Please note: This article is still under preparation - pictures and updating is to follow. Kamari Bay is situated at the south-western end of the Greek island of Kos. It is overlooked by the ancient cliff-top village of Kefalos and it is often referred to as Kefalos Bay or Kefalos Beach. Kefalos village was once the capital of the island, but after a devastating earthquake, in about 400BC, a new capital was established at Kos town that is situated at the other end of the island. The Bay area is very popular with British tourists and many holiday here on an annual basis, some more than once a year! Most of the locals speak good English and some of them are even ex-pats. Other visitors include Dutch, Italians, Germans and a sprinkling of Russians. As the majority of the Bay area is flat and most of the accommodation is close to the beach, shops and places to eat, it is ideal for older visitors and those with disabilities; there is a lot of accommodation with ground-floor access. Seismic activity has been a feature of the Mediterranean Sea area throughout the history of mankind. The main seismic areas spread from north Africa then through Italy, down the other side of the Adriatic Sea to Albania and mainland Greece, the whole of the Aegean Sea and especially northern Turkey. The 2017 earthquake in Kos town heightened people's awareness of this but must be seen in context as an exceptional occurrence. Most visitors to Kos island have never experienced the slightest tremor, year in, year out - so it should certainly not discourage a holiday visit here. Kos, like many islands in the area, was part of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1912 to 1943. Although many buildings in Kos town date from this era, with its influence on design and architecture, it is hardly seen at the other end of the island in the Kefalos and Kamari Bay area. Kefalos is a very old traditional Greek village, complete with a lot of old building. However, the Bay area is a comparatively recent development and as a result, the vast majority of building here has been subject to stringent regulation to minimise seismic damage, should it ever occur. Kamari Bay only comes to life during the tourist season unlike Kefalos, where many of the locals retreat to in the off-season months. Starting at the western end of the bay is the deep-water harbour, which is overlooked by steep cliffs of a volcanic Rhyolitic Dome, called Mount Zini and topped by a communications mast. The mount is a geologically recent structure formed in the Quaternary Period ; it is separated from the harbour by a sandy beach overlooked by a café. From the harbour a steep road leads up to the west end of Kefalos village. From the harbour eastwards, a promenade, with steps down to the sea, extends along about a third of the length of the bay to a roundabout with a large car park off of it. Here the road turns briefly northwards before turning back and following the direction of the coast and on towards Kos Town, about 40 kilometres distant. This road, in the opposite direction, leads up the steep climb to the east end of Kefalos village. All along the promenade and the road are many apartments, restaurants, tavernas, shops, supermarkets and vehicle & bike-hire outlets. From the promenade roundabout, a sandy beach now appears below a small road leading to a wide pathway and another parking area. Off of the path are situated many restaurants and tavernas, some of which offer beach sun-loungers and umbrellas for sun-worshippers; at several points along the path, free showers are provided for post-bathing use. As the path continues on the beach head, the small volcanic island of Kastri is approached. On Kastri is the small church of Agios Nikolaos with its typical Greek blue roof - you can even arrange to be married here! It is possible to wade/swim to the island from the beach. Along the beach are sport facilities offering sail-board hire , boat hire, water skiing and motor-boat trips. The path now moves on to the beach and continues towards a rock promontory where the remains of a Roman, Christian church is situated - Agios Stefanos. Here the mosaic floors can be examined inside the remnants of the walls and columns. The retail outlets are now left behind and the sandy beach and bay continue towards cliffs of volcanic Ignimbrite, formed in the Miocene Period over ten million years ago. Here are found the remains, hardly weathered in this tough rock, of Greek quarrying activity for obtaining building stone. Looking back towards Mount Zini, beyond the harbour, can be seen the Pliocene Period peak of Mount Latra towering above. From the bay, out to sea southwards, can be seen the volcano island of Nisyros, with Pergoussa and Pachia to its west and Gyali and Strongyli in between. To the east can be seen the Datça peninsular of Turkey. On Kos Island eastwards, can be seen the heights of Mount Dikeos , beyond the airport. Staying in Kamari Bay: Kamari Bay is considered to be a quieter destination on Kos Island, with none of the hustle and bustle of livelier places such as Kardamena and the environs of Kos Town. The warm sea is normally calm and the water is extremely clear on the gently sloping sea-bed off the beach. Unlike the island's northern shores, where the sea is usually rougher and less clear, due to the shallow sandy sea-bed, there is no drifted seaweed spoiling the beach. A breeze, which comes from the north on most summer days, tempers the heat so it is not so oppressive. Most of the Bay area is flat; in geologically recent times it was part of the seabed! There are many apartments and hotels which attract good reviews and some of the hotels have good-sized swimming pools. Hotels are throughout the bay area with some off a lane running parallel with, and a very short distance from, the main road. No accommodation is far from a supermarket, grocers, bar, café or restaurant. When eating out, the visitor has a wide range of venues to choose from including a steak house, restaurants offering western European breakfasts and dinners, Italian cuisine, Indian and Chinese meals as well as a host of traditional Greek tavernas - there is even a tea shop & café! It is normal to serve a bread course before a meal but if you don't want this, have a word with the waiting-staff when being seated. Service charges are not levied, but if you wish to leave a tip nobody will be offended! There are several music venues, for the younger visitors, and some places feature occasional live music. Kos island is one of the cheapest Greek destinations to dine out, but if self-catering bear in mind that most shop and supermarket products are imported and tend to cost more. Some grocery brands, familiar to the UK visitor, are more expensive than other European brands that are often produced by the same manufacturer – read the small-print! Local island produce is cheaper but is restricted mainly to bakery products, some meats, honey, fruit and vegetables. However, if you are staying in an apartment and require breakfast out, many premises open early and can supply a wide choice of breakfast items or even just a hot beverage. When drinking out , two Greek beers are widely available in bottles or on draught; 'Alfa' from Athens and 'Mythos' from Thessaloniki . Other common beers include 'Amstel' and 'Heineken', both from Amsterdam. Wines, both local and imported are available; the local wine, from the 'Volcania' winery, in Kefalos, has a substantial following amongst visitors. A wide range of spirits is available and many will be familiar to the visitor, but as it is 'free-pour' and not on optic some measures served can be mind-boggling! Cigarettes, tobacco and cigars are comparatively cheap and familiar brands are available, but cigars imported from the UK can be expensive. The Bay area is served by a bus service to Kefalos village, via the harbour, and towards Kos Town, via the main road using the eastern road from Kefalos village. The buses offer a speedy service and are air-conditioned; buses to Kos Town go via Paradise Beach, the airport & Antimachia, Mastichari and Zipari. There are bus stops each end of the promenade and along the main road. Also, there are several hire companies operating in the bay area which offer rental of cars, motor bikes, scooters, quad-bikes and the like, as well as even bicycles! Disabled visitors are catered for; there is now a hire shop on the main road, next to a 'Manolis' car hire centre, that can provide wheelchairs and electrically-driven equipment. There are occasional boat trips from the harbour to the island of Nisyros. Angling is popular especially in the deep water of the harbour area and its adjoining beach, where there are fewer swimmers. Local fishing boats also land their catches at the harbour and sell their produce to the local restaurants and up in Kefalos village near the bank. Kamari Bay has two bank cash dispensers on the main road but for the main bank, a visit to Kefalos village is required. Nearby in Kefalos village there are chemists, with a good range of medicines and perfumes, stationery shops and a pottery as well as the usual bars, tavernas and shops - and a wonderful view of the bay and beyond. If buying sun products it is best to purchase them from a chemist as they are kept in air-conditioned premises and not left displayed in direct sunlight. Chemists are open in the morning and evening but shut for the afternoon. Back in Kamari Bay there are shops offering all the usual Greek souvenirs as well as beach and pool accessories. Supermarkets are referred to as 'Super Markets' and are usually a family-run mixture of grocery, off-licence and hardware stores. Religion is taken seriously, particularly amongst the older generations. Churches, even if not regularly used, are often meticulously maintained. On Sundays, some businesses are closed, or may have restricted opening hours, particularly in Kefalos village. Also, some accommodation may not be serviced on Sundays.
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