why Odysseus spent twenty years trying to return to his beautiful home.
Every Western high school student has read of Odysseus and his toils, and his long journey home. This archetypal story still rings true with travelers and homebodies alike. Today, we visited Odysseus’ island home of Ithaka, and discovered its many charms.
After a leisurely breakfast and morning walk along the waterfront, we boarded buses in the island’s port town of Vathi for a driving tour of the island. We took the coastal road to a beautiful monastery, perched on the island’s highest peak. Here, we found fields of wildflowers, panoramic views and quiet contemplative moments.
We continued to the interior village of Stavros, where we enjoyed a Greek coffee and photographing scenes of village life. Returning to the port, some chose to have lunch ashore, while others perused the local artisans’ shops.
After lunch we repositioned a short distance to Skhounis Bay for a lovely warm afternoon of swimming and kayaking. Following the water activities, National Geographic Expert Grace Fielder held an interesting talk named “The Myth of Maps”, a suitable topic now that we are leaving Greece and heading towards the fascinating and sometimes turbulent Balkan region.
The day finished with our Greek party. Delicious pieces of grilled octopus were swept down with large glasses of Greek ouzo, and the chefs offered a large buffet with all of the best that Greece has to offer. As we watched the sun go down on our last day in Greece, we understood why Odysseus spent twenty years trying to return to his beautiful home.
