Wanderlust :: Going Off The Grid

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To travel is to live and a good journey is not about the destination or even it’s duration. It’s all about the experience of wandering in another place and discovering the greatness of this world. Although, nature’s beauty leaves us speechless, it also turns us into storytellers. And this is a little, tiny story about a small escape, a few years back, to Epirus, the northwestern part of Greece. We traveled by car from Athens to Pogoniani, a very small village by the borders to Albania near Ioannina. Trust me, it’s not a popular destination, but we were invited by friends of ours who own a summer house there and it turned out to be a real treat, the kind that changes you forever!

A beautiful stone bridge over clear blue river waters in the Voidomatis - Aoos National Park
The Aristi bridge on the Voidomatis River, part of the Voidomaitis – Aoos National Park
Another view of a beautiful stone bridge over clear blue river waters in the Voidomatis - Aoos National Park
The Voidomatis River (meaning the “eye of the ox”) is one of the cleanest rivers in Europe and crosses one of the most beautiful locations in Greece.
View of the clear blue river waters of the Voidomatis River
Voidomatis River is mostly known for rafting and kayaking.

Sometimes, it is best to wander about a new place on your own without a guide, so that you can set your own pace. However, in short escapades like this one (2-3 days max), it works brilliantly to have friends to guide you. So, in this case we let our friends take the lead and wandered about two places. First, at Zagarohoria, a cluster of villages with stone and slate houses, breathtaking mountain views and Vikos Gorge and then get this: an “off the grid” area where the horses run free, literally! That’s the part that I want to share with you…with the help of some photos that bear witness to a sensational feeling of “being lost in the right direction!”

A black and white image of a village's path with stone and slate houses, people walking down the path or resting in the sitting areas of a cafe bistro.
One of the Zagori villages. The path eventually leads to a monastery by the Vikos Gorge.
A black and white image of the Vikos Gorge.
A view of the Vikos Gorge
View of the steep cliff by the Vikos Gorge in Northern Greece.
View of the steep cliff by the Vikos Gorge in Northern Greece.
Can you spot me?

…wandering off the grid!

Our friends led us to an area that’s not on a map, literally off-the-grid, between the tiniest villages where there’s no wifi or let alone a cell signal. To be accurate, from a point on-wards there were no roads. Naturally, we had to leave our cars behind and began to wander on foot. We hiked in nature for a couple of amazing hours, following the water stream’s trail. Our starting point was that arched stone bridge that looked extremely old yet, still stood strong in harmony with nature. We watched the free, but friendly, horses that lazily grazed under the sun, and listened to the sound of the running fresh water. But best of all, we watched our son run wild, scream out-loud and enjoy himself till his feet dropped! 🙂

A white horse grazing in the sun, free in nature
A free-range horse… running literally free!
A white horse grazing in the sun, free in nature
Another beautiful old stone bridge over a stream of water in nature.
My son and I getting friendly with a free-range horse out in the wild nature.
Getting to know a free-range horse with my son.
Closer view of an arched stone bridge over a stream
Another beautiful old stone arched bridge over a stream of water in nature.
Another view of a beautiful old stone arched bridge over a stream of water in nature.

It was a beautiful sunny day and I can’t even begin to describe how good it felt to be lost in nature, off the grid, even if it was only for a couple of hours. Our friends knew their whereabouts, so we had no real concerns. Every minute spent there felt so meaningful, as if our gravitational weight in that area was different and time had stood still. So it goes without say that if any of you get the chance to do something similar, don’t miss it!! It is one of those truly rewarding wanderlust experiences, like sailing; most worthwhile. 😉

Till next time,

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