For it was a mighty, weather show I was treated to - from snow to rain and deep fog to bright sunshine, like driving through all the seasons in one fell swoop! I even felt as if I was chasing rainbows as they appeared one after the other, arching above the road in all their colorful glory. There was even a double rainbow, an omen that stands for "great luck"!

And I knew my luck was running full speed ahead when I arrived at the Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas - member of the "National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World" -, my home base for the duration of my exploratory stay. What a magical location. The stone buildings perched on the side of the mountains. The incredible views. I felt transported to another time. The cozy stone-walled rooms - with welcoming fireplaces - and the delicious food served by the hotel, refueled my energy to start exploring some of the 46 villages of the Zagorohoria region and its numerous stone bridges, asap.

This included the two picturesque and enchanting villages of Papingo - descriptively named Megalo Papingo and Mikro Papingo - with their close-knit stone buildings, welcoming atmosphere and delicious tavernas offering local specialties created for warming bodies and spirits. A must visit stop were, of course, the well-known natural rock-pools, the Kolybithres, cut into the limestone rock of the Rogovo stream between the two villages. The crystalline waters were - seasonally - freezing, so I didn't even attempt a dive-in, however the unusual Rock Pools' formations are incredible to behold…

Further down the road I caught myself pressing on the brake a bit more than usual as I drove along the Pindus mountains' winding road along the Vikos Gorge. What a sight! Swooping down from the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi, and with the magnificence of the virginal ecosystem displayed before me, I fully believed the Guinness Book of Records assessment that the Vikos is the deepest gorge in the world.

Continuing along this path to Monodendri seemed like a peaceful drive through the forest - a beautiful and lush forest, at that - until the landscape took a dramatic turn. Seemingly, all at once, the wood and fiber trees were joined by "trees" made out of layers of stone, each layer vertically resting on the other and stretching up as if to touch the clouds above. It's not called the "Stone Forest" for nothing and is an almost surreal yet awesome splendor to see up close.

As I mentioned previously, Zagori is also known for being home to a plethora of stone bridges that cross its many rushing rivers like masonry rainbows. The Bridge of Kokoris and the Bridge of Voidomatis are two of the regions' most prime examples. The first, situated along the central road to Zagori, was built in 1750 and the second, arching over the mighty Voidomatis river, is a century "younger," built in 1853. Other than a multitude of facts that history buffs would love to explore, what both these bridges have in common is that they make a visitor stare and wonder, "how did they do that?" proving that great design is truly… timeless.    

Just like this trip. Another trip to remember. One that made me realize something, for although I'm Greek, this is the first time I visited these awe-inspiring locations: one can travel all over the world, but the most beautiful locations can be located a mere 500 km away from home. Never underestimate the beauty of your own country for there will always be new places within it to discover. Come to think of it, maybe this should be part of all of our New Year's resolutions….