Greece, In Photographs and Words

I was in the fruit and vegetable section of my local market this weekend buying strawberries. They were heaped up and you could choose your own. It reminded me vividly of a local market in Nafplio where the cherries were in huge piles and so cheap you just picked up handfuls and shoved them in a bag. And great heaps of red capsicums, glorious tomatoes, eggplants and zuccinis. Not to mention the nectarines, melons, apples, oranges and everything else. And so fresh and cheap!

Most of the towns in Greece, large and small, have a farmers market, usually on a Saturday. I love them. It’s not only a chance to wander among the locals as they shop, but to see the local produce at its glorious best. One of my favourite markets is in the mountain town of Metsovo. Here you’ll also see people dressed in traditional costume as they move from stall to stall. It’s also a great chance to sit in the main square and watch the to and fro as you partake of the local beverage or a good strong cup of coffee.

Yassus!
What a journey! Beginning in Athens and Attica, over 10 weeks I’ve travelled the Cyclades, the Ionians, the Saronics, North-west mainland, and the Peloponnese. During that time I took 4636 photos with the new camera! Hope to get to reorganising the website soon – it’ll be a huge job.

Poor old Greece is in a bit of a mess but it was only in Athens where you noticed the troubles. Out on the islands and up in the interior it is business as usual, but unfortunately tourism is down considerably and the lack thereof isn’t helping the economy – it was a little unnerving to be the only one staying in a hotel usually full of travellers. I did experience problems with sudden strikes effecting transport, but as I wasn’t on a strict timetable it didn’t matter. Anyway, I had some wonderful moments – like the fantastic wildflowers in the awesome mountain country and standing on the edge of the stunning Vikos gorge in the Zagoria (north-west Greece), seeing stork nests with chicks on top of the telegraph posts in a tiny village, suddenly seeing a loggerhead turtle swimming around the marina where I was sitting, climbing up to the ‘gates’ of the awesome Gorge of Samaria on Crete, riding the little rack-and-pinion train from Diokofto to Kalavryta etc etc. But the very best thing was renewing friendships, and being recognised and hugged by people, even taverna owners I had met on my last trip!

I have lots of new info about travel in Greece which I will be updating into my ebooklet for independent travellers “100 Tips For Greece” (email me for a copy – it’s only $7.50 through Paypal).

More later, when I collect my brain from the lost luggage department at Brisbane airport!

It’s a very satisfying feeling to know that the airline tickets for your trip are safely tucked away and your major hotels booked. Such it is with me for my coming trip to Greece.

I’m leaving Australia on May 5th with a pretty hectic schedule, and my major task is to make sure that my two companions enjoy the places I’ve selected for them. They asked to see the ‘real’ Greece, not just the touristy places. It’s getting harder each visit, for one by one the lovely out-of-the-way spots are being glammed up for visitors! However I’m confident that I can fulfill their wish with one or two ‘treasures’ I’ve found over the years.

I’m also on a mission to update this website with new and much better pictures and to collect data for a new travel book.  And…  I have been lucky enough to be invited to the wedding of two dear friends in Athens! This will be so special for me.

So if you’re thinking of a trip to Greece this year why not ask me first and I might be able to find some ‘treasures’ for you too!

Contact me at helen@greekpixandwords.com and let me plan your trip.

YES!

I’ve been sitting at my desk looking at a photo taken of me with two Dutch travellers and our driver at the edge ( the very edge) of the Vikos Gorge in the North-west province of Epiros, Greece.  And wishing I was back there…

That particular day was one of  those “some days are diamonds” things.  I was staying in the Greek Riviera town of Parga and the tour I had booked for had been cancelled due to bus breakdown. However the nice tour company decided to put on alternative transport, and ours was a driver and car. Consequently we were not tied to the tour itinerary and our driver opted to show us the very best places. Our destination was the Zagoria, sometimes called the Zagorohoria – the mountain hamlets of the Pindos Range, and the stunning Vikos Gorge which is the deepest gorge in the world.

Our journey started along the wonderful new motorway called Egnatia, most of which is hacked out of the very mountains themselves and is a roller coaster ride through tunnels and over stunning viaducts. The secondary road took us up, up and up onto the top of the world to a picture perfect little grey stone town called Monodendrio, where we walked to a very old tiny monastery where the gorge began.

Well! Views to die for! There I stood with nothing for a backdrop except sheer craggy walls of rock. Down below was – well, it was so deep it was hard to tell. Awesome. There was a track about two feet wide along the cliff face with the nothing-drop on the right, and I ventured along it, mesmerised by the stupendous vistas but tremulous with the sheer magnitude of the panorama.  They had to drag me away!

That was just the start of that lovely day!

Yes – I’m now planning my return this year. Coming?

Contact me at helen@greekpixandwords.com and let me plan your trip.

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