Since the trip is kind of complicated, in the sense that we were in a new city every day, I made a nifty little map on Google so you can see our route. It'll help you visualize our journey.
To avoid boring you with a dense re-count of everything we did, I've decided to post mostly pictures, with captions describing the highlights. Should you decide you want to know everything, let me know, and we can do this grandparent-slide-show style. Or if you want the slide show without the witty commentary, you can see the rest of our pics here.
Day 1: Athens & the Akropolis. Drove to Diakofto.
*We arrived in Athens in the morning, and had enough time to visit the Akropolis before heading to our first overnight destination, Diakofto. We ate the best baklava of our lives at a small cafe called Olga's Sweet in the Plaka.
Her grandfather makes it. :) *
*We arrived in Athens in the morning, and had enough time to visit the Akropolis before heading to our first overnight destination, Diakofto. We ate the best baklava of our lives at a small cafe called Olga's Sweet in the Plaka.
Her grandfather makes it. :) *
Eating lunch in Plaka
(Athens neighborhood near the Akropolis)
(Athens neighborhood near the Akropolis)
Theater at the Akropolis(remember Yanni's concert from here? hehe)
Andy and me in front of the Parthenon
Famous Caryatid porch at the Erechtheion
Shravanthi and me eating the best baklava in the world!(at Olga's Sweet in Plaka)
Shravi and I both got grilled sardines for dinner in Diakofto.Small, but delicious!
Day 2: Hiked in Diakofto. Drove to Ioannina.
*We chose Diakofto because I'd read that you could take a train from there up to Kalavryta, and that it offered stunning views. The train is historic, and works using a special cog system to help it climb up the mountain. Unfortunately, it was closed for repairs, so we hiked the gorge instead. That night in Ioannina, we went shopping for hiking boots, since I accidentally left mine in Germany. Oops!*
Hiking along the railroad tracks
through the gorge in Diakofto
*We chose Diakofto because I'd read that you could take a train from there up to Kalavryta, and that it offered stunning views. The train is historic, and works using a special cog system to help it climb up the mountain. Unfortunately, it was closed for repairs, so we hiked the gorge instead. That night in Ioannina, we went shopping for hiking boots, since I accidentally left mine in Germany. Oops!*
Hiking along the railroad tracks
through the gorge in Diakofto
In the gorge
Scary bridge we had to cross, made by mountain dwellers.
Beautiful bridge we drove across from the Peloponesse up to Northern Greece(some contrast, huh?!)
Day 3: Drove to Monodendri. Hiked 7 hours in the Vikos Gorge.
Drove to Meteora.
Drove to Meteora.
*Vikos Gorge is the deepest gorge in the world (depth:width ratio). This to me was the best day of the trip. It was just beautiful. The gorge is just so virgin and peaceful. We did see some bear and wolf tracks, but luckily didn't encounter any in the flesh! When we ascended at Vikos, we got a ride home from a man that works at the tavern. He drove so fast on the mountain roads, I thought we'd never make it back to Monodendri alive!*
Descending into Vikos Gorge from Monodendri
Hiking along the base of the gorge
Group picture in the gorge after a lunch break
Monastery in the gorge, near Vikos village
Looking back into the gorge as we ascended
Day 4: Explored Meteora. Drove to Litohoro (Mt. Olympus).
*At its peak, Meteora had 22 active monasteries, all built precariously on top of giant rock formations. Really amazing. We all loved this part of the trip. After we drove to Litohoro that night, we ate fresh octopus, squid, and fish for dinner. Yum.*
*At its peak, Meteora had 22 active monasteries, all built precariously on top of giant rock formations. Really amazing. We all loved this part of the trip. After we drove to Litohoro that night, we ate fresh octopus, squid, and fish for dinner. Yum.*
View of the Varlaam Monastery as we drove up to Meteora.
Interior garden of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery
Shravanthi and me showing off our skirt-over-jeans look(skirts are required in the monasteries for women)
Looking down on Roussanou Monastery
Andy and me at the base of the "James Bond" monastery(used in the filming of For Your Eyes Only)
Day 4: Hiked Mt. Olympus. Drove to Vergina.
*After a delicious breakfast in Litohoro and a nice trip to the market, we hiked about half way up Mt. Olympus (home of the Gods) to Refuge A. The peak was impassible due to snow and ice...of course, we probably wouldn't have attempted it anyway!*
View of Mt. Olympus from our hotel
Olives at the open market - delicious!We also bought fresh feta cheese, pistachios,
bread, and fruit to take on our hike.
Eating lunch at Refuge A
View of the mountain during the hike
Spring at the base of the mountain(where we drank "Zeus water")
Dinner in Vergina. The wine is Retsina, a white wine with a hint of pine. 
Day 5: Left Vergina, drove to Thessaloniki.
*We originally stopped in Vergina to see the ruins there and Philip II's tomb, but it was all closed for a holiday. So, we just went to Thessaloniki early.*
Chicken farm next to our pension in Vergina.
The one on the roof on the left cockadoodledoo'd from 5am onwards.
No wonder we got the room for such a good price!
Thessaloniki is a bizarre mix of industrial-looking apartment buildings,
and gorgeous old Greek Orthodox basilicas, like this one.
The basilica of Agia Sofia. My favorite of the ones we visited.
Inside Agia Sofia.
Day 6: Last day of the trip. Flew home to Stuttgart.
*We had just enough time to visit the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki before we left. It was sad to leave Greece, but we look forward to going back someday!*
The museum is known for its collection of Macedonian gold, like this burial wreath.
*We originally stopped in Vergina to see the ruins there and Philip II's tomb, but it was all closed for a holiday. So, we just went to Thessaloniki early.*
Chicken farm next to our pension in Vergina.
The one on the roof on the left cockadoodledoo'd from 5am onwards.
No wonder we got the room for such a good price!
Thessaloniki is a bizarre mix of industrial-looking apartment buildings,and gorgeous old Greek Orthodox basilicas, like this one.
The basilica of Agia Sofia. My favorite of the ones we visited.
Inside Agia Sofia.
Day 6: Last day of the trip. Flew home to Stuttgart.
*We had just enough time to visit the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki before we left. It was sad to leave Greece, but we look forward to going back someday!*
The museum is known for its collection of Macedonian gold, like this burial wreath.
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