This past winter and Christmas, I spent a majority of the time with my father and my uncle up in the mountains of Metsovo (Μέτσοβο). We went to church every other day, ate every meal with wine, and I tempted my allergies to cats. Mestovo reminds me a lot of LA - especially around the Griffin Observatory. Mountains and valleys and near desert with the best sunsets... It was the oddest holiday I had, and one of the most special for many reasons.

Μέτσοβο also has the largest Vlach population and I love seeing how other cultures adapt against the majority in countries - what I'm mostly exposed to - as for their language also is a hair shy off ours. The museums here are also very specific and off-beat; the Averoff has an impeccable art collection despite its size. Shit you won't see in Paris. I also love mansion-museums; they're my favourite kind aside from science centres - and there's a spectacular one here called the Tositsa.

Last thing to mention that technically isn't Μέτσοβο but about an hour away - Meteora. It's also associated with a different monastery in the area and also classified as one of the most unique rock formations in the world. I met two brother cats when Dad and I visited this last go around, and I've had dreams about this turtle we stumbled upon the road since as well. You know where you visit somewhere for the first time within an area you thought you were very familiar with? That's how it felt to me. If you're in the area, definitely do the drive just for the sunset.