It is magical how just two days in another place, away from daily life, can empty my mind, fade my memories with a cinematic fade out, while vivid colors are invading my eyes, my mind, my whole being in a colorful vortex that competes Walt Disney’s Fantasia! Two days only in the traditional village Portaria, north of Volos, are enough to transmit me a magical “amnesia”. I do not remember anything and anyone. I live only in the present, sucking the beauty around me while a thousand words are invading my mind and describe colors, images, smells and experiences. This text was written long before I touch the keyboard of this laptop.

Portaria is considered the “gate” of the mountain of the Centaurs, an information highlighted with stabilo in my mind, when I passed the stone gate to walk the “Path of the Centaurs”, an one-hour walking around Portaria. Certainly in my eyes seemed more like the tale gate, because this landscape with towering trees, ravines and wooden bridges brought to my memory bits of my childhood imagination traveling in the woods where Little Red Riding Hood had been lost or another favorite tale of mine, the “Enchanted Forest”.

In Portaria, the Lady of Pelion, time passes a little slower, more leisurely, maybe because after hiking in the path of Centaurs, it will enjoy a coffee in central square Melina Mercouri, it will walk the tiny streets, it would taste the greek tsipouro and test the cuisine of Pelion in Camelia, it will climb higher up the slopes to admire Pagasitikos and eat a tasty (and two I may tell you!) walnut pie from Aeriko, it will admire the view, it will ride a proud horse and throw his arrows at the target of its life! And when all these will be completed it will return to the hotel for another trip, a little more luxury but again fairy magic.

Hotel Despotiko, a dreamy hotel, the surprise of my journey

Portaria is beautiful every season, whether it is snowy or sunny, with autumn leaves or blooming flowers that decorate the cobbled streets, the stone houses, authentic examples of local architecture, and squares. The whole village is filled with mansions, ornate stone-fountains, picturesque squares, churches and monuments. Two days at Portaria are enough to feel the magic aura of the Centaurs!

If you follow me on Instagram (@polinetta_) you might also noticed some of these photos that are always on my happy dreams…

À bientôt

      P.

Photos taken by me

Info:

Despotiko Hotel, Portaria, tel. 2428099046

Kamelia, Portaria (near the Town Hall), tel. 2428090182

Aeriko Café, 1ο kilometer of Portaria – Makrinitsa, tel. 2428099710

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