3 Guesthouses in Tzoumerka that Are Worth Visiting

Rouista Tzoumerka Resort

The Rouista Tzoumerka Resort, a resort in Vourgareli, Arta, is called after one among Tzoumerka’s highest peaks, Rouista, which rises to a top of two,200 meters. Siblings Eleftheria, Andreas, and Marina, together with Marina’s partner Dimitris, deserted their jobs within the massive cities of Athens, Kalamata, and Ioannina with a view to return to their homeland. “Rouista was my father’s thought; he used to inform us on the dinner desk that he imagined himself in a resort. He did nothing about it; it was a kind of goals that you just share with others. We put it off for years till someday we determined to make his dream a actuality,” explains Eleftheria Tyrologou. Together with her sister Marina, Eleftheria is answerable for reservations and the driving pressure behind Rouista.

“Our father had one thing slightly completely different in thoughts, like an old school resort. Nonetheless, it will definitely turned six buildings constructed on a hillside. We wished to construct our personal small village inside the bigger one,” Eleftheria explains.

Rouista’s foremost supplies are stone and wooden, and it has 21 rooms – together with double, triple, and household rooms, in addition to maisonettes – two of that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The 50-square-meter master bedroom is particularly placing, with its round structure and organically related inside areas, picket ceiling with beams, energy-efficient fire, and oak wooden flooring. The bed room has a big double mattress, which is separated from the lounge by two white curtains.

The usual 25-square-meter double room is much more spectacular, with its light-colored decor, picket ceiling, desk, espresso machine and low provides. It additionally has a desk and chairs outdoors the door that evoke the texture of a village courtyard.

Thodoris Lingas, an Ioannina-based decorator, was a key determine in shaping the resort’s identification. “Thodoris’ first precedence was to make the rooms practical. He made an preliminary evaluation of what matches and what doesn’t, after which allow us to determine.” Selecting the materials, colours, and different small ornamental touches, such because the picket coat hangers, turned a collaborative effort.

A gymnasium and spa are within the works, however there are already a number of frequent areas, together with the convention ground, the outside playground, the outside ping pong desk, the open basketball courtroom, and the playroom—which is outfitted like a child’s playground and includes a projector for teenagers’ films and desk soccer.

Breakfast is served on the decrease stage, and low is served on the higher ground by the hearth. Sotiria, the house owners’ mom, takes a hands-on strategy to breakfast preparation, crafting jams, breadsticks, and a wide range of different treats. She additionally offers classes on tips on how to make conventional pies from Epirus.

The breakfast space additionally consists of the Bostani restaurant, which sources a few of its substances domestically. Two cooks, Fotis from Tetrakomo and Konstantinos from Trikala, are in control of the kitchen and have created an distinctive and well-thought-out menu that options acquainted Mediterranean flavors with a contemporary twist, together with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices, in addition to meat dishes, pasta, legumes, and must-try smoked trout dolma and onion sauce dish.

The wine record options wines from Greek vineyards, together with whites, reds, rosés, and glowing wines. Labels from close by wineries, similar to Ktima Minis from Prodomi Paramythias and Ktima Lampraki from Tzoumerka, are effectively price a strive.

It’s additionally price exploring the encircling space, particularly Vourgareli, one of the vital vibrant Greek mountainous villages. Cross the Neraidogefyro bridge, search for the steps resulting in the picturesque sq. after which proceed to the Archonti and the – much more spectacular – Krystallo springs. The beautiful Byzantine Purple Church, with frescoes depicting founders Yiannis and Maria subsequent to the Virgin Mary, is a brief five-kilometer drive from the village. Journey slightly additional till you attain Kypseli, the birthplace of the good Greek photographer Kostas Balafas, who launched post-war generations of Greeks to the cruel actuality of life in Epirus.

Xenion

Tatiana Vourtsi has been operating the Xenion guesthouse for the final 5 years. Her story is exclusive; though initially from Zakynthos, she considers Greek resorts to be her homeland. Because the daughter of a resort supervisor, she grew up in resorts and every resort room served as her dwelling. She has labored in each place within the resort trade since she was very younger. All of her expertise taught her that lodging have to be “human and pleasant to friends,” similar to Xenion.

The guesthouse, which was created by musician Giorgos Merantzas within the settlement of Tsopela, is situated two kilometers from Pramanta, deep within the coronary heart of Tzoumerka’s pure surroundings. He loves Tzoumerka and the Xenion. He left when he was 16 years outdated, however he by no means misplaced contact.

The lounge with the hearth, the smells from the open kitchen, and the staircase resulting in the rooms all make you’re feeling snug and at dwelling. “This monastery-style, communal picket desk is meant to accommodate all our friends. As they eat breakfast collectively, they get to know each other and find yourself changing into mates. On winter afternoons, after their walks, we mild the hearth, and that’s when the tsipouro flows into the late night.”

Xenion affords seven single rooms for as much as three individuals, in addition to household suites with a double mattress, a lounge with a fire, and built-in couch beds.

Tatiana and new crew member Angeliki put together breakfast, which incorporates omelets, boiled eggs, selfmade jam made with domestically grown fruits (orange, banana, peach, or kiwi), rice pudding, custard cream and vanilla cake.

The rooms have names similar to Erato, Vasiliki, Dimitra, Areti, and Georgia. Who’re these ladies? “They have been precise village residents who had romantic relationships previous to marriage and have been focused by the local people. As a tribute, Merantzas gave the rooms their names.” These are the sorts of lovely tales you hear from the gorgeous individuals at Xenion.

Pramanta Refuge 

We meet Pola Markozi and Babis Triantafyllou on the Pramanta Refuge, situated in a fir forest on the foot of Mount Stroggoula at an elevation of 1,260 meters. It’s a widespread vacation spot for hikers, walkers, and vacationers from all around the world, filled with mountain ranges, rivers, and streams. “To the northeast, we’ve Kakarditsa; to the north, Lakmos (Peristeri) with the normal settlements of Syrrako and Kalarrytes; to the northwest, Tymfi, with the peaks of Astraka and Gamila; additional west, Mount Mitsikeli of Ioannina, and past {that a} great sundown. Beneath us flows the Melissourgiotiko stream, which meets the Kalarrytikos, and collectively they feed the Arachthos, the river of Tzoumerka,” they clarify.

Eighteen years in the past, the couple arrived at this magnificent location, which so superbly captures the grandeur of mountainous Greece. Each from Athens, they determined to lease an deserted refuge from the Municipality of North Tzoumerka and lift their household away from the chaos of town. It was an emotional determination, not one which was fastidiously thought of. “We sat down and thought of what this place needed to provide. A well being heart, a pharmacy, a city corridor, and a college. You don’t actually need the rest.” Certainly, Pramanta, situated simply 5.5 kilometers from the refuge, is one among Tzoumerka’s largest and most vibrant villages.

At the moment, the state of affairs could be very completely different from once they first began, significantly within the final three and a half years, when the refuge was fully renovated with the assistance and monetary help of the municipality. Nonetheless, essentially the most vital change was that the refuge now has consuming water, after years of getting to make use of a hunter’s faucet 600 meters away. Gaining access to water additionally impressed them to create a therapeutic bathtub. “It’s merely a dream to dip your heat and swollen ft in a river after an extended hike. We use chilly water from the waterfall. In the summertime, in a single day friends can even take a dip to chill off. Nonetheless, the tub isn’t there for leisure; you don’t simply go to the pool to unwind in your towel.”

In refuges like this one, that are simply accessible, you get each day guests and in a single day friends. Exterior guests can get pleasure from espresso and snacks from ten a.m. to sundown. The menu is restricted and easy, missing the number of a restaurant. It consists of selfmade lemonade, drinks, toasties, galaktoboureko (custard pudding with syrup), and chocolate cake; cooked dishes similar to rooster soup, gemista (stuffed greens), beef stew with orzo pasta, or pastitsio must be ordered forward of time.

There are additionally guidelines regarding in a single day stays. On condition that the lodging are communal (three combined dormitories, every with its personal toilet, for a complete of 26 beds), you could respect your neighbors. The beds have pillows and blankets, however friends should deliver their very own sheets, sleeping luggage, and towels. Pets are welcome in the lounge however not within the rooms.

Though the above might sound restrictive, in actuality it isn’t. It’s merely the principles of a lifestyle that’s distinctive at the moment. Pola and Babis stay in a 9-square-meter room with their two youngsters (“mother and father in a double mattress, children in bunk beds”). The mountain slopes greet them as quickly as they awaken within the morning. They spend their days in a mountain surroundings wealthy in herbs, mushrooms, and wildflowers, which can be dwelling to partridges, eagles, vultures, hares, foxes, and wild boars. Now and again, they see wolves of their yard. “You may see us standing over a flower with friends or mates, ready for it to bloom. Each day seems like a nature documentary.”