sights uncovered
Travel with Tessa

Parga – Greece

Driving through Greece is a treat. Its country roads are in tip-top shape, and its freeway system is modern and efficient. Freeways wind around mountains and through tunnels several kilometers in length. Views of bridges that are architectural beauties, the clear blue ocean, lagoons, and mountainsides covered in silver-leafed olive trees, open like a fan.

#1A. Insert After Paragraph 1 AFTER...silver-leafed olive trees open like a fan.
#1B. Insert Below#1a.
#1C. Place NEXT T #1B.

In Parga, we checked into the Parga Beach Resort, which blends into the landscape. The accommodations are free-standing cottages and two-story ‘houses’ that offer balconies on the upper units and garden patios below. It’s designed with paths that meander through the gardens filled with olive trees perched on aged, gnarled trunks, vines, rose bushes, and a wide variety of trees and flowers in full bloom. Swimming pools in varied shapes and sizes nestle between the bungalows and houses, and two large restaurants – one that serves snacks and drinks, and the other a traditional Greek restaurant – rest on the sand facing the sea. The water is turquoise, calm, and warm. An impressive buffet breakfast is served until 10:00 am daily in this idyllic setting.

#2A. Insert AFTER paragraph2 AFTER...until 10.00am daily in this idyllic setting
#2B. Place NEXT TO #2A.
#2C. Insert BELOW ##2A.
#2D. Insert NEXT TO #2C. #

In the distance, village houses snuggle on a hilltop surrounded by dense forest foliage, and on the opposite side is an ancient castle built on limestone that looks out to sea.

#3A. Insert AFTER Paragraph 3, AFTER...on limestone that looks out to sea.

The hilltop beckoned to us to discover what lies behind it. After a day of relaxing on the beach, we set out in the evening as the sun caressed the top of the castle and cast a golden glow on the houses, to conquer the vertical climb. The reward on reaching the top is a visit to the castle and unobstructed panoramic views of the Parga Resort on one side and the twinkling, sparkling lights of the picturesque village on the other.

#4A. Insert After paragraph 4 AFTER..of the picturesque village on the other. TAG... Sunset over the homes and the castle.Sunset over the homes and the castle.
#4B. Place NEXT TO #4A. TAG... Exploring th CastleExploring-th-Castle.
#4C. Place BELOW #4A TAG... View of the crescent shaped waterfrontView of the crescent shaped waterfront
#4D. Pl;ace NEXT TO 4B. TAG... The Village at sunset.The Village at sunset.

The downhill walk into the village leads one along a narrow pedestrian street lined with tiny stores selling leather goods, clothing, shoes, paintings, and trinkets. Homes, cafés, boutique hotels, ice cream parlors, and bakeries cascade down to the waterfront. It’s a sight out of a storybook.

#5A. Insert AFTER paragraph 5 AFTER...It's a sight out of a storybook.
#5B. Insert BELOW #5A.

We chose a cozy, traditional, family-owned Greek Taverna on the boardwalk for dinner. Greek salad, tzatziki, calamari, a shrimp dish baked in homemade fresh tomato sauce, sprinkled with feta cheese, and baklava for dessert. Sublime!

#6A. Insert AFTER paragraph 6 AFTER...feta cheees, and baklava for dessert.. TAG... The boardwalk lined with restaurantsThe boardwalk lined with restaurants

October 28th is the date that the village celebrates the departure of the occupying Italian forces after the Second World War. Church bells chimed louder and longer than usual, calling residents to head for the waterfront. The community of Parga poured into the village center on foot, motorbikes, bicycles, and taxis.
Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best. Toddlers waddled about waving Greek flags, while children five to seventeen dressed in starched white shirts and black slacks for the boys, black skirts and white stockings for the girls, fell into line and marched proudly to the blaring music.

#7A. insert AFTER Paragraph 7 AFTER... marched proudly to the blaring music.
#7B. Insert BELOW #7A.

Cafés and restaurants overflowed with adults who took a break from their beers and ouzo to cheer their children as they passed by.

What a privilege it was to experience this happy day of celebrations with the people of Parga.