I have been to Metsovo many times. Of all the traditional settlements of Zagorochoria and Epirus, Metsovo is the one that really stuck in my mind. This was strange, because at first glance it was an ordinary mountain town with typical cobbled streets and stone houses, red tile roofs, as well as many mini-hotels, cafés and restaurants. I have seen quite a lot of towns and villages like Metsovo in Greece. However, there was always something special about this town. Something unusual that I couldn't explain to myself. Something was in the air.
A couple of years ago, in the middle of summer, I came to Metsovo during a bad weather. The air temperature was not summer at all. It rained for several days in a row. On the day I arrived, I stayed at the hotel until evening, but then I went out for a walk. Not a soul was to be seen in the street.
The beautiful stone houses looked lonely.
Thick spruce trees towered over the streets.
The cafés were empty.
I climbed the hill that overlooked my hotel. There were no lights in any of the windows.
The sign of the hotel shone in the dense low clouds.
But still, life was there. Some houses had lights in their windows...
...and smoke was coming from the chimneys.
Cars were parked everywhere.
That day I felt like I was alone in this town...
...although, of course, it wasn't.
On the way back to the hotel, I found this interesting sign on the pole.
That's when I realized what was so unusual about this usual Greek town. Every time I came to Metsovo, I found myself in a totally new place. Every time this town created a unique atmosphere for me. Every time it was a new world. An incredibly cozy world that always gave me new impressions.
I have been to Metsovo many times, and I want to go there again. Have you been there?