Liesbet from Belgium, June 2007
Kefalonia is a beautiful island with amazing turtles, and I still talk about it as 'my paradise'. It all started the morning of June the 11th. It was still very early when an enthusiastic volunteer woke everyone up at the campsite: the first tracks were spotted on our Mounda beach! I think I never got up so quickly in my life. The whole group of volunteers started with their expedition to Mounda, to see the first turtle tracks. Everyone was filled with adrenaline. From that moment on, we knew that everything was going to change: we were going to start the night patrols. It was an exciting thought. I was picked to do the first night together with another volunteer. When we left the campsite at 10pm everyone wished us good luck. I felt so excited, expecting nothing and everything at the same time. When we walked our first time to the other side of the beach, I spotted tracks, I couldn’t believe my own eyes! A turtle already!? I crawled up to the back of the beach, it was so dark, I couldn't even see when the tracks stopped. The second that my eyes spotted that wonderful creature making her nest, was so wonderful, a unique moment. While she is nesting, she gets in a sort of trance and we could approach her. I was touched by the sight of the perfect white pingpong balls in the egg chamber. She seemed so peaceful. It felt like a magic moment. I will never forget the heavy breath she took when she turned back to the sea...amazing... I was a little proud that I had found the first turtle of the season…
My stay in Katelios is an experience I will never forget. It gives you a lot of satisfaction and energy when you can work together with a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who share the same idealism.