Episode 3 Getaways

Hello and welcome to Getaways, the show where you call the shots.

We've asked you for your hints and tips on what to do,

what to eat and where to stay.

We've taken your recommendations on board

and we're going to try them for ourselves.

This week we've come to an enduringly popular

holiday island in the Ionian Sea.

Yes, we're on the Greek island of Zante, also known as...

Zakynthos.

It's a four-hour flight to Zante.

We flew from Belfast, but there are direct flights Dublin too.

Coming up:

I hit the beach

and go looking for some of the island's oldest inhabitants.

We explore some caves and discover the Shipwreck Cove.

And I'm taking a short break in Waterford.

-Joseph Lindsay.

-Yes.

We're on an island. What are you looking forward to?

Well, I've been on the neighbouring islands of Corfu and Kefalonia,

absolutely loved both.

I'm just kind of interested to see how Zante compares.

OK, that's the thing, Zante, Zakynthos, is it either, is it both?

-What do we call it?

-Well, I'm glad you asked me, Angela.

Zakynthos is obviously the original Greek name for the island.

Zante comes from the Italian name for the island from when

-the Venetian settlers were here.

-Interesting.

-Yes.

-You have any other nuggets of wisdom?

-No, that's about it.

-This should be really good fun.

-Yeah.

-Really good.

Zakynthos, or Zante if you prefer, is a relatively small island

and you can drive from one end to the other in about an hour.

The main holiday resort is Laganas, on the south of the island,

where you'll find long beaches and big hotels.

The centre of the island is quite green and mountainous,

while the north of the island is more sparsely populated,

with smaller, more exclusive beaches and rocky coves.

But the good news is that wherever you are in Zakynthos,

nothing is very far away.

Nicky from County Antrim told us

to spend a lazy day wandering around Zakynthos town.

If you're a shopaholic then Zakynthos probably won't impress.

There are no designer outlets or high-street stores,

but if you're looking for local artisan craft or souvenirs,

then you won't be disappointed.

Oh, very good.

16 euro.

Bargain.

Zante is a popular stop-off for yachts cruising the Greek islands,

and there's a small fishing fleet.

Top tip, get here early in the morning

if you want to see the local fishermen land their catch.

Like everywhere else these days,

there's a tourist train that can give you a tour of the town.

There are also organised walking tours, but it's easy to go exploring

the town's historical landmarks on your own, and you won't get lost.

The history of the island is a troubled one that goes back to

ancient times. It's actually mentioned in the works of Homer,

the Odyssey and Iliad.

According to Homer, the first person to occupy this island

was a Trojan prince, Zakynthos, hence the name,

but since then it's been occupied by the Spartans,

the Macedonians, the Persians, the Romans, the Venetians,

the Neapolitans, the Turks, the French - twice -

the Russians and the British.

But it finally became part of Greece in 1864.

But it didn't end there.

During World War II, Zante was occupied by German and Italian forces

while the island was home to a small population of Jews.

When the Nazis came to round up the Zakynthos Jewish population,

the mayor and the bishop refused to hand them over

and instead hid the island's 30 or so Jewish families in the hills.

It's a matter of great pride on the island that all 175

Zakynthos Jews survived the war.

Here stands a memorial dedicated to the men who protected them

on the site of the synagogue.

The reason why there is no longer a synagogue here is because

it was destroyed, with many other buildings, by an earthquake in 1953.

Indeed, Alan from Carrickfergus says the place is prone to tremors

and he claims it makes lying on the beach a little surreal.

But, fear not, everybody - since the big earthquake in 1953,

all the buildings here have been made quake-proof.

If you're feeling a bit lively you can take a walk up

behind Zakynthos town to the little village of Bochali.

Now, it's quite a trek but the views are definitely worth it.

Climbing to the top of the hill brings you to

the Castle of Zakynthos, or the Venetian castle,

so called because it was built by the Venetians in 1646.

The ravages of war and earthquakes have taken their toll on the castle,

but you can still see the remains of the ancient fortifications.

These days it's a top tourist spot,

perfect for panoramic views of the island.

The coastline of Zakynthos boasts an abundance of sandy coves,

but only one features a massive hunk of rusted metal.

This is Navagio Beach, also known as Smuggler's Cove,

or the Shipwreck Beach,

and it's the number one tourist attraction on Zakynthos.

In high summer this beach swarms with tourists,

with tour boats from all around the islands stopping off here.

So don't say we didn't warn you!

'But if you want a day out to the beach with a difference,

'then Michelle from Galway recommended we check it out.'

Thank you.

'We chose to take one of the regular sightseeing tours from Porto Vromi

'and the boat trip takes in some spectacular caves.'

-Oh, look at that!

-Look at that.

'There are caves like these all around the coastline,

'and the locals have given names

'to some of the more unusual rock formations.'

-See that little fella hanging off the rocks there?

-Yeah.

-Poseidon, that's what his name is.

-That's Poseidon?

-Poseidon.

-Do you know who Poseidon is?

Er, I think he used to play for...

-Ireland, left forward!

-THEY LAUGH

He is actually the Greek god of the sea.

Of course he is, I knew that.

Look, that man looks like a Greek god.

He doesn't really look like a Greek god.

Oh, here we go. Oh, look!

To be fair, if you were to be shipwrecked,

you really couldn't find a better beach.

The good ship Panagiotis started life in Glasgow,

hauling heavy goods up and down the Irish Sea,

before she was bought by a Greek shipping line.

And eventually she fell into the clutches of a gang of smugglers.

Legend has it one stormy night in 1980

the Panagiotis, loaded with contraband

bound for the Sicilian Mafia,

was pursued by the Greek Navy and ran aground here at Navagio Beach,

and here be her last resting place, me hearties, rusting away.

I think she's beautiful. I love stuff like this.

Now she has become the backdrop for a million snapshots

and selfies and her rusting carcass has been inscribed

with the names of lovestruck travellers from all over the world.

But there's no denying that there is a romantic beauty about the old ship,

set against the bleached cliffs and the turquoise sea.

And among our fellow travellers, I bumped into someone from back home.

This is Rachel from Carrickfergus.

Rachel, how are you enjoying Zante so far?

Absolutely fantastic. First time I've been here.

-100% I would come back here.

-Yes?

Beautiful weather, lovely people. Delighted.

Fantastic. Well, enjoy the rest of your holiday.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks, Rachel.

-Thank you. Bye.

Zante in the summer can get very hot,

so if you want a day off from the beach, Lisa from Meath suggested

we head for the cool air in the mountains.

Because the island is so compact you're never going to be

more than a short drive from the mountains, and Patricia

from County Down recommended that we hire a car and go exploring.

A sporty little convertible like this one

costs around 100 euro per day,

but be warned, driving around these narrow roads can be hazardous,

so be extra cautious.

The contrast is just amazing.

We're 20 minutes from the beach and the bustle

and now we are surrounded by trees, driving through tiny little

mountain villages, and it feels like a completely different world.

The countryside around here is covered in olive trees,

with cypress trees and beehives dotted around the hills.

But the flat areas of land are planted with vines.

The grape harvest happens in August

and most of the Zakynthos crop goes into producing currants.

But I'm visiting one of the island's vineyards to find out

how they turn the grapes into wine.

'The Grampsas winery is run by three generations of the Grampsas family

'and I've been advised to stop here to find out how the wine is made

'and, of course, how it tastes.'

-Hello.

-Hello. Welcome to Grampsas winery.

-Thank you.

'Sophia is giving me a quick guided tour of the process.

Here is where the fermentation starts.

-They are all at low temperature.

-Yes, it is a bit chilly, all right.

-It is. Let's go inside.

-Yes.

Here we have the oak barrel.

Some wine, like the red, has to stay here at least six months

and then it is ready.

-So is it ready for us to drink now?

-Yes, of course.

-Let's go!

-You can see some bottles here.

-Loads of different types.

-Yes.

Now, I'm driving so I'm going to just have a little.

Little. For the tasting only.

You can smell?

Oh, it's delicious!

It's really... I mean, I'm not a wine expert,

but it's full-bodied, I would say.

You are travelling right now, yes, close your eyes.

Travelling! I love the dramatics!

Driving through the hills, there are lots of little roadside shops

and stores where you can buy some local produce and a few souvenirs.

But I've pulled over in the little mountain village of Kiliomenos,

where I have discovered a treasure trove of local produce.

All of the products in this store are made by a local woman's collective,

everything from oils to vinegars, jams,

honey, candles, bread, cheese and even jewellery,

and they're all sold in this tiny little shop.

If you have a car then my advice is to take the opportunity

to explore the places slightly off the beaten track.

It's easy to get distracted with views like this around

every other corner, but do it properly, find a beautiful place,

park up and take it all in.

If you don't fancy venturing too far afield,

then maybe a short break in Ireland is more your thing.

I'm setting the clock back just in time for a new tourism initiative

exploring Ireland's ancient east, and where better to start

than with the oldest, and some might say the first city, Waterford.

On the southern bank of the River Suir,

Waterford was founded by Viking settlers over 1,000 years ago.

Today, Reginald's Tower is one of Waterford's three museum attractions,

taking visitors through 1,000 years of the city's history,

from the Vikings to the Victorians.

The Vikings probably arrived on a craft very similar to this.

But they didn't hang about just combing each other's beards.

Oh, no, siree! This is the site of the first defence structure,

built by the Norsemen.

The medieval museum is built over a 13th century vault

and contains some unique artefacts from the period,

but I'm headed next door to the Georgian Bishop's Palace.

You can choose to take a guided tour through the house,

or take in the exhibits at your own pace.

The palace was commissioned by the Bishop of Waterford in 1743

and now houses a remarkable collection of 18th century

Irish furniture, silverware, artwork, and, of course, Waterford Crystal.

In this museum here in the Bishop's Palace we have the oldest collection

and biggest collection of Waterford glass in the world and, of course,

immediately we are looking out on, of course, from the room,

you're looking out at the modern Waterford Crystal and, again,

that's the whole story of Waterford,

that the tradition still lasts, it still goes on.

We still have people going in there to make crystal over there today,

as they had 200 years ago here in the city.

This is the Penrose three-ring decanter.

Made in 1789, it is the oldest piece of Waterford glass in the world.

I really shouldn't be standing so close to it

because I can pretty much break things just by looking at them.

Not far from the Waterford Crystal factory is the Kite Design Studio,

where you can check out their extraordinary coloured glassware.

And not only that, you can see it being made.

Tony Hayes is one of the master craftsman behind this project.

The four of us were mixed glass-blowers and glass cutters

at Waterford Crystal and we kind of put a plan together

and we came up with this. This is the Irish Handmade Glass Company.

Do you find people visiting here because of the glass,

-because they are big fans of...

-They do.

You can see, it's an open studio, people can walk in and walk out.

They can come in, there's no charge,

they can watch us making glass and ask us questions as we're doing it.

Just ten minutes downriver from the city,

I'm staying at the Waterford Castle Hotel.

It's situated on its own private island,

so you need to take a short ferry trip.

The 500-year-old castle has recently come under new ownership,

but was in the hands of the same aristocratic family

right up to the late 1950s.

The hotel is very grand, but very relaxed,

and you can have afternoon tea in the lounge

or a meal in the Munster Room Restaurant.

Once fed and watered, I'd recommend a walk in the grounds.

There are over 300 acres here,

and plenty of activities to keep you occupied,

everything from croquet through archery to tennis.

But I mean, come on.

Pull!

'Clay pigeon shooting is one of the most popular activities,

'and I can see why.'

Pull!

'It certainly does get the heart pumping.

'Tuition is included in the price and is suitable for all ability levels.'

I'm lethal. I'm telling you, I am lethal.

'Well, I didn't do too badly at all.

'Lethal, I was, I'm telling you. Lethal.

'And to round off the castle experience,

'there are a choice of 19 rooms in the four-star resort,

costing from £70 per night.

'For those with a more modest budget,

'there are over 40 self-catering lodges.'

This week we're on the Greek island of Zakynthos,

where we've taken a tour of the town, explored the Shipwreck Beach,

and tasted the delights of the mountain villages.

But if you're on holiday to get away from the stresses

and strains of everyday life,

then Louise and Rowan from Belfast told us

this beach has hidden therapeutic properties.

You need to negotiate some steep steps to get down here,

but the reason people come to Xigia Beach

is because the water here is naturally infused with collagen

and sulphur, which bubbles up from beneath the seabed.

The first thing you notice when you get down here is the smell.

It's a bit eggy. Actually it's a lot eggy,

but after a few deep breaths, it's almost normal.

And it's said to be good for things like rheumatism and arthritis,

plus it's good for skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

After a refreshing dip in the mineral waters,

there's a little taverna just above the beach,

where you can chill out and feel the glow on your skin.

The locals call this place the spa beach,

but it's not a spa in a conventional sense.

There are no fluffy robes, there's no pan pipe music

and unfortunately, no-one is here to massage you,

but you do leave feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and it's free.

Everywhere you go on Zakynthos,

you'll come across these cute little critters.

That's because Zante is home to one of the oldest forms of life

on Earth, the loggerhead sea turtle,

known also as the Caretta caretta.

Irene is one of the wardens in the National Marine Park of Zakynthos.

So, Irene, this is the nesting beach.

-The turtles come here to lay their eggs.

-That's the nesting.

How many nests would you have on the beach during mating season?

About 1,000 nests. About 1,000 nests, that's the average.

I've read that the kind of life expectancy, survival expectancy,

is maybe one in 1,000.

Yes, a really small number and they are very sensitive

and they have many enemies in the sea.

I mean it seems strange to me,

I'm sure it will for anybody watching, this beach having so many

turtle nests but tourists are allowed to come here and sunbathe and swim.

Yes, the people can visit the beach during the day from

seven o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock in the afternoon.

That hours, the turtles are not nesting, they are in the sea.

But during the night, when it's nesting time, when the turtles

come out later and nest, the beach is closed for everybody.

You'll see these little cages up and down the beach,

these mark the spots where the female turtles have made a nest

and laid their eggs, to let tourists know to keep away from them.

The eggs hatch and the baby turtles come out at night.

They head off towards the water.

They're about this size.

In relative terms, that's quite a hike,

so no wonder only one in 1,000 survive.

I'm here, lads, I'm here.

Just off the beach in Laganas Bay is a little outcrop of rock

that has become a favourite haven for the turtles,

as well as wistful romantics.

Cameo Island is a quaint and idyllic private island

that's perfect for sundowners, a day trip, and also happens to be

one of the most popular wedding destinations on the island.

And it's easy to see why.

The island has a heavenly little beach,

with a taverna and a pier that's made for memorable wedding photos.

The island's close to the main hotels on Laganas,

so it's also a practical location for a wedding party.

'I'm going searching for turtles,

'and there are a few ways you can get out on the water to go look for them,

'including organised boat trips,

'water taxis, and private tours.'

Hey, Spyros!

'But I'm hiring my own boat.

'After a quick lesson in the basic operation of the boat,

'and a safety briefing, you're good to go.'

Hello!

Now, apparently the best place to go for a bit of turtle spotting

is Turtle Island.

They swim around the waters there

and also the island is shaped a bit like a turtle.

The beach on Turtle Island is a popular stop-off,

but if you've got your own boat

then you can pick a quiet place to do some spotting.

The best time to find turtles is from early June until late August,

but we're here just a little bit too early in the season,

but I reckon they're happy enough to be left in peace.

While Joe is off searching for turtles,

I'm going on a cultural excursion.

There are some museums

and historical attractions in Zante, but if you really want

to experience ancient Greek culture, then you need to get off the island.

The ferry from Zakynthos takes less than an hour and a half

to the Greek mainland, and another hour-and-a-half drive

brings you to the ancient site of Olympia.

This is where the Olympic Games originates from,

and it's where the first games were held back in the eighth century BC.

The Olympic site has been painstakingly unearthed

from beneath eight metres of mud,

which helped to preserve the ancient temples for over 1,000 years.

How different is the Olympics as we know it today

from what it was like back then?

First of all, today the athletes are not competing in the nude,

-like they used to.

-Right. Just as well, probably.

And is it true that it was only men who were allowed to compete?

-Only men.

-OK.

Women could neither watch nor participate

until a couple of centuries later that they gave local virgin women,

non-married girls basically, to have their own local games.

-Were the women naked too?

-No.

The girls, they weren't really women, they were very young girls

and they had short dresses on with one breast exposed.

It was only women again that could watch them

and they only did one event, the sprint.

They didn't do all the events that the men did.

-So hugely prestigious to win.

-Oh, yes.

-They would get married like that after that.

-OK.

-A good catch.

The modern Olympics still has some connection with this place

and during the 2004 Olympic Games they even staged some events here.

This is the Temple Of Hera

and during an Olympic year the torch is taken to this very spot

and lit by the rays of the sun under the watchful eyes

of the gods before travelling to the host country.

The archaeological Museum of Olympia is next to the ruins

and here you can admire some of the artefacts that have been recovered.

And the museum's central atrium is cleverly laid out

to recreate the Temple Of Zeus,

using the statues unearthed from the site.

These are the original statues that adorned the pediments

in the temple so you can see that the outline is still intact.

Now, what strikes me about these is not just the sheer scale of them,

also how beautifully preserved they are

considering they're over 2,500 years old.

Back on Zante, Laganas has become a magnet for clubbers.

There are plenty of places where the music is loud

and the last orders are around November.

It may not have the reputation of Ibiza or Kavos,

which is further north in Corfu,

but the nightlife IS one of the many reasons why people come here.

But if, like me, you like a good music bar but you don't want to be

going out at midnight, staying out till six,

giving it a bit of... Doof! Doof! Doof!

..you will find Zakynthos town has a more grown-up nightlife scene.

Zante town is where the locals come at night.

The clubs in town are modern and stylish,

with a growing reputation for good music, cocktails and service.

You might not get the same bang for your buck as you would

in the bars around Laganas, but if you don't mind paying a little more,

I would heartily recommend Zante town for a night out.

We based ourselves at the Sentido Louis Plagos Beach Hotel.

It's just 30 minutes from the airport

and 20 minutes from the centre of town.

The hotel is proud of its food, and the cooking here in Zakynthos

has an Italian influence, as well as a Middle Eastern flavour.

The head chef was kind enough to give me

a quick rundown on the local dishes.

A typical breakfast in Zakynthos.

OK. This is pretty meaty.

This is an Italian beef stew,

with local cheese and pasta.

So this is very Venetian influenced.

The hotel is modern and it's right on the coast.

It's got its own swimming platform and three pools.

The beach here might not be ideal for kids,

but if you want a sandy beach, you won't need to travel far.

Seven nights here on an all-inclusive basis

costs from £445, based on two sharing.

Another option is the Louis Zante Beach Hotel on Laganas Beach.

It has plenty to do for the kids, including a pirate play park,

kids' swimming pools, and access to a sandy beach.

It has family rooms with terraces and private gardens.

An all-inclusive package here costs from £475 for a week,

based on two people sharing.

But if you're looking for somewhere a little bit quirky,

then we spotted these cute windmills

that have been converted into self-catering cottages,

on top of the Skinari Peninsula on the island's northern tip.

You'll probably want to hire a car if you're staying here,

and, to be honest, the accommodation isn't spacious,

but inside there is just about everything you need

to make you feel at home.

It costs from £50 per night for a double room.

We flew to Zakynthos with Jet2, direct from Belfast.

There is one flight per week direct to Zante during the summer,

with a ticket averaging around £250.

If you'd like any more information, you can visit our website.

-So, Angela, what did you make of Zante?

-I loved it.

I especially loved the food.

-To be honest, I particularly loved Shipwreck Beach.

-It was beautiful.

The beaches in general, cos the spa beach that I went to.

-Oh, yes.

-Amazing. Yes. It felt very idyllic and peaceful and lovely.

-This is perfect.

-The water. Look at the water.

-Beautiful.

-That's all you need to look at.