While staying on the Greek Island of Kefalonia we were looking for a great way to spend the day. Maryann was reading about the Greek Fishing Tours they were offering on the islands which sounded like fun so we decided to go with Michalis Fishing Tourism of Kefalonia.

We booked our trip and started our fishing adventure at 8 AM, departing from the port of Agia Pelagia in Svoronata. This was a short drive, less than 10km, from our condo in Lassi just outside of Argostoli, the capital city of Kefalonia.

When we arrived we were greeted by the amazing Antonia Vassiliou-Messolora, the wife of the captain of the boat, Michalis Messoloras.
Not only do they make you feel so welcome when coming aboard, Antonia is a wealth of knowledge about the history of fishing along the islands, plus she is an incredible cook!

When you board the ship she has prepared for you a delicious homemade cake along with Greek coffee and juice. We proceed to where Captain Michalis has cast his nets out in the sea the night before. We watched in amazement at how the over 2.5km of netting is picked up and the talented deckhands’ skill at removing the catch from the nets. You are also allowed to help some which is a wonderful hands-on experience.

Among the types of marine life, we caught that day were lobsters, crabs,  shrimps, sea bass, sea breams, and more. Antonia reminded us that the catch will vary from day to day and is not always the same. As soon as the nets get up, they begin cleaning and storing the fish in the special ice coolers and also prepared for our upcoming feast!

After fishing, we headed to a beach where we had the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear blue waters off the coast of Kefalonia.

We were soon to enjoy an incredible lunch consisting of a mouth-watering Bruchetta, Greek Salad, and Greek Potato Salad prepared by Antonia, who is also an Organic Farmer.  She always chooses the ingredients from her own field of the freshest vegetables you will ever taste along with her own Olive Oil which is from their own family-owned olive grove.

Then came the main course, a spectacular lobster spaghetti prepared by Michalis, and is by far the best you have ever tasted. Throw in a giant plate of Bourgeto – a traditional Kefalonia dish made with various fish that was just caught earlier.

Throught the trip you are served delicious wines from the personal vineyard of Kapetan Gerasimo,  who is Michalis’s father.
And just when you think life cannot get any better than this you are then treated to an assortment of after-lunch fruits from their family orchards. All of this while you relax under the shade of the boat while enjoying the breathtaking scenery and calming sea air.

The duration of the trip is about 8 hours as you return back to the port around 4 pm.

This trip with Antonia and Michaels was definitely one of our all-time favorite experiences in all of our years of travel. If you are ever on the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia please do make sure you book yourself this wonderful experience and spend a great day with Antonia and Michalis.

If you are expecting to travel to the beautiful Provence region of south-central France we recommend side trips to the many small villages you would find here.

We rented a car from Europcar, which did a wonderful job with our reservation,  ahead of our arrival in Avignon. We were able to pick that rental up at the train station, the process was fast and easy. The car we rented was a Hybrid – Automatic Toyota SUV with navigation ( a definite must-have option).

Nimes

One of the first places we decided to visit was the city of Nimes. It’s about a 40-minute ride southeast of Avignon.

Nimes is typically called the Frech Rome as it is home to many amazingly preserved Roman sites. One of these marvels is the Maison Carrée – a fully preserved classical Roman temple, one of the few remaining in the world.

It was constructed between 20 and 12 BC during the reign of Emperor Augustus and inspired by the temples of Apollo and Mars Ultor in Rome.

Probably the most amazing site is an ancient Roman Amphitheater called Arènes. This impressive structure dates all the way back to the 1st century AD. It is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters next to the famous Colosseum in Rome.

Known for chariot racing and gladiatorial combats back in the day, it now is home to the Festival de Nîmes. This festival has featured world-renown musical artists such as Neil Young, David Bowie, Santana, Björk, Metallica, and Depeche Mode.

Pont Du Gard

Heading back towards Avignon you need to make a stop at the truly impressive Pont Gu Gard. This is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD. It was built to carry water over 31 miles to the then Roman colony of Nemausus, which is known now as the town of Nimes! This Roman aqueduct is the tallest of all the aqueducts and is one of the best preserved. 

The Pont du Gard has been a tourist attraction for many centuries. It was visited by King Charles IX of France in 1564, Louis XIV in 1660, and even Napolean III in the 1850s.

Today, the Pont Du Gard is a quiet and peaceful location. The area around the Pont du Gard is now a park-like setting and features a modern underground museum on the left bank that provides a fun and educational look back at how the aqueduct was built, and the role it played in Roman times. The Pont du Gard is today one of France’s top five tourist attractions.