Shipwrecked.
Robinson Crusoe may not have been the first, or last, great shipwreck tale in English literature. I can however guarantee with a high degree of certainty that this entry for our Greek family Holiday in Kefalonia certainly will not qualify either.
There is something about the shipwreck novel—a storm at sea, waking on a beach, fighting with monkeys over scarce food and water—what a great basis for an adventure. A story of solitude and survival. Here, in this blog you will find none of that. Merely a story of another wonderful vacation by The Stopporton, Corcoran and Lewis family. This year in Kefalonia Greece.
Why do I mention Shipwrecked? It's the photo I took on the beach at Kaminia. I thought how can I weave that into the narrative? Hence a mention for my old pal Daniel Defoe.
Think of Kefalonia and one immediately thinks of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. A novel by English author Louis de Bernieres. Yes, he is English. I've checked my facts. I started the book and at the time of writing this am some chapters into it. It is acclaimed. Mike is finding it written in rather flowery language and slightly hard going. My excuse is that I keep seeing Nicolas Cage as Corelli and I'm no fan of his acting. I've never met the guy. It's a love story at heart but also deals with the various factions of resistance here on the island during WW2. It also mentions the massacre of the Italian Acgui Division by the Germans when they refused to hand over the island to the Germans.
Between 13 and 22 September 1943, on the island of Cephalonia, the Germans fought the Italians of the 33rd Acqui Infantry Division. A total of 1,315 were killed in battle, 3,000 were drowned when the German ships taking them to concentration camps were sunk by the Allies and 5,155 were executed by 26 September. It was one of the largest prisoner of war massacres of WW2, along with the Katyn massacre of approximately 22,000 Poles by Soviets and it was one of many atrocities committed by the Gebirgs-Division.
We left home at 0215hrs for our journey to Bristol Airport for a 0730hrs flight to Kefalonia. We arrived to some 25 degree heat despite it still being early in the season. We collected the two rental cars, after some "discussion" with the Europe Car Rental desk. We were tired and wanted to get to the villa, an hours drive away at Old Skala on the SW corner of the island. Restraining Tracey from physical violence threatened against his person we were soon on our way only after we had paid off the countries Greek debt in excess car insurance. Upfront. Roll on Brexit. Then they'll appreciate just what we Brits have been pouring in in contributions.
On our way we found a Lidl's. We stopped to get some rations for tonight's meal. We would not feel like eating out. The shelves were pretty empty. There was a ferry strike on!
The roads here are pretty narrow, not much more than a cars width and that's on the main roads. OK there not that bad. Until you get out of "town". Then they are. Thank goodness we were in Nissan Notes. The villa, as seems to be the case with our rentals was half way up a mountain. Great views but you need four wheel drive to get up some of the tracks! The villa was as spectacular as any we had rented to date. Four bedrooms, all en-suite. Extremely spacious lounge, dining area and kitchen. Patio area, both covered and open, BBQ area and infinity pool.
A light evening supper was prepared in a flash by Mikey, Callum's dad. A few beers, a few gins and it was time to hit the sack. We had been up for twenty hours. "Any rush for reveille in the morning?" Mike asked. "No." they replied in unison.
