Goldygolfer

I agree that pashminas make great presents (don't forget to keep some for yourself) as they are easy to pack - ie they pack flat and don't take up too much room in the suitcase.

If your trip also takes in any part of Turkey, you will find them cheaper there than in Greece. If you shop for them at a stall or small shop, rather than a large emporium-type shop, then you can definitely bargain. I have was in this area twice last year and bought 10 - 12. I didn't pay more than 10 euros for any of them. The labels don't say where they are actually made, but they are labelled "Pashmina". Some say 55% pashmina 45% silk, others say 70% pashmina 30% silk. Pashmina is goat wool, just like cashmere. The "pashmina" goats are a special breed indigenous to the Himilayan high country in Pakistan and northern India (see the link with this info in a previous post on this thread).

Maybe I'm a "cheapskate", but I feel that around 10E is sufficient to pay for gifts - unless the person is VERY special. My friends have loved them. I have also kept some for myself and wear one often (especially in cooler weather) either as a wrap or as a scarf.

Enjoy your trip - especially the shopping !!!

We did a Med cruise last May which included a port stop at Argostoli - not many of the cruise lines include this port.

I organised a private tour through Kokolis Tours. The tour was about 5 hrs in a minibus with a driver and guide. The quoted price was E300 + E27 VAT for any number of pax up to 15 (number of seats in bus). Each person also paid E12 for entry fees to the Lake and the Cave. 11 others from our roll call joined us, so we were a group of 13. The tour therefore cost each person 42E, including entry fees and tips.

We saw most of the northern part of the island - including Myrtos Beach, the village of Assos, village of Fiskardo, Melissani Lake, Drogerati Cave and the church of Agios Gerassimos. We passed briefly through the village of Sami and were told that we would not recognise anything from the movie as the village was transformed especially for filming and restored immediately thereafter. (Actually some of the scenes were fimed at Myrtos Beach.)

We chose to start early (7.30) and therefore have the option of returning to the ship for a late lunch or dining in the town of Argostoli.

Given the number of others from our roll call who were interested in joining us, the tour worked out to be very good value and we had a very enjoyable day.

If you are interested, then I suggest you "google" Kokolis Tours as they have a very good website and you will find contact details and further information. Our contact was with a lady called Kathy.

"Arabian Adventures" appear to be the main tour company in Dubai.They have an office just outside the Arrivals area at the Dubai airport. Or "google" them. I'm sure that a direct booking with them will be cheaper than going through Viator.

It is easy to book various tours in Singapore at the tour office desk in most hotels. Also cheaper than through Viator.

As others have said - Viator is an agency and therefore need to add their commission.

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We were in Split in May - 9am - 4pm. Six of us were planning to simply DIY. As we walked from the ship, the Split Vision City Tour buses were lined up right at the port entrance with ladies enticing us to go on their tour. We decided to take the offer. It cost 120 Kuna (about 22USD) and included the Walking Tour of the Diocletian's Palace. The bus was an "open-top" vehicle with a tour guide giving commentary. We thought it gave us an excellent overview of the town/city. The bus section of the tour was about an hour - we didn't get off. The Walking Tour of the Palace was about another hour - 1 1/2 hours and finished at the Palace. We then wandered around. Looked at the shops, stalls and exhibitions and had a drink at a taverna (beer and wine both excellent). We bought some pizza from a stall for a light late lunch. On the way back to the ship (it's not far - just a few minutes walk), we found some markets with lots of stalls and great gelato.

We were back on the ship by the required 3pm and had a very cheap, relaxing and enjoyable day. I'd definitely recommend it.

Some of you might be interested to know that I have been having email "correspondence" with George today to re-confirm our booking for 14th May. I mentioned that he had received some nice comments on this thread and he told me that he has made 35 bookings for the season since early March. Perhaps Softball20 and Floridafolks could request commission !!!

He also had 10 enquiries for the day that we had already booked. How lucky were we !!!

It sure sounds as though George is going to be really busy after the glowing report from Softball20.

If it is the same George (and I sure hope it is because we have him booked for 14th May), his name is George Letsios.

Just "google" Taxi Katakalon and you will obtain his contact details and his suggestions of things to do and see from the Port at Katakalon (including Olympia).

The website is really impressive and well worth visiting.

Hi Indygolfer - from another golfer from the Gold Coast, Australia. :)

Thanks for the glowing report on George. We have already booked him for our day to Olympia, etc. in May and are really looking forward to it.

Thank you for sharing your photos Eileen. I have just spent all afternoon trolling through them and had a wonderful time. We are going to all the places you went to, so the photos were of particular interest.

The beaches look quite rocky - not like the fine, white sand we have here on the Gold Coast, Australia - but very picturesque.

We do plan to see "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" before we go. We have both read the book, but not seen the movie yet.

We are going on the Westerdam in May.

You have certainly tweaked my already high sense of excitement.

We will be in Argostoli from 7am - 4pm in late May and looking to do a private tour of Cefalonia.

We have had a quote for a mini bus tour from Kathy from Kokolis

Tours, with a driver and guide, which sounds really enticing.

The tour takes in the view above Myrtos Bay, Melissani Lake, Sami, Drogarati Cave and Mt Ainos.

Has anyone else used Kokolis Tours in Cephalonia ? Any comments will be greatly appreciated as there is very little information on this venue on the message boards in comparison with the more popular ports and islands.

Thanks for any help which, hopefully, will be forthcoming.