After a long and fascinating itinerary... finally HELLAS!!! From the Macedonian border we came straight down to Kalampaka to visit the Meteora monasteries. A place that gives you goosebumps... and vertigo, but undoubtedly unmissable. A place of quiet and silence where it would be a pleasure to stay longer. We then moved on to Epirus, visiting its capital, a city of legends and fairy tales. And then further west to Igoumenitsa, where we finally savoured the smell of the sea. While waiting to board we took the opportunity for a visit to beautiful Sivota and a good dinner in Plataria. A different Greece compared with the one we had visited several times. The METEORA alone would be worth a trip to these regions.
Day 120 Aug 2011
Arrival in Kalampaka
.........continued from A TASTE OF MACEDONIA..........
After a gruelling day we crossed the border around 18:00, losing another hour of time zone. By then the chance to jump in the pool was gone, so we stopped a few kilometres from Kalampaka, now in the dead of night, for dinner... The air alone, the music in the background, the smell of souvlaki and the unmistakable tzatziki were enough to bring the smiles back to our faces and, who knows why, to make us feel almost at home! Overnight stay at Hotel Famissi Eden in Kalampaka. Excellent. Delightful the view that overlooks the little church of the Hotel.
METEORA - Monastery of the TRANSFIGURATION
Day 221 Aug 2011
METEORA & IOANNINA
After a rich Greek breakfast, we devote the entire morning to visiting the meteora. The complete circuit is 17 km and, besides the inevitable photo stops, you need to allow about an hour for each monastery you intend to visit inside...including the climb! Every single kilometre travelled deserves a stop and reveals unique views. Setting off anticlockwise from Kalampaka, the first you come across is the Holy Trinity Sanctuary, then that of Saint Stephen, which can practically be reached by car. Entry is free and the peace that reigns inside gives you wonderful sensations. On the road to the Varlaam and Transfiguration Sanctuaries there are breathtaking views. I think the sense of awe grips everyone before such a spectacle. It's not original, but wondering how they could have built the sanctuaries is inevitable.
We decide to visit the Sanctuary of the Transfiguration, the highest and largest, also known as the Great Meteora. The effort to get there isn't really as much as it might seem at first glance, and anyway it's absolutely worth it. Entry costs 2 Euros. Here you can visit the refectory, the old kitchens, the cellar and the ossuary as well as, naturally, the church and the various courtyards and gardens. From the far west the view is superb and vertigo guaranteed. Striking the view from above over Varlaam. We continue along the itinerary, descending towards the Monasteries of Roussano and Saint Nicholas Anapafsa, smaller but equally striking. The village of Kastraki, at the foot of the meteora, recalls Cappadocia, and strolling through its streets imagining living there makes you a little uneasy.
We enjoy a nice Greek lunch with a view of the sanctuaries and set off again towards Ioannina, capital of Epirus and city of Silver. After a bit of rest and without braving the great heat, we visit the city, which perhaps in this season doesn't show itself at its best. The lake is a little disappointing, but the quiet and the colours at sunset do it justice. Dinner based on Kokoretsi (absolutely must-try) and overnight stay at Kamares Guesthouse, excellent location and price.
METEORA
Day 322 Aug 2011
Towards the SEA
Our tour is drawing to a close and this morning we move to Igoumenitsa where we have the ferry to PAXOS. After 10 days on the island we'll return here where we'll take the ferry to Brindisi. While waiting for the ferry we didn't miss the chance to go and visit SIVOTA, a renowned seaside resort not far from Igoumenitsa, set at the end of a beautiful fjord. Last dinner in Greece in a taverna in Plataria from which we admire the last stunning sunset of our holiday.
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