Odyssey 1/25

@Greece, its Islands and Archipelagos

Greece is a country in south-eastern Europe with thousands of islands through­­out the Aegean and Ionian seas. Influential in ancient times, it's often called the cradle of Western civilisation. Athens, its capital, retains land­­marks including the Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple dating from the 5th century BCE. Greece is also known for its beaches, from the sands of Santorini to the party resorts of Mykonos.

Odyssey 2/25

@Greek Beach, Sithonia

Aziza and Bert excitedly collected their luggage. Their tour guide, Dimitri, had arranged for them all to stay in a cosy tree­house hotel, complete with hammocks strung between the branches and a veranda that offered a breath­taking view of the sea. Sithonia was every bit as en­chanting as their brochure had promised.

Odyssey 3/25

@Windsurfing in Greece

The first night in Sithonia, they feasted on a spread of Greek delicacies, including crispy fried courgette, creamy tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber dip), and juicy olives that Sydney couldn't get enough of. Bert, more adventurous with his palate, tried the souvlaki and declared it the best meal he had ever had.

Odyssey 4/25

@Port, Thessaloniki

They went by coach to Thessaloniki, which held treasures like the White Tower and the Arch of Galerius, where the pets climbed to the top, their hearts racing from both the exertion and the breath­taking view. They also visited the port and watched the ships un­loading their cargoes.

Odyssey 5/25

@Catacombs, Thessaloniki

The underground Catacombs of St. John the Baptist are located near the Church of Hagia Sophia. Dimitri gather­ed the group in the garden. “Here we can see the ruins of the nymph­aeum, a spring dedicated to the nymphs as well as the therm­al baths dating from Roman times. The nymphaeum was convert­ed into a holy water spring during Christian times and an under­ground worship place was built there, in honour of St. John the Baptist. This Catacomb belongs to a wider net­work of secret communic­ation in Thessaloniki, which has not been fully explored yet! It consists of cata­combs and tunnels, used by the first Christians to practise their worship. One can reach them through the Temple of Saint John the Baptist, hence the name. There are also remnants of the early Christian church.”

Odyssey 6/25

@Flag of Greece

Dimitri paused beneath a national flag adorning the street. "Ah, the colours and stripes of our flag," he began, his voice filled with pride. "They hold a signifi­cant piece of our history, a story woven into the very fabric of our nation. I will explain more later in our travels."

Odyssey 7/25

@Moonlit Kastoria

The following night, the coach pulled into the picture­sque town of Kastoria, nestled on a lake shore. The moon cast a silvery glow over the town, trans­forming it into a fairy­tale scene. The lake was a mirror, reflecting the lights of the city like a thousand stars scattered on its surface.

Odyssey 8/25

@Lakeside, Kastoria

The next day, they explored the quaint streets of Kastoria, marvell­ing at the well-preserved Byzant­ine architecture. The town was a living museum, with each build­ing bear­ing secrets of the past. They stumbled upon a tiny, hidden square, where back­gammon was being played, the clack of the game pieces a comforting sound­­track to the lazy afternoon.

Odyssey 9/25

@Calamari with cabbage

Over lunch, Dimitri related to them the legend of the lake. " Lake Orestiada," he said, "is said to have been the hunt­ing ground of the goddess Artemis. The town of Kastoria, as you see it, was built upon the bones of a dragon that she slew. The dragon's eyes are said to be the two bright­est stars that watch over the lake to this very day."

Odyssey 10/25

@Kastoria at night

That night, Kastoria, bathed in moon­light, was a jewel nestled in the em­brace of the lake. The lights of the town twinkled like a thousand fire­flies, creating a warm glow that danced upon the water's surface. They all looked up, trying to dis­cern the mythical gaze of the slain dragon in the starlit sky.

Odyssey 11/25

@Dragon's Cave on Lake, Kastoria

As they walked along the water's edge, the moon cast a silver path before them, guiding them through the park's twisting paths. The town's lights shimmered across the lake, turning the water into a canvas of shifting, kaleido­scopic hues. The sound of laughter and music echoed in the night air.

Odyssey 12/25

@Mountain Pass, Nestorio

The next day, their coach climbed high into the mountains, the road narrow­ing to a tight ribbon that clung to the side of the cliff like a lifeline. The pets peered nervously out of the window at the steep drop below. The view was breath­taking. The engine groaned as the coach navigated the hair­pin turns, the tyres gripping the asphalt with the tenacity of a moun­tain goat. Dimitri's calm voice filled the cabin, re­counting tales of ancient travellers who had traversed these same paths in chariots and on foot, seeking en­lighten­ment and adventure.

Odyssey 13/25

@Stone Bridge, Zagoria

The air grew cooler, carrying with it the scent of pine and the faint echo of distant goat bells.
"The old stone bridge in Zagoria," explained Dimitri, "spans the Vikos Gorge. It speaks of man's engineer­ing ingenuity and nature's grandeur. This ancient archi­tectural gem has its arches buffet­ed by the Voidomatis River."

Odyssey 14/25

@Landscape, Zagoria

"It stands as a stoic reminder of bygone eras when craftsmen chisell­ed their dreams into unique foundations. Each stone has grace­fully borne the weight of count­less footsteps. The bridge has a rugged beauty that reflects the moods of the passing seasons."

Odyssey 15/25

@Greek basil

They passed a small clearing where a group of musicians had gather­ed, their instru­ments cast­ing a melodious serenade. The music was a blend of tradition­al Greek tunes with a modern twist, the strings of bouzoukis and the sweet tones of a flute weaving together in harmony.

Odyssey 16/25

@Greek Windmill

As the coach rounded a bend, a traditional old Greek wind­mill appeared. It stood alone in a field of golden wheat, its white­washed stone gleam­ing in the sun. The mill had seen centuries pass, weather­ed by count­less storms and the relent­less sun.

Odyssey 17/25

@Meteora Monastery

The journey grew more magical as they approach­ed the majesty of St Stephen's Monastery. Perched high on a cliff, the ancient structure looked like it had been painted onto the rock face by a giant hand.

Odyssey 18/25

@Monastery Kitchen

Dimitri spoke of the monastery's past, his eyes alight with the passion of an historian. Bjørnøya and Bert felt a sense of awe as they climbed the steep path, pausing to catch their breath and gaze out over the vast expanse of blue below.

Odyssey 19/25

@Meteora Monastery

Inside, the cool, quiet halls were filled with the faint scent of incense. As they all climbed back onto the coach after­wards, Pyotr Ilyich Janczyk said, "This trip is so different to all the others. It's such an interest­ing mix of myth­ology and history, and it's a beautiful, warm country with the friendliest of inhabitants."

Odyssey 20/25

@Greek typeface

Dimitri, their wise old owl tour guide, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my little friends," he said, his Greek accent thick and comfort­ing. "We shall see the wonders of Greece and make memories that will last until the acorns drop next autumn."

Odyssey 21/25

@Field of poppies

They stopped in a village at midday for lunch. They took their seats under the shade of a grape­vine-covered pergola, the sweet scent of ripen­ing grapes perfum­ing the air. Before them, the bustling market street was a blur of colour and sound.