As a bit of a diversion from pouring concrete and thinking about our new house, we took a week away to chill out a bit. A week in the Amari valley – a Rough Guide “hidden gem”, is an undiscovered “away from it all” location which we love.
We’ve been several times, for the last two, staying at a charming little house on the edge of the sleepy village of Amari, facing out over the Amari valley, with beautiful views.
coffee and snack!
We ate out pretty much every night, there aren’t a huge number of places but we’ve sussed out some lovely ones. Aravanes, not the same now that Haroula has left for Athens, after managing the front of house for 8 years. But still with great food and wonderful views over the Amari valley, framed by Psiloritis on the left and Samitos on the right.
Romeo and Juliet we finally got to after finding it booked out all the previous times we’ve tried. It’s a quirky place right on the roadside and great for people (and car) watching. Matt and Yanna serve an eclectic fusion mix: Indian, Thai, Chinese and Greek, all good, and there are wild cocktails!
We got round to visiting the monastery just down in the valley below us, at Asomaton. It was deserted and ruined for many years but has now been taken over by nuns (at least a few!) and partially restored. Psiloritis looms in the background
Yasmin got interested in their vegetable garden, very neat, and tended by a very elderly nun (the younger ones watching telly in the new block no doubt!).
Our last night was at a taverna at a local village which we’d spotted on our travels. Lovely atmosphere with the occasional car driving right thru the square, and a friendly Maria cooking great local food.
