DESTINATION PATRIDA, 2024 | Highlights Days 4-7 (Karditsa/Trikala- Recreation)

KARDITSA / TRIKALA HIGHLIGHTS
Days 4 - 7 (Recreation)
Kamena Vourla:
En-route with our driver Thanassis Fotopoulos and our "Asproula", to the central Greek province of Karditsa- prefecture of Thessaly, we made two amazing stops at the well-known Kamena Vourla and Thermopylae- a beautiful seaside town renowned for its thermal springs, green mountains and peaceful atmosphere.
Nestled in a valley of eucalyptus trees, the area is on the crossroads of Greece's main arterials. Here, we found ourselves at the beautiful and authentic Ψαροταβέρνα ΚΑΒΟΣ Kaména Voúrla, Greece, Greece with our first dose of traditional Greek hospitality and home-style seafood.
Georgiko:
After another epic performance in the Georgiko village square, locals prepared a banquet spread for our team, followed by glendi!
We thank the Union of Cultural Associations of the Prefecture of Karditsa Ένωση Πολιτιστικών Συλλόγων Καρδίτσας for organising this opportunity, and journalists Τζενη Σουλτανια and Vasiliki Mpalampani for bringing our Tour to the attention of locals. In particular, we extend our appreciation to programme coordinator Vanessa Styliopoulou, our allocated guides/assistants Ελευθερία Ξηντάρα and Φαίη Μπαλογιάννη, DJ Γιωργος Βλαχος for setting up audio and organising our glendi, and the committee and locals of Georgiko who all welcomed us and made our team feel immensely appreciated and valued.
Lake Plastiras - Saloon Φάρμα Ζαμπέτα :
On the northern banks of Plastira Lake, close to the village of Nevropoli, Saloon Φάρμα Ζαμπέτα is an awesome outdoor and recreational facility which makes use of the authentic terrain and landscape.
Our first activity was horse riding on a track through lush plains, forest, and opening out to the banks of the lake; afterwards, it was very much "leg day", with paddle-boats on the lake; and finally, we enjoyed a session of archery, where Andrea Menelaou and Joanna Vasil both hit bulls-eyes, and Vikki Anton attained the highest score!
We extend our appreciation to Antonis Zampetas , along with his staff at Saloon Φάρμα Ζαμπέτα , for his guidance, expertise, and ensuring a safe and fun experience for our team!
Grill philosophy Amber.q
For grill/BBQ fanatics across the world, Grill philosophy and the Mallioras Brothers - George Mallioras and Andreas Mallioras are a household name. Founders of Amber.q, Greek bbq club and of course Grill philosophy , the brothers' ancestry hails from Karditsa.
The factory where all their BBQs and accessories are produced, along with their famous kitchen set where all the episodes are filmed, is located just outside the city, and where we found ourselves for lunch. On the menu was an entire piglet on a charcoal spit roast, as well as chicken laid across multiple "kontosouvli" (mini-skewers), on the unique worm-drive mechanical system BBQ seen in many of their episodes online. With mezze slapped on the table straight from the grill, and an abundance of other food, the food-coma set in!
We extend our appreciation to George Mallioras and Andreas Mallioras for their time, efforts, and warm hospitality, and to the entire team of Grill philosophy for being an Official Supporter of DESTINATION PATRIDA, 2024.
Sofades:
After another epic performance in the Sofades Town Square, locals prepared a banquet spread for our team, followed by glendi! Here, we had the opportunity to meet and have a discussion with Mayor of Sofades, the highly regarded and very respected Dimosthenis Katsis .
We thank the Union of Cultural Associations of the Prefecture of Karditsa Ένωση Πολιτιστικών Συλλόγων Καρδίτσας for organising this opportunity, and journalists Τζενη Σουλτανια and Vasiliki Mpalampani for bringing our Tour to the attention of locals. We also extend our appreciation to Mayor Dimosthenis Katsis and also Mr Giannis Karantanas.
Karditsa City:
After a short power-nap on the bus, we were greeted by the owner / Manager of Hotel Kierion who surprised our team with an assortment of gifts! In particular, the "I LOVE KARDITSA" mug, which now sits proudly on the mantle!
Across the four days of our participation in the 56th International Cultural Festival “KARAISKAKIA”, the Hotel Kierion was our home, complete with serviced rooms, ample space for rehearsal and preparation, and of course a rooftop bar and swimming pool, where for a few short hours during the hottest day yet (43 degrees), our team took a quick dip and devoured a few watermelons.
After a jam-packed programme of visiting religious, educational, and cultural sites, paired with another epic dance performance, it was time to unwind.
Upon returning to Karditsa city, we headed out to The BRONX est. 2017 - a gorgeous bar/lounge with some of the best drinks we've tasted so far on our Tour, complete with fantastic music and service to match.
Four incredible days in the agricultural heartland of Greece- Karditsa, came to a close. The evening also marked an end to the first week of our DESTINATION PATRIDA, 2024 Greece Tour.