As Greece imposed a lockdown early in its coronavirus outbreak, the move credited with limiting infections. The country had a total of 175 deaths and 2,915 confirmed cases as of this moment. No cases have been detected on the vast majority of the Greek islands, which are popular vacation spots and also none at the Northern parts of the mainland..

Greece has always prided itself on its sunny weather, beaches, islands and the impeccable beauty of the northern landscapes. Now Greeks are pride that have had this self-discipline, unity and solidarity against Covid-19 and the country is moving to a gradual easing of the previous restrictions.

They saw restrictions in place even before the virus reached the country and since then, the government has worked closely with the public and private sector, ensuring protocols and standards are in place that will not only see the country through to a fast recovery, it could be one of the first countries in Europe, if not the first, to welcome tourists back to its lands.

To get away from it all, to find a stretch of paradise untouched by another,, in the touristical places in Greece, is almost impossible. Most stones have been turned, and paths trodden. The next best thing, therefore, must be to escape to a remote destination where there might still exist the slim possibility of some peace and quiet and solitude.

I’m not looking for a wi-fi free zone or some far-flung corner of the globe without network coverage. I’m not trying to escape from my iPad, email, games or online shopping… No, I just want to escape other people. And there are plenty of gorgeous places at the North, where escape is not just a word, having the summer evening buzzing of the nearby coasts, an hour drive away.

 

 

 

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On the Greek side, tiny hermitages perch on rocky promontories, all reachable by motor boat from the little lake-side village of Psarades. Psarades, like most villages in the region, is a picturesque collection of sturdy squat stone houses with red-tiled rooves. The one hermitage is closest to Albania, hangs like an eagle’s aerie high up inside the vaulting canopy of a hollowed cliff face, reached by scores of steep stone steps from a pebbled beach mottled with yellow blooms.
They’re little more than small stone huts but their interiors are awash with golden-haloed saints in multicoloured garb.
Outside saggy-sacked pelicans are floating on the waters seeking to fill those yellow dewlaps of theirs with silver fish .
The surrounding juniper forests, the southernmost point in Europe for this species, are a favourite haunt of brown bears, who come down to the shore in spring to teach their cubs to swim, fish and climb rocks.

In the hillside village of Agios Germanos, about seven miles away, there’s an 11th century byzantine church – tiny, simple outside, full of golden icons within.
Just to the south of Psarades, amid equally superb scenery, lies Mikri (Little) Prespa Lake, once joined to Megali Prespa until silt built a narrow neck. Conversely Agios Ahillios (St. Achilles) Island was once a rocky promontory until the waters eroded its narrow neck, to be replaced by a series of pontoons.
Now it sits in Mikri Prespa’s deep green waters, surrounded by forested mountains and snow-capped peaks, topped by a little modern red-roofed church and girt with ruins of basilicas from long ago Byzantium.
It was from this island that Czar Samuel of Bulgaria ruled his mini-empire in the late 10th century, until Byzantium wrested it back, and the most impressive ruin is the concave shell of St. Achilles basilica which he built.
The others are fairly non-descript – a simple 16th century hut-like stone church by the half wall of the monastery of Panagia Porfira, a little tower at the 15th century Agios Giorgios Church, the ruined shell of 14th century Agios Demetrios.

Two gateways lead to the lake region. The one to the south, the pretty and lively town of Kastoria is easily accessible by bus or car, from Thessaloniki.

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