4. Ithaca

Finally, Odysseus reached home, where he reunited with his son Telemachus. While Odysseus was gone, suitors filled up his home and feasted every day as freeloaders. Odysseus and his son devised a plan to kill the suitors by stealing their weapons by having Odysseus pretend to be a beggar. After killing off the suitors, Odysseus, his wife, Penelope, and Telemachus finally reunited as a family. 

That's what I call a happy ending. I would rate this experience an 8 out of 10 because I would love to meet my family but not kill a bunch of people. 

 

In real life, Ithaka is actually an island in Greece. It's one of the more overlooked islands in Greece, but I'm not sure why because the greenery and secluded beaches are fantastic! I had to take a ferry from the port of Astakos in western Greece. The boat ride was peaceful and calm as I stared at the water flowing around the boat. It was another one of those islands with the clear aquamarine water surrounding it. The villages were quiet and calm, unlike the bustling cities of Sicily or Gazo, which was a great way to end off the trip. 

  
 

A Mediterranean/Greek restaurant I really enjoyed was called Taverna Trehantiri. It was a family-run restaurant, and I was served by a kind waitress. I had a Greek salad and fried feta, which tasted so fresh with flavors bursting through the roof! If you ever decide to visit Ithaka, come and check out this restaurant. 

Before I left, I obviously had to ask if they did any food challenges; with my luck, they did! It was a complete surprise what I had to eat, but they just said I had 30 minutes to complete it. When he came, I was excited to see that it was pastitsio, which is like a Greek lasagna. It was layered with all sorts of cheeses, from feta to kefalotyri. It was served on a huge platter, which was five times bigger than my face. I did end up losing this challenge because my biggest enemy was the time limit. If only I had 10 extra minutes, I would finish the whole plate. 

Overall, I would rate this place an 8 out of 10. I loved the peacefulness of the village and the secluded and private beaches where I could rest and relax alone. I also enjoyed the amazing food the restaurant I went to served. 



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