Pessada, Villa Mandalay

Paul Yates, the owner of Villa Mandalay in Pessada, made our trip very easy indeed. There was good communication so we knew what to expect, advice on flights and car hire, a car to meet us at the airport to take us to the villa. With a friendly ex-pat to hand over the keys, talk us through the workings of the villa and give us the general information on the local area. Maid service was once a week with fresh linen and towels but do take your own beach towels.

On arriving at the 3 storey villa, the beauty of the garden with the vivid scented flowers, olive trees and green lawn was fantastically well kept, for such a dry country, and took our breath away. The garden is home to 2 tortoises, so remember to shut the gate, they can move at alarming speed towards an open gate! Corelli has lived in the garden for many years and was joined about 2 years ago by Capelli, who, although smaller, is the male. Corelli laid eggs last year and we can't wait to go back to see if they have been successful!

Inside, the villa did not disappoint. Spacious lounge, dining area and kitchen, with all mod cons, even a dishwasher.

Downstairs are 2 double bedrooms, a utility room with washing machine and a bathroom with shower, it was beautifully cool on this floor and the windows opened out to ground level, so there was lots of natural light. The top floor consists of another double bedroom, shower room and single bedroom. The larger room has a lovely roof-top veranda with gorgeous views of Mount Aenos and the sea. The single room has a pretty little balcony over-looking the gardens. Shutters kept it cool during the day and the creepy crawlies out at night! Each room was well furnished with King Size beds in all 3 double rooms, plenty of wardrobe and drawer space and mosquito nets for all beds if required.

Kitchen has a good sized fridge and freezer, dishwasher and all the equipment you could need. The lounge was tastefully decorated and had TV, Stereo, Video and DVD players, with a selection of films and books to look at. There was a very handy welcome/information binder with details of the local area and useful phone numbers. Several guests had added their own information of restaurants etc so it was quite personal!

Outside the front door is a veranda dining area with a retractable canopy and chairs and tables, there were also chairs and tables in the garden for relaxing and a fantastic big barbecue and courtyard dining area. Out the back was a sheltered area with washing line, which had our swim things dry in no time!

There is a pebble beach and a small sandy cove about 3 minutes walk away, down steep steps and down a winding dust track, so invest in some beach shoes! The sandy beach was virtually deserted for the whole of our stay, so was very private. It's also a sacred beach and it is customary to take off your shoes before you walk on the soft sand!

Only a short walk from the Villa Mandalay is Pessada port, a teeny tiny fishing boats and a ferry twice a day to Zante. You can buy fish for only a few Euros from the fishermen on the port early in the morning. There is a Souvlaki Bar who sell barbecued kebabs on the cliff above the port but it only opens in high season so we were not lucky enough to be able to try it.

Pessada village is a short walk from the Villa Mandalay but apart from a small village store there is no supermarket however, if you are a new visitor to Pessada you will be invited to sit at the table in the shop and converse with the local priest, who loves to know all the gossip about visitors to the village! You may also see Spiros' Rottweiler trotting around the village, which is a little black and tan Dachshund dog, which Spiros bought as a pup, he was told it was a baby Rottwieler! What a shock he must have had when it grew!

You must hire a car, Kefalonia is very easy to drive around there are only three sets of traffic lights and two roundabouts on the island! In a car, from Villa Mandalay, there are many tavernas, restaurants and supermarkets all within about 10-15 minute drive. Try the Paralax which is on the road to Argostoli. It is a bit hairy driving on the winding mountain roads, especially as the locals all seem so blase about driving at break-neck speed but there is no road rage or impatience, if someone beeps at you as they pass it means, thanks for letting me by, not, get out of the way! Villa Mandalay has a private drive, so there is adequate parking.

All in all, it a peaceful, happy and idyllic setting, we have visited Kefalonia three times and stayed in Villa Mandalay twice, we will most definitely be back!