Hiking the Kalderimi in Pilio

There are these old, old stone pathways that used to connect many villages in the days before cars and roads. People would walk. People don't walk anymore. People think you must be crazy to walk. Many of the old stone pathways still exist and are maintained for crazy people who like to walk.

Fountains

All over Greece you find these beautiful stone fountains where some mountain spring has been somehow diverted or piped in. What could look better on a hot day?

How to waste half a day

Find a cafe with wireless internet. Sit.

Especially effecting at wasting time when you can plug in your netbook and not worry about killing the battery.

Meteora

A rare geological phenomenon makes for spectacular scenery, and a great place to build monasteries if you want be able to defend them really well. Nice for a hike too, and excellent climbing. But mass tourism has arrived here for sure.

A bird's nest on a church

The picture is pretty self explanatory.

Looking back (Arcadia in May)

We started our touring this year in Xiropighadho of the Prefecture of Arcadia in the Peloponnese. Looking back to May (with waaaayyyyy too many pictures:

http://basily.smugmug.com/gallery/8116173_cdKad

Zagharohoria

A stunning setting for old stone villages.

Yes, those are a lot of switch-back to cycle up to Papigko - killer ride!

Hiking around Zagharohoria

Alexandra and I had a fantastic introduction to multi-day hiking and we are hooked! We left our bicycles and most of our things behind in Papigko and spent 4 days hiking around and camped in the wilderness for 3 nights. What a beautiful area!

Beautiful Kastoria

Kastoria is a small city set on the narrow part of a bulbous peninsula jutting out into a lake, surrounded by striking mountains. It is laden with dozen of byzantine churches, and has a well preserved old quarter. The fur trade brought fame and fortune to this city, but we came for the architecture and a lovely unloaded ride around the peninsula.

A complete photo journal of our trip to Albania

Follow this link to entirely too many pictures from Albania:

http://basily.smugmug.com/gallery/8473810_uJ2vW

Not that Albania isn't deserving of a lot of pictures and many more, but you'd be forgiven for flipping through them quickly, or just scanning the thumbnails and only opening the occasional picture that strikes your fancy.

As Albanian as can be

Some more pictures of very typical things in Albania, some beautiful places and interesting things.

Albania

We decided to pop into Albania for a few days or a week or so. What do you know about Albania? Not much I bet, but it's a fascinating country.