After we wound our way back from Argostoli on incredibly winding roads in the dark while struggling with Greek-language-only sign posts, seeing Deep Blue in the anchorage at St. Eupemia was a most welcome sight. Our enthusiasm about the countryside villages peeked everyone's interest to do some more exploring and that was quickly turned into another road trip - same rental car, different day and this time with Chris at the helm.

We'd each suggested a couple of "bucket list" places to see, including Mont Agiou, Saint Gerassimo monastery, Robola Vineyeards, and the Agios Georgios Castle for a morning itinerary and we were not disappointed. The monastery grounds were tranquil and lovely and the cathedral's gold interior brilliantly painted with endless and endlessly bloody Christian scenes!

Not sure if we'd find the Robola wine cooperative open on a Saturday morning, we were happy to see a small group beginning a tour. A knowledgeable vintner explained the history and wine production on this noble 700 acre, 900 meter high Greek vineyard. Tasting the elegant white Robola, VQPRD San Gerassimo and some very nice aperitifs and desert wines, we definitely agreed that the area's microclimate and the vines' long roots yield very tasty and award-winning wines.

Craig's top "bucket list" choice was a walk around the Agios Castle, fortress and surrounding town. Views of the mountainous terrain, hillside villages and the huge expanse of the blue Gulf of Argostoli from the top of the remaining Venetian walls and towers were staggeringly beautiful. As were the pine forests that run from high peaks down to the sea, much of which is composed of a local fir tree, Abies cephalonica, a tall slim pine pictured above.

After a lunch perched on a veranda in a family owned taverna, we were off to explore the north end of the Kolpos Argoustolliou. This is an area, north of the island's capital of Argostoli, not even mentioned in the Greek Waters Pilot, yet seemingly well sheltered and, possibly, a good place to wait out a gale or avoid the frenzy of sharing anchorages holiday flotillas. We found little development other than a few fishing villages, some working as well as some abandoned boats, grazing cows, turkey farms and goats up in trees, as you can see! And thought it might indeed be a good hidey-hole for next season.

We won't say much more about Assos as we featured it in the last blog, but arriving late afternoon and walking high above the little town we had ample opportunity to enjoy and photograph this magnificent setting once more. Whilst not a great harbor for visiting by boat as it is rather unprotected from the predominant winds, it surely was a 'must see' by land.