Epirus: A Beauty of Nature
There are many unexplored paths in Epirus, Greece. Last year, my brother and I went on a one-week trip in northern areas of Greece, where we explored cities like Ioannina and Zagori, which have mainly remained untouched by the attack of massive tourism. You can see at first sight that tradition is as alive and well as nature. These areas lack tourist shops, bars, and clubs, which usually corrupt the beauty of a place.
The traditional houses are built from stone and mortar. The residents are welcoming people who care about the foreigners and tourists. The vegetation in the mountains is so dense that little light gets through. The shadows play with the sun when its rays disappear down rocky cliffs. There are numbers of small and big lakes and rivers that complete the peaceful, quiet highland scenery. In these mountains, a traveler can see many plateaus where a variety of birds live. When the snow melts there, many lakes are created, which are called “Dragon Lakes.” The area of Zagorochoria is famous for that phenomenon. Rumors say that from these mountains spring the clearest-as-crystal water.
Zagorochoria consists of many small villages, 46 in total. In these areas, there are also many small bridges made of stone and bricks. The pictures reveal the meaning of this graphical landscape. Many of these villages are close enough to one another, and people usually prefer to do hiking through the dirt roads. My brother and I did that, beginning our route early in the morning and continuing until the sun set behind the rocky peaks. There were directions for hikers, of course, as anyone in that area could get lost. There is also a large variety of fauna in these mountains. Many bears and wolves live in the valley of Vikos. This valley is a national park where the endangered species live.
There are many activities for travelers, such as hiking, cycling, even rafting. This way of tourism is healthy, not only for the people who partake in the activities, but for nature, too. As long as we keep seeking alternative solutions for our pleasure, nature will reward and surprise us positively. The only things you’ll need for this journey are a ticket and a spacious backpack!
I believe that the video below, edited by Stavros Ladikos, will make you think about your next nature excursion.
