Journey to Makrinitsa

Our Journey to Makrinitsa was quite exciting! We left Axladitsa with light hearts and spirits ready for adventure. Packing 8 people into the small car and 14 people into the van, we learned various songs on the 2 hour ride through the beautiful Pelion countryside. It is said that the Pelion Peninsula was once inhabited by the centaurs. As I looked out the window my imagination began to wander...

We stopped along the way to take a breath of fresh air and enjoy a snack of cookies and icecream. yumm.

Continuing through Volos we began a steep incline up a windy mountain road. Here the trees got more dense and the scenery was quite lush. Every now and again we would spot the view of Volos and the Pagastikos Gulf below us. They grew smaller and smaller as we climbed and climbed and climbed.

We stopped at the village of Portaria for lunch where we sat under a huge 800-year-old tree. Shammi bought loquats to share. Melissa's bag almost got stolen by a playful dog. I guess he thought it might be a fun toy so he snatched it right off the chair. We all ate wonderfully delicious meals. I can almost remember it perfectly. I had a vegetable pie that was rich with many herbs between a filo crust. Afterwards we were so satisfied we could hardly move. Shammi gave the owner of the restaurants some earrings and in return she gave him a CD of local music which we listened to on the rest of the way to Makrinitsa. It sounded like woodland music with its soft flute rhythms

Makrinitsa's houses looked as if they were clinging to the mountainside for dear life. It amazed me that they didn't all just tumble down the slope and crash into Volos. But there they were with their stone rooves and white walls, soaking up the sun and watching the blue water stretch into forever and become the blue sky.

We were glad to finally arrive in Makrinitsa. There were no cars allowed in the main area so we all piled out of the cars and explored this quaint village that is also known as the balcony of Pelion. Sakhi, Annie, Melissa and I decided to wander away from the touristic strip along some narrow cobbled pathways that wound around the houses and neighborhoods. We met many old ladies taking a stroll whose faces would light up when we greeted them by saying "Kalispera" (I think that means good afternoon). Soon enough it was time to leave and we met the others back on the main road. We had not seen the main square, so we ran back to take a quick look around. It had a beautiful central area with a huge hollowed out tree, a water fountain, and a Shrine. It was breathtaking!

Finally it was time to say good-bye to dear Makrinitsa. Day turned to night and we were all exhausted but happy when we finally reached Axladitsa.

I would like to thank the drivers Susan and Bob for making this great journey possible!!!