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We had arrived in Greece from Italy, by a ferry from Venice to Igoumenitsa, and then by bus to Ioannina where we decided to stay for a few days.
Thumbing through the guide book, the Vikos Gorge took our interest. So why not, let’s hire a car and go (the car hire was the only way to manage the trip in a day).
The first interesting sight was the massive statue commemorating the local women for their efforts in the Second World War.
We soon arrived at the head of the Vikos Gorge. A sign at the entrance warned that the Gorge was deepest in the world (maybe there is some licence taken here but it is true based on a width-to-depth ratio).
We did venture into the gorge. After an hour or more of going down, down, down, we still had no sight of the bottom. We made a small cairn of rocks on the side of the path to mark the extent of our journey and resolved that next time we come, we’ll go further.
The small traditional villages around this area are fascinating. Built of local rock, they have stood the test of time.
Perhaps one of the highlights of the trip were the old stone bridges of the Zagori area. Again made of local stone, they rise up to a keystone and fall again to the other side – they are indeed beautiful. You can see one of these bridges in the photo below. Also have a look at the slideshow at the top of the page to see more examples – they are facinating.
Skiathos is a small Greek island with some historical significance – it was here in 1807 that the blue and white Greek flag was first flown. The ceremony took place at the Evangelistria Monastery which is about 10 minutes out of town (or around 2 hours if you walk).
It’s worth all the steps up to the Molyvos Castle. Besides the view, you pass a lot of shops on the way up.
Mytilini, the capitol of Lesbos is situated on a harbour that is circled by shops, houses, restaurants, churches and a huge castle.
Most visitors to the picturesque Phillip Island are day-trippers who come especially to see the penguins as they surf ashore at dusk and waddle up to their burrows with full tummies to feed their young. We made our visit a four-day trip to have a decent break, enjoy the peaceful surrounds and experience some of the gastronomical highlights of the island.
Whalers Way on Eyre Peninsula The very tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia reveals magnificent coastal scenery in a drive along Whalers Way.
Ortigia – Syracusa’s Stunning Island The ancient island of Ortigia has many delights. The Fountain of Diana in the Archimedes Square on Ortigia Island. Syracusa
Looks amazing, the water is so clear!
There’s certainly no pollution around these areas in Greece. The regional town of Ioannnina is beautiful – set against a high backdrop of snow-covered mountains.