Have Ithaka always in your mind...

 We took our lunch in the lovely port of Kioni.

From Ítaca

"I wish I had a boat like this. I would sail in those blue waters and stop here and there just for lunch, and then, leave again into the sea.",  I thought while sittting in the terrace  ;-)

After lunch and shopping at the local stores, my wish seemed to come true. ;-) We took a boat until Vathy, Ithaca's capital. This journey, our return voyage, was the most beautiful part of the trip.

We spotted these old windmills...

From Ítaca

...before arriving to a green colour water beach...

From Ítaca

...where the boat stopped so we could enjoy a bath...

From Ítaca

... how we regretted to have eaten so much at lunch...we couldn't go into the water...

 Around us some small boats like this one...

From Ítaca

Again I felt I was in Douro...

From Ítaca

because of this liaison between mountains and water...

From Ítaca

From Ítaca

Almost in Vathy, this beautiful chapel nearby the sea...

From Ítaca

I became in love by Ithaca, as you may have already noticed it ;-)
So, I leave you with this beautiful poem about this exquisite island. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :-)

Ithaca

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.

Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

Constantine P. Cavafy