Greece: Day 2 to Day 7

Part 1

The same day I left Delphi, I reached Anavra by bus and was then picked up by Kostas for the Evergreen Project. The next morning, I woke up in a big, beautiful tent and met Katerina, one of the founders of this place. We bonded and had great conversations about nature’s cycles, different lifestyles, and our own life paths. She showed me around and prepared a barley mushroom dish for our shared dinner.

The Evergreen Project

She guided me through the 22 acres of land, showing me beautiful eco-constructions like the Earth Jewel, the floating deck, the yoga shala, the A-frame, the kitchen, and the compost toilets and showers under the sun. In the afternoon, we sat at a viewpoint to watch the sunset while sipping mountain tea handpicked by them in a rather challenging way. At that moment, it was only her and Kostas in the community, together with their dogs and cats. Sita was extra friendly with me, and we bonded easily.

The tent and the view from the "balcony"

On the third day, I was planning my departure. I woke up to the sound of squirrels gathering walnuts, though unfortunately, I couldn’t see them. We shared breakfast with handmade halva, and afterwards, I interviewed Katerina. At noon, we left for Anavra. I took a bus to Lamia and then another directly to Volos, where I planned to have a rest day.

Part 2

When I reached Volos and met Dimitra and Yiannis—both journalists, passionate about sports journalism, with Dimitra also being an educator—I was warmed by their hospitality. However, the fast pace of the city overwhelmed me. The bright lights and sounds from the apartments made it difficult to feel grounded. I was so tired that I slept for 10 hours, which worried them a bit, though for me, it is natural. They took good care of me.

Volos by night

On the fourth day, we shared lunch and dessert. Later, Dimitra and I walked along the coast of Volos by night, having discussions that included Pilion’s hypertourism and recent disasters in Volos, including wildfires, floods, and dead fish. We talked about the municipal authority's preference for fast-paced consumerism rather than creating a green city—or at least keeping the city clean.

Ready to travel!

Part 3

On the fifth day, I took a motorcycle ride and a bus to Larissa. I easily found my way to Nesson, a small village near Larissa, home to a kafeneio and the Cob community.

Walking to Cob

I met Matteo, an Italian volunteer, in the communal kitchen, and we had lunch together—tasty pasta, salad, and handmade eggplant and zucchini pickles. Then he showed me around.  That same night, I met community members Jerome, Aris, Christos, Kostas, and Dora. The community has beautifully crafted houses with cob architecture in different colors—pink, yellow, blue, and red—centering around the communal area. They have big solar panels, bees, compost toilets, outdoor showers, a large storage room for food cans, a fruit nursery, a greenhouse, chicken boxes, and a big green field for regenerative agriculture. They also run experiments such as a natural pool where the water lillies clean the pool, aquaponics that filter water - the fish deliver organic fertilizer to the plants which clean the water with their roots, and a biogas toilet that uses microbes to break down human waste and produce combustible gas, among others.

The Cob Community

I rested in the red house, and the next day we shared moments with Matteo and Mado, another German volunteer. We prepared lunch together, and we discussed what volunteer life means to them. Later, after lunch, we sang rebetika with Matteo. He is very passionate about this rebel style and knows how to play various instruments, including the baglama and other stringed instruments.

In the afternoon, I joined them in the fields to see the work they were doing.

The eco village

Lovely people, lovely times

That same night, I interviewed Jerome, and we all went to the kafeneio. We sat with Lou, Jerome, Matteo, Mado, and Filippo—the little trickster, son of Christos and Anna. We played an old vintage Italian card game and discussed community challenges.

On the seventh day, I prepared to leave the community and Greece for Bulgaria. The day was already a bit hectic, as the community was preparing for a big event. We said our goodbyes, and I left for Thessaloniki and then onward to Bulgaria.

At the moment, I am in Bulgaria, and the blog about my experience here will come soon. Until then, take care and live your life in a way that fills your heart.

Love,Dimitra xxx