A successful entrepreneur, Gerald Thermos heads the Bellflower, California, chemical systems engineering firm THR Corporation. He is also a passionate traveler who has visited scenic locales spanning the globe. One of Gerald Thermos’ most memorable trips was to Greece, including the islands of Lefkada and Kefalonia. Situated off the western coast of Greece, Kefalonia features a mild climate and is relatively unspoiled by mass tourism.
The largest of the Ionian islands, Kefalonia has a rugged coastline that extends 250 kilometers. The central mountain, Aenos, is known for the Enos forest, which features the high-altitude Kefalonian fir. The mountain has been designated a national park for more than half a century. The island is also known for its distinct culture, which is informed by a diversity of peoples that claimed it over the centuries, including the Franks, the Turks, and the Normans. A part of Greece since 1864, Kefalonia played a pivotal role in the nation’s resistance against the Axis powers during World War II. Reflecting this wartime heritage, the island was the backdrop of the critically acclaimed 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.
The largest of the Ionian islands, Kefalonia has a rugged coastline that extends 250 kilometers. The central mountain, Aenos, is known for the Enos forest, which features the high-altitude Kefalonian fir. The mountain has been designated a national park for more than half a century. The island is also known for its distinct culture, which is informed by a diversity of peoples that claimed it over the centuries, including the Franks, the Turks, and the Normans. A part of Greece since 1864, Kefalonia played a pivotal role in the nation’s resistance against the Axis powers during World War II. Reflecting this wartime heritage, the island was the backdrop of the critically acclaimed 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.