Farewell Kalambaka – Yiasou Makrinitsa
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Hotel Achilles, Makrinitsa (Helen's room, top left)
Sunday 15 August was to be as much as possible, a day of rest for me. I’m afraid the intense heat of the day before, as I walked back to Kalambaka from the Monasteries of Meteora, had drained my level of energy and I felt a desperate need to recharge my batteries. An early morning walk, to the Cathedral Church of St. Vissarion and the Byzantine Church of the Assumption of the Virgin 9 – 11 Century, where the faithful were gathering to celebrate Panagia, was about my limit for the day.
With temperatures predicted to soar above 40 degrees C, I decided this morning it was time to once again move on. Departed on the bus from Kalambaka at 1000 hours, heading south to the city of Trikala, where I would catch the 1130 hours bus to the port city of Volos. Travelling through the fertile plains of Thessaly, I was at a loss to know what was the plant which appeared to be the main crop in the area? A little research since and I now believe it to be cotton. 1400 hours arrival time in Volos worked in nicely to catch my third bus of the day to Makrinitsa at 1430 hours.
Built between 1204 and 1215 by the Byzantine family Malliasinon, Makrinitsa is a beautiful mountain village on The Pelion peninsular, often referred to as the Balcony of Pelion. Approximately 17 kilometres from Volos via a twisting road, sitting in the Square of Makrinitsa offers panoramic views of Volos and the Pagasitikos Gulf below. I had researched where I might stay before my arrival and so I came looking for Hotel Achilles on the Square. Secured a room with a balcony on the 2nd floor, overlooking the Square – with it’s giant trees which are hundreds of years’ old. I have this room until Friday for 30 Euro per night (without breakfast) and then if I wish to stay longer, for this price I must move to a room at the back of the building, however, the price will then include breakfast. No Internet, however, I have registered on a Public Hot-Spot and ironically, the best signal and connection seems to be from here on my balcony.
I had told myself I would never write in my blogs anything about the daily chore of washing clothes while travelling, however, I have become so adept with this, that I must write something. Firstly, one should always carry a universal plug in Greece as frequently the hand basin does not have one. Furthermore, any plug is not guaranteed to hold water long enough for you to wash your clothes as often, in spite of the plug seeming to fit, the water disappears down the drainpipe, as fast as it comes out of the tap. My latest improvisation – placing a large plastic bag inside the wastepaper basket (I do not mean the container in which you must place your used toilet paper) sitting it in the handbasin and washing in that! No clothesline? – hangers on shower rails are the answer.
Tomorrow I will begin to explore my surroundings. Although Greeks love to come and retreat in Makrinitsa, tourists do not come in droves – most have yet to discover this paradise which is well worth visiting any time of the year.