We traveled a few days ago from Bulgaria to Greece and brought ourselves to Pozar Baths. After a good night sleep in our Airbnb, we started the day with a morning stroll to a nearby river. The Aspropotomos River had crystal-clear freezing water. This did not stop @thebombkids from getting in and splashing around.
Table of contents
- A Morning by the River
- Picking Fresh Fruits
- The Scenic Drive to Pozar Baths
- Soaking in Hot Springs
- Our First Greek Meal
A Morning by the River
I’d love to say that the walk getting to the river was amazing, but the truth was that as we walked down the dirt road we saw that this was where many come to dump their garbage. Oof, rough seeing such a beautiful area just used as a dumping ground. I guess people just dont want to pay to dispose of it correctly, whatever that means.After we made it to the rivers edge there was no more garbage so i guess thats good. The path died out at this point so we had to do some back and forth river crossings. The kids didnt mind getting their feet wet. Mom and Dad were more hesitant, but eventually had to take our shoes off too.
Having already gotten his feet wet, Percy decided to fully submerge.
Then Amari needed to partake as the afternoon warmth started.
Picking Fresh Fruits
After our morning at the river, we retuned home via a nearby fruit plantation. We walked through rows of trees. Much had been picked but some were laden with ripe fruits ready for picking. @thebombkids loved this part! They quickly picked pomegranates, kiwis, apples, and even some unknown but tasty fruit. Anyone recognize these? Almost like mini-apricots.
Hard to beat fresh fruit straight from the tree. The kiwis were especially juicy!
The Scenic Drive to Pozar Baths
With full bellies from fresh fruits, we hopped into our car for a short drive to Pozar Baths. The road wound through a scenic landscape along the same river we had just been too.
Arriving at Pozar Baths we could tell this was a well visited place as some vending stands were dotting the roadside. We parked near the entrance and first did the walk up the canyon path lined with rocks and and boulders with the river splashing over and making little pools and water slides.
As we climbed higher up the trail the rocks jutted high and sharp and of course Percy needed to scamper up to worry mom.
The path led up the canyon and we took an off shoot that took us up past a cave, but the cave had been locked by metal bars. So as we could see the sun was starting to head down we snapped some family photos and headed back down the canyon to the hot springs.
Soaking in Hot Springs
Once we arrived at Pozar Baths we changed into our swimsuits and headed first to the free pools located directly in the river. These natural pools had been created by people bring rocks and trapping the hot water, it was a mix of the hot and cold river and not very deep, so more a shallow warm tub.
After trying out the free pools, we went to the paid pools. It was 3 euro per person for 30 mins. Pretty sweet to go in a deep swimming pool filled with hot water. This pool was being filled by a waterfall that we had to wait and take turns to enjoy getting pounded. I did some gentle laps and mostly floated in the biggest bath I’ve ever been in. We are here in the off season, so it wasn’t very crowded…which was nice for us to not feel bad letting the kids goof around and not bother the other peeps.
Our First Greek Meal
After soaking for our 30 mins, hunger struck hard! We dried off and headed back into a nearby town to find a restaurant. We found our first authentic Greek meal. Fried Feta and Honey, Melted Spicy Feta, Classic Greek salad with tomatoes, olives and of course more Feta. Stewed mix meats with peppers and mushrooms, Grilled eggplant, peppers and zuchini. We shared it all with a gusto!
A combination of rich flavors that reminded us we had certainly arrived to Greece. Tomorrow we head up into the mountains, headed for the highest peak around, that when on the top you can have 1 foot in Bulgaria, another in North Macedonia and your butt in Greece! Until the next one!
Great photos! What an adventure you guys are on. It's amazing. Unfortunately, my teens aren't up for anything like it anymore, although I could probably get Keanu to come along if there wasn't a lot of flying involved. Maybe I'll just have to kidnap them and not tell them we're going anywhere until we do.
Things are moving along slowly business wise (finally) so it's definitely on the books, hopefully soon. Aryan loves to travel and he's ready to see the (rest of the) world with me. He keeps telling me that 'the others will be leaving home soon' but we'll see about that. There was a volunteer option on a sailing boat. Painting in the morning and sailing in the afternoon, in Panama, but it's November and December so a little too soon for us. But we'll get there, I'm not worried.
Anyway, that food looks amazing. The Greeks know what they're doing. So do the Turks, by the way. Will you be heading that way too? I've never been to Greece, so looking forward to seeing more of your adventures.
Tell la familia I said hi!
We thought about Turkey, but we’ve been years back and it seems unlikely.
Yeah, it seems like a perfect age for the kids. They are still interested and willing and small enough to be dragged if not😉
That sailing idea sounds fun. I almost did it a few times. Those type of opportunities tend to be reoccurring so I’d say you’ll find when the time is right!
Glad to hear work prospects are picking up!
i must admit the region has some problems with dumping trash and recycling. and it is sad considering the natural beauty it has
So you went from Albania to Bulgaria to go to Greece? Interesting choice :)
Yeah, no bueno the garbagio.
Actually our route was even more zig zag. We went Albania, Kosovo, N.Macedonia, Bulgaria, then Greece.
We had wanted to go to Serbia as it was in between. But Serbia wont let you pass Kosovo to Serbia because they dont acknowledge Kosovo as autonomous.
So thats why we had to zig down first to Macedonia, then back up to Sophia.
We could have gone the other direction, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo.... but didnt realize when we were choosing the route.
i thought you will go from Albania to Greece, but this was probably more fun :)
Great post! Looks like you’re having a great time in Greece! Those fruits looked quite strange, I’ve never seen them before 🤔 I’ll try and find out what they are and tell you if I find anything!!
Yes, its been lots of fun so far!
Please do let me know if you discover what fruits they are!
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Ha ha! How come you couldn't plunge into the freezing water of that river yourself and instead let your kids show you how to do it? I suppose the heated pool is a little more enjoyable! If I'm honest that's more my style too!
It looks like a wonderful area you were in, rugged, rocky, green and beautiful with decent weather by the looks of things.
Those small orange picked fruits in your hand look like sweets, I want one! But you saved the best food picture until last. That table of food looks scrummy and actually quite healthy, was it?
Sometimes i get in cold water, but this day i was a big baby.
Yeah, weather is perfect spring temps, not to cold not to hot.
And yeah, food was tasty and healthy.
Been loving me some Greek yogurt, feta and olives so far!
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