Zaros Gorge
Sunny and hot
It was an early breakfast and we were underway in a bus up the mountain for the Zaros (or St Nicholas) Gorge walk. The drive lasted nearly an hour winding around the rugged slopes with the bus driver navigating around large rocks that had fallen on the road.
It was a three kilometre hike down a dirt road to the start of the 540m descent to Zoras. The only growth seen were hardy mock oak trees and snow still covered the mountains in the distance.
We rested at the start of the gorge then criss- crossed the small babbling stream under the dappled light of the trees.
After our second stop it was boulder hopping for sometime and the river had disappeared underground.
It was a varied walk of gravel paths, scrambling up hills, bridges, narrow edge paths and steep steps.
By the time we reached level ground at Votomos Lake my little toes were very painful. Our guide, Pan, said that it was flat the rest of the way so I put on my thongs (flipflops) and the relief was immediate.
The walk took a total of four and a half hours hours and with a quick half hour turn around we were on our way walking a kilometre into the village for a late lunch.
Our host, Vivi, and her cook were wonderful hosts. We enjoyed a Cretan all you can eat buffet which was so tasty after a big morning’s walk. We sat back and relaxed, enjoyed the food and wine and watched a phyllo making demonstration.
Many of the group tried their hand at it and we then sat and enjoyed our dessert of sarikopita (phyllo cheese pastry) served with Cretan honey.
We met for our evening briefing and moved onto dinner however none of us were hungry!
Tomorrow we are leaving the tour so Pan, who has been an excellent guide, gave us each an award to our group The Hellenic Top Explorers. He was very funny and one of our group had a prepared speech which thrilled him and passed on a card with our written thanks.
The week has gone so quickly.
Sunny and hot
It was an early breakfast and we were underway in a bus up the mountain for the Zaros (or St Nicholas) Gorge walk. The drive lasted nearly an hour winding around the rugged slopes with the bus driver navigating around large rocks that had fallen on the road.
It was a three kilometre hike down a dirt road to the start of the 540m descent to Zoras. The only growth seen were hardy mock oak trees and snow still covered the mountains in the distance.
Heading down the three kilometre road to the start of the gorge.
The church and refuge at the start of the gorge descent.
A mouldy piece of wood inside the church.....
...I noticed a tiny perfect face peering out. Goodness knows how old it is but it will eventually succumb to nature.
By the time we reached level ground at Votomos Lake my little toes were very painful. Our guide, Pan, said that it was flat the rest of the way so I put on my thongs (flipflops) and the relief was immediate.
The walk took a total of four and a half hours hours and with a quick half hour turn around we were on our way walking a kilometre into the village for a late lunch.
Our host, Vivi, and her cook were wonderful hosts. We enjoyed a Cretan all you can eat buffet which was so tasty after a big morning’s walk. We sat back and relaxed, enjoyed the food and wine and watched a phyllo making demonstration.
Making sarikopita...delicious.
We visited the shop over the road from the cafe to watch a local woman demonstrating fabric making on a loom. It is fine and intricate work but sadly no young people are learning the craft. Her shop was filled with her wares and we purchased eight table mats with mountain goats...we figured we were that after our past week!
We met for our evening briefing and moved onto dinner however none of us were hungry!
Tomorrow we are leaving the tour so Pan, who has been an excellent guide, gave us each an award to our group The Hellenic Top Explorers. He was very funny and one of our group had a prepared speech which thrilled him and passed on a card with our written thanks.
The week has gone so quickly.
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