Hi, my name is Costas, welcome to Thessaly!

I was born and raised in Trikala, a picturesque small town of Thessaly, 20 km from Meteora. Trikala is also the place in which Asclepius the God of Medicine was born. Since I moved to Athens to study History and Archaeology, the feeling of nostalgia became gradually more intense. Working at the University of Athens and teaching Greek language, culture, and history to foreign people, immigrants, and refugees helped me to understand more deeply what it means to be a Greek.
This interaction and the fact that I like to observe people gave me the idea to become a licensed tour guide. My background in Middle Eastern Studies and Balkan Studies, especially lessons in anthropology helped me to adjust my narrative depending on the cultural background of the visitors.

Recently I returned to my home town Trikala because I missed living in a more peaceful way close to nature. Beyond Meteora, there are many undiscovered, intriguing, and worthy-to-visit places with breathtaking views of natural landscapes. In Trikala, about 50% of the feta consumed in Greece and abroad is produced. It is also a paradise for pie lovers and home to one of the most prominent rebetiko composers and bouzouki players.

I love farming, making and consuming pies, and rebetiko music. Bear in mind that if you want to organize a visit to a farm or a local dairy products factory or taste some local delicacies in a hidden inn up to the mountains, I am the person you are looking for!

It will be my honor to accompany you, show you around my region, and help you to comprehend how the locals experience life.

- Licensed Tourist Guide
- Bachelor's Degree in History, University of Athens
- Master's Degree in Turkish, Arabian, and Persian languages and cultures, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
- Bachelor's Degree in Balkan Slavic and Oriental languages and cultures, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki.
- Numerous seminars on Organic Agriculture by the Ministry of Agriculture.

I am not a driver. I can accompany you in your vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car and driver.

The tour will start from the city of Trikala, one of the oldest cities in Greece where Asclepius the ancient Greek god of Medicine was born. 20 km from Meteora it is run by river Lithaios, it is rich in culinary tradition and hidden gems. On this city tour, you do not need a vehicle, since the city is flat and easy to walk.

Before the old neighborhood of Trikala, we are going to enjoy a 360 view of the Thesssalian plain from the highest spot of the city. It is adorned with many old churches, a synagogue, and a mosque next to the Ottoman twin bath, where the Greek Papillon was once imprisoned.

Prison life inspired Tsitsanis one of the most prominent rebetiko composers born in Trikala to write classic rebetiko songs connecting Trikala to this worldwide known music genre. When the monasteries empty from visitors it's the right moment to pay a visit and decipher what is hidden behind the monastic life.

In any case I can customize this tour according to your requests.

Tour guide in Kalabaka Costas C.

English, Greek

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