Pantelis Sabaliotis

Coming from Thessaloniki you have to pass the Olymp and the Valley of Tempe to enter the fields of Thessaly. Just in opposite you can figure out the three „fingers“ of Chalkidiki. The Thessalian fields were once a huge sea, surrounded by mountains, until in Tempe the water found at last a way to retire and to rejoin with the Mediterranean Sea.

Thessaly comprises four prefectures, one of them is Karditsa.

The „Platia“ (main square), heart of the city Karditsa.

Platia Karditsa, in hot summers not only pigeons are happy to find some refreshment.

Karditsa, merchandise in the narrow alleys around the Old markethall (palia agora).

You don‘t even need a sales booth to sell the greatest fruits ever: WATERMELONS!

Close to the town Karditsa you will find the Agrafa, fantastic mountains with beautiful small villages and virgin nature.

The Agrafa Mountains are also famous for chestnuts in many delicious ways.

Here and there you find monasteries, open to be visited. Enjoy hospitality, byzantine artcraft and pickled walnuts.

And pay attention! Turtles might cross your way …

On the plateau Lake Plastiras, articially shaped in the 1950s to provide the Thessalian fields and settlements with water.

Not that much for swimming but for fishing, hiking, bicycle tours, to enjoy nature and cool down in pensions, restaurants and Hotels.

In about one hour drive from Karditsa you will find another spectacular tourist highlight: Meteora! Huge stonecolumns, shaped by water and wind through the millennia. Giant rocks in a big diversity, a paradise for freeclimbers.

As where the first munchs that settled here in the 14th century, seeking silence and protection, close to heaven.

Most of the monasteries are still in a good condition and inhabited. The bigger ones are open for tourists.

Tourists are happy that they don‘t have to enter in the „oldfashioned“ way …

…means rolled in a net and torn up or climbing ladders which doesn‘t seem to be that trustful. © unknown

Even this way is not recommended for the common tourists – today they enter via solid bridges or have to climb endless staircases. But hey, anything better than that, even if you trust in god…

The size of the monasteries depend on the size of the plateau on the chosen rock. They range from huge ones as Megalo (Big)-Meteoron …

…until tiny ones. But big or tiny – it is still a miracle how these buildings where realized in former times under those difficult circumstances. In a way reminding an eagle‘s nest

Among the monasteries for men you will find as well such for women. Living a modest live to serve HIM.

Even if u are not a believer, u are welcome in the sanctuaries just for a glimpse or to study byzantine art and icons.

Take the highway – mostly in good condition and well equipped wit traffic signs – heading from the Mountains to the coast of Thessaly, to Volos and Pilion, in former days home of the centaurs, today of many German pensioneers.

Take your time to discover Volos: as mythology tells from here - the ancient Iolkos -, Iasonas started the seek of the golden fleece on a ship named Argos. One of the really big stories in greek mythology.

This is a model how the Argos could have looked like… on board the daring Argonauts.

Leaving the lively university-town Volos behind you follow narrow streets to discover the peninsula of Pilion with its hills and teriffic views, looking on one side to the Pagasitikos Kolpos, the huge bay, or on the other side to the Agean Sea.

Little villages along the road with traditional Pilion architecture.

Shady places under old plane trees invite for a greek coffee (ellinikó) or some homemade Souvlakia.

And nothing – and I mean nothing! – compares to the Aegean Sea here on Pilion.

The sea so blue and fresh and so many places inviting for a rest. In the shadow, garding your dreams.

When the gaze is focused on infinity and fades in deep blue.

Dreams can become true and there is always a place on the beach waiting for you!

Or try to catch your lunch, no matter if it is about small fish …

…or holy fish

There is always a boat waiting for you …

…and a meze, a starter on the table!

And here you are, in Thessaly, Pilion! And when the sun sets down and you just have a last drink in the Taverna on the promenade – tomorrow will be a new day waiting for you. It‘s Greece – soooo happy to be here.