Ηigher

To celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of schools, a friend and I left the sea for a day and went up the mountains last Friday.

The Corinthian Gulf. Sterea Ellada is on the background. If only I could fly!

 We drove for a few hours and headed for Kalavryta for coffee and Planitero (a forest of platanus trees and a river that runs it),  which is my favourite place, for lunch.

Planitero is a forest where fairies live, I'm sure!

Ever wondered how a river is born?
In this case little water comes out of the ground and in just a few meters it turns into a river!
It sounds strange, but it's true!
I'm always in awe whenever I see it!

See what I mean? Isn't it impressive?

The scenery was so diverse that we had to make several stops to take photos despite the heat. There were bare rocky mountains, but also rivers, fir trees and summer flowers; small villages, almost deserted and Kalavryta filled with people on vacation. 

Mega Spilaion Monastery carved on the rocky mountains

Who used to live here? I wonder...

What stroke me most though was the contrast of the golden dry grass against the silver of the olive tree leaves.

If you put all these things along with some great music on the car's cd player and some great food by the river, then you have a special outing!

Our last stop was Agridi at 680 m.

Agridi lies  among the chestnut trees!

Fresh

I know that my postings have been revolving around the sea, but I can’t help it! I spend most of the day at the beach, even now that I’m visiting my parents, and I still can’t get enough! I just hope you are not bored, yet! 

The first outing with my mum was a swim at a nearby beach, which from above reminded me of the beaches I saw during my last visit to Mani (an area on the south of the Peloponnese) . The area is mountainous, so the waters are green as the plants are reflected in them and there is a lot to explore where the mountains meet the sea. 

So, we put on our goggles and ended up with some delicious findings in our bags: fresh urchins! We sat on the rocks under the sun and had the most delish seafood meal! Their subtle flavor stayed in our mouths for hours. 

What about you?

 Do you pick sea treasures to eat on the spot? 

Have you ever tasted urchins?

PS. As I don't have internet access (I'm posting at a cafe) here at the village, I'm afraid that I won't be able to keep a good track of your postings, as I can only spend a specific amount of time here. I promise that I'll do my best to pop in now and then to catch up with you and leave a comment, though.

100 years

Remember the lake where I had a picnic with my girlfriends last autumn? Well, it's a really young lake, just 100 years old! Celebrating Lake Tsivlos's 100 birhday, there were events in order last Monday so we headed to the mountains!

Mount Helmos

Our first stop was Peristera, the lovely village I told you about in my Pink posting for two reasons: first to pay a visit to my godfather who stays there for the summer in a dreamy country house and second because I had to see those wonderful hydrangeas again and show them to my friends. 

The old church, Agios Ioannis

An old house at the square

We strolled around the old church then we went to the square for tsipouro and mezedes under the platanus.

Chatting under the giant platanus

Perfect: meatballs, roasted potatoes and stuffed courgette flowers!

Στην υγειά σας! Cheers!

We also had an unexpecet guest: a grey horse that insisted on joining us!

Here it comes!

'What's in your bag? '

Then we headed to the lake, where there was a music concert with local bands. It was lovely! 

The music was wonderful and there was lots of dancing under the full moon that reflected on the still lake. 

The full moon rising behind the mountains...

Magical...

Golden

My favourite time of day is when the setting sun turns everything to gold by the seaside...

Emptying...

...thoughts...

...and worries...

...on the pebbles.

Ηawaii?

Not. 

My beach. 

Today.

 Perfect!

Pink

One flower I love and can't grow no matter what is hydrangeas. It must be the climate, as almost noone grows them here. So, whenever I come across them, while travelling, I feel really excited and lucky!

Last month I went hiking up on the mountains with friends and headed to a small village's square for refreshment after that. It is most common in Greece to find a square with an old platanus (plane tree) right in the middle of every village.

But, to my surprise, we sat at the kafenio (traditional greek coffee place) not only under a giant platanus , but surrounded by numerous pots of hydrangeas in every shade of pink, as well! I felt I was in paradise! It was the most lovely noon I could had spent! Friends, laughs, tsipouro and mezedakia under the shade and into the pink!

How about you? Are you one of the lucky ones who grow hydrangeas?

Luxury

This is what my idea of luxury is: being able to swim in these waters everyday, anytime.

Today...

There were tiny shells in almost every hollow! What a surprise!

A nice finding, but will I be lucky enough to find the real one instead?

Happy weekend!