In Ioannina

I have arrived at Ioannina. It is an unusual Greek city, being on the shore of a lake.

I stopped at Metsovo on the drive from Kalambaka and had lunch: yemista and xoriatiki salata - was average.

I am staying in a private apartment. There was confusion on who I was to contact to get the keys. The owner told me to call her husband who told me to call someone else. Eventually made contact with Georgio, who met me outside. He was quite interested where my family was from so I told him. He then seemed to get a kick out of calling me a νησιώτης (islander). Multiple times.

Multiple people recommended I visit the island in the lake. Where local ottoman stooge Ali Pasha was executed in his home (by the ottomans, when he went rogue). You can Google his life. It's quite interesting. There are still musket ball holes from when they shot him through the floor (from underneath).

There seems to be a large army base here. In the evening, they played the national anthem and raised the flag (pic).Read more