After spending time in Sami I drove across the island to Argostolion, where I would spend the week for my 30th birthday. I hiked to the top of Mount Ainos, the tallest peak on the island, then spent my birthday on Petani Beach.
This is the view from the Airbnb that I stayed in all week.
Taken on De Bosset Bridge, which links Argostolion to Drapano.
I drove to the car park / radio tower before hiking to the summit of Mount Ainos.
Before hiking to the summit of Mount Ainos I sat in this spot and watched as the clouds rolled over the peak. One minute it would be sunny, clear, and hot. As the clouds rolled in the air became very cool and visibility dropped to almost nothing. A few minutes later it’d be back to sunny as the clouds cleared out.
Photo taken by a lovely couple I met on the hike up - Klaus and Uschi from Germany.
I saw this on my way hiking to the summit of Mount Ainos.
After a leasurly 30 minute walk from the car park, the trail turns steep for the final few hundred feet in elevation.
The last leg of the hike to the summit of Mount Ainos. It goes from steep to what may as well be vertical. The path is switchbacks all the way up.
Almost to the summit of Mount Ainos.
Photo taken by a lovely couple I met on the hike up - Klaus and Uschi from Germany.
Before hiking up I met Klaus and Uschi, a couple from Germany. We did the hike together. It was wonderful having new friends up there because other than them I only saw a few people while I was hiking around.
The peak of Mount Ainos is to my back.
At the summit of Mount Ainos.
Taken on Petani Beach.
My only plan for this entire trip around Europe was to be on a beach in Greece for my 30th birthday. Mission accomplished.
I rented the little white car all week. Here it is parked at Petani Beach.
All closed down for the winter. These houses were right on Petani Beach.
This is the road to get down to Petani Beach. And basically every other road on Kefalonia.
At the end of my birthday week I flew from the island to Rome, with a connection in Athens.