1st day: Τhermal baths Pozar (Almopia)
I enjoy traveling in the morning! I have the whole day ahead of me and positive energy! We departed from Patras, Greece very early and within a few hours, we arrived at Ioannina. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to stop in the city, so we made a little stop on the outskirts. In passing, we tasted and syrupy sweets from the “Kolionasios” store. I prefer pudding from the “Diethnes” and I had a little regret but I didn’t say no in a muffin for breakfast.
Then, we drove through the Egnatia highway to go to Veroia and we were stunned from Christmas landscape. Left and right, an enchanting, snow-covered landscape and fog everywhere.
In Veroia, we had two hours to wondering. After shopping and walks, we choose the “coin” cafe for a stop. We weren’t too hungry, so we took something from the bakery. If you ever visit Veroia, my friends who stay in here suggest the “Marmita”, “Sta Kala kathoumena“ and “Laguna” as some of the best places to dine.
Next stop was the Loutraki Aridaias. We arrived at 3 p.m. at the hotel “Edem” with a depressing cloudy above our heads. That didn’t stop us from visiting the thermal baths of Pozar.
Arriving at the establishments, I took 2-3 pictures and caught up the others who went first to the large outdoor swimming pool. After we paid for the ticket (3 euros), we went to the cabin room to change. The place had turned to the better since the last time I was here. In the middle of the cafe, out of the cabins’ room, they had put a fireplace, and the atmosphere was warm, contrasted with the cold that was outside.
As I opened the door and went outside with a bathing suit only, at 4 degrees, I felt a coolness. I immediately shower with hot water coming from the spring, permanently 37 degrees Celsius. The swimming pool is better without many people to enjoy your necessary 20 minutes in the healing waters. The landscape around is beautiful and especially if there is snow. We snow we didn’t see but felt its temperature when we got out of the pool.
In the cabin-room has no heating, so I’m freezing a little. However, there were hair dryers and showers.
Unfortunately, until we get ready, the dark had come outside, so I didn’t get enough photos. Although, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Upon leaving, I took from a store (Tserkezos) with local products, a sauce with paprika, homemade mustard and three kinds of cheese. Turning to the hotel, I combined one of those cheeses with the paprika sauce, and I ate it hungrily. We didn’t eat at noon, and I was starving.
Now, it’s 8 p.m, and I leave you because I’m already thinking about what I’m going to order in the tavern (the tavern of the mpoumpou) of the nearby village called, “Orma”.
