Greece Patras to Perama/Ioninna

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The drive from Patras to Ioninna and Perama was not so bad, on pretty good roads. We stopped for a coffee break in a town on a Bay and that was quite pleasant (see picture). Although the funniest thing on the drive was the “highway” was cut off on one ramp and turned us to another and when we looked down that ramp, the 2 lanes ran directly in to this big huge pool of water. Just straight down in to it and the whole road disappeared. Too bad there were cars behind us because that picture would have been priceless. It was just the strangest thing.

Another break for lunch was at a random roadside café - although we think in hindsight it was part of a town - a very very small town - but this place had THE best coffee and cheese pie!!! Best of the trip and such a random small stop. Doesn’t it always seem to be that way?

Ioninna was a small but very busy, crowded touristy town with a pretty lake and a big castle (see picture of lake and surrounding scenery- very picturesque). We drove through this to get to Perama where we were staying - just outside the entrance to the famous Perama Cave - famous because it has about 19 different types of stalactites, stalagmites and also because of its size. We toured the cave before we left and it really was amazing but we were not allowed to take pictures inside. There is a picture from outside the cave looking down on Perama, towards the lake and Ioninna.

We headed back to Ioninna to walk around and get dinner that night and this is where we had our second bit of trouble - a parking ticket. We parked between some signs that had a big “P” on it thinking it meant parking… but it did not. It meant “permit”. To sum up this story, we had to go back to town the following day, find a station that was not a police station but a traffic or tourist police place. The person at the hotel could not tell us how to find it really and did not really even understand the ticket much except that it would cost us 10 Euro to pay within 5 days or 20 Euro if after. After some directions from locals, turning a few blocks, around a corner, up some stairs and through 2 doors, I found the place and with sign language, ticket waving and Euros, managed to get it paid. We headed straight out of town after that.

This next day of driving was a bit harrowing. We decided to take the scenic mountain road and we were wishing perhaps we did not. It was very narrow (and 2 lanes!!) and at points it was partially washed out! Yes the scenery really was breath-taking but as soon as it joined up with the new highway again, we decided it was worth it to drive a longer loop on a better road than risk any more of THAT. It is amazing to think that before those new highways were built - I guess for the Athens Olympics?- those roads were the only roads to use to get between some of these places.

We made it to Kalabaka without more incident (except to drive through small town after small town with no hint of an open café to stop for a break) and found our very lovely Inn.

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