Greece, since 1981, is member of the European Union and, together with 18 other EU member states a monetary union, the euro zone. It is a member of the United Nations, the OECD, NATO, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The Human Development Index ranks Greece among the highly developed countries.
The Greeks of modern times call themselves Hellenes, but they had many different names throughout history. However, Homer (8th century BC) did not use the term "Hellene" in his epics. In classical antiquity, the Greeks hardly lay a point to present ithemselfves as a unified nation. The own home instead, be it a polis or a kingdom, was up to a few exceptions far more important. The participants in the Olympic Games were summarized as Hellenes. Perhaps it was this name later, in the first centuries of Christianity, being used as synonymous with paganism. From late antiquity until the end of the Middle Ages (1453), the Greeks even called themselves Rhomaioi (ancient Greek for, Romans').
Even you do not even think of the next Christmas because of the blue sky and the moderate outdoor temperatures here in Greece, it approaches with great strides.
Traveling from Athens towards Peloponnesus / Corinth by car, you can easily miss the imposing view into the Canal of Corinth, which construction plans are going back so far into history.
After crossing the Rio Andirrio bridge at Patras, we had reached Peloponnesus and wanted to go cross country using the road towards Gythio, a route of about 280 kilometers, which is not really easy to cope.
After our surprisingly pleasant and interesting stopover in Nafpaktos we had decided to cross the Gulf of Corinth via Rio-Andirrio-Bridge.
After an extensive tour of ancient Delphi in the afternoon and one stormy night at the campsite, which has led to unique clear view of the ancient ruins and the surrounding areas, we had first visited the Oracle of Delphi and the Museum in the morning, which is located below the ancient Delphi.
The coming weekend also indicated cloudless skies and therefore very pleasant daytime temperatures, so Toni from the Zampetas Camper Stop in Thessalonica made the suggestion to go to the mountain region of Orma on Saturday.
Despite the dark, fast looming stormy clouds, Daniel wanted to show the idyllic village Kato Vermio to us, about 24 kilometers from Veria in Imathia, Central Macedonia province.
To negotiate detailed questions about our project development, we traveled to Thessaloniki to the Camperstop Zampetas for two days.
This weekend again pointed cloudless sky and therefore very pleasant daytime temperatures, so Toni from Camperstop Zampetas in Thessaloniki did the proposal to go to the mountainous region of Orma for Spa Pozar Loutraki Aridea on Saturday.
For more research on the footsteps of the Romans we were in Thessaloniki again, of course there were always references to the history of the region, now we were able to experience its peak in terms of expansion and importance under Alexander the Great.
We learned to know Daniel, originally coming from Barcelona / Spain, at the event "Grappa distillation" in Platamonas where he had told us about his start-up company for outdoor activities in Naouss during the talks.
Mount Olympus, according to the Greek saga, is the home of the twelve ancient Greek gods and goddesses, it is the highest and most famous mountain of Greece of 2,918 meters.
In the early period of the monasteries of Meteora, climbing was clearly a necessity, not a sport in the modern sense. There was no other way to reach the tops of the rocks. Just by the help of ropes, nets, bare hands or long, rickety ladders, the peaks could be climbed in those days.
It is already a few weeks ago that we had met with Nikos in regards to our project and to further discussions on the progress of his offers to explore regional wines in relation with hiking around Rapsani.
We had already reported about Andrea and John, who want to bring clear spring water from Mount Olympus to Brazil within their ecological project in order to point to the pollution of their own rivers in Brazil and to achieve improvement and attention by the aid of the media.
Our explorations around the Camper Stop Rapsani has brought us to the shore of the river Pinios, which expands to a large river delta along the coast and thus constitutes a paradise for different species of birds.
During our way to Rapsani to the newly opened Camper stop we again had passed the village of Platamonas where we already noticed the mighty fortress on the rocky spur during our last trip.
Shortly after leaving the motorway towards Larissa / Athens, you will find a signpost to the right, facing in the direction of Mount Olympus massif with Rapsani.
During the visit of the really interesting Museum of Vergina we had met the so-called Star of Vergina several times, the sixteen ray sun symbol that first struck us on the big, golden ash box of Philip II.
Litochoro is a small town at the foot of Mount Olympus, about 7 km from the coast, which is considered one of the two possible access routes into the Olymp Mountains.