Metsovo - Not Today, Sorry

We are parked tonight in a car park in Ioannina, which was not really the plan. We set off this morning from Meteora intending to cross the mountain pass to Metsovo. We didn't want to take the new motorway because..... well, we just didn't. But, 20 kilometres or so before Metsovo the road was closed. Being adventurous I carried along for a while, despite Phil's protestations but when it became apparent that the road was closed for a good reason, basically it had slipped away, I turned round and we joined the motorway. Six euros and a couple of tunnels, one of which was quite long and then we came off to join the road to Metsovo.

Tunnel.

As we dropped down to enter the village a policeman waved us down and told us we could not enter! Why not? "Because!!, I do not have the English to tell you" So we parked up and walked down a series of cobbled, steep pathways between higgledy piggledy houses until we reached the village centre which was absolute madness. It was the finish point for a 45 kilometre fell run. We bought some bread, a piece of goats cheese big enough to feed a family for a week and set off back up the hill just as it started pouring with rain. We met another policeman who told us, "They go downstairs, upstairs, all around the mountains for 45 kilometres, crazy"

So, no overnight stop in Metsovo. We set off for Ioannina, again using the old road which runs parallel to and criss crosses the new motorway. But the money has been spent on the motorway and the old road is neglected. Usually when you see the "falling rocks" sign you're not too bothered, right? Here we were avoiding stones, rocks and boulders the size of cows. Fortunately we didn't have to avoid any oncoming traffic as we were the only people on the road!! Despite this it was a scenic route and we loved every minute of it.

We arrived in Ioannina and, of course, missed the turn so then it was a drive down pedestrianised streets until we finally went the wrong way down a one way street (no comments Paul, thank you). Eventually we arrived at the parking spot recommended but it didn't feel too safe so we had a walk around following camping car signs until we found the spot we are at now. Walked back, moved the van, paid the lady on the gate €12 and we feel a lot more comfortable, despite the constant traffic ( it's 11.15pm now) and the noisy bar 50 metres away. Before you ask why we aren't in the bar, well, we've had a couple of aperitifs and a glass of wine with our dinner. Enough.

Once we were parked up we had a walk around the lakeside town which was really busy with all the bars and cafés buzzing. Ioannina is described as a vibrant student town although somewhat melancholic as it allegedly rains for nine months of the year. We caught a sunny day today. It also boasts the grave of Ali Pasha, an 18th century Albanian despot, worth reading about here, but not for the faint hearted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Pasha

We're a bit stalled now. We have to be back in Thessalonika for Wednesday or Thursday, which wasn't part of our original plan or route, so we may head back up towards Konitsa, near the Albanian border, and head back that way. We're learning not to make too many plans too far in advance. Closed roads, closed villages all combine to make life interesting and unknown.

Pat.

 

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