Yiannis's go wild tours

Yiannis’s go wild tours

Discover the surrounding area of the village of Parakalamos, in the Northwest of Greece. See it through the eyes of a local worshipper of nature, return to your primitive roots and experience real life in Greece. Yiannis spent most of his childhood near the riverside or in the woods. He is a musician, playing traditional music on clarinet and his source of inspiration is the enchanting natural environment in which he grew up. He is a member of the community of Roma, who live in Parakalamos and he is married to Nellie. She is from Holland and has extensive knowledge of plants and herbs and their curative properties.

Parakalamos is in the municipality of Pogoni in the Northwest of the prefecture of Ioannina. As stated on the site visitpogoni.gr: “This corner of Epirus is unknown and untouched and holds many secrets waiting for you to discover. Whenever you visit, you always get confused: are you in Pogoni or in the Wild West. It’s a piece of Greece which is still traditional and magically wonderful as though living in the past.” The village Parakalamos is in the valley of the river Kalamas. It’s at the foot of the mountain Kasidiaris, with a view of the mountains of Zagori.

Yiannis’s tours are in Gypsy style with a Dutch organization. Depending on the season, the weather conditions, your preferences and your mood, the tours can be filled with various activities. The program can be agreed in advance or you throw yourself completely into adventure.

Go wild You go on the road with Yiannis. This sounds simple, but believe me it is a special experience. The possible activities are: fishing in the river Kalamas, mushroom picking in the forest, turtles seek, collect "Xorta" (eatable wild vegetables), picking wild medicinal herbs. On the walk, you can encounter a variety of attractions: a waterfall, an old monastery, a magical old abandoned village, a sheep farmer or Lake Tzaravinas, where you can swim and fish. We can also organize hiking tours of one or more days. Or a number of days in the wilderness, walking, sleeping under the stars and eat what you find in nature, the Real Go Wild.

Go Party If you’re in the mood for a party Yiannis and Nellie can organize a special barbecue complete with gypsy orchestra at the riverside. On the menu is provatina, translated by Yiannis as wild, old sheep. You will prepare the fire and the food at the riverside of Gormos, called “Ayious”. This particular spot is a real paradise. During the mealtime Yiannis’s trio will play the typical songs of Epirus. Here, every party begins with mirologia, sad songs that slowly change into dance music. These songs are heavily laced with polyphony – multiple, inter-weaving voices – and guide you into another world with their trance inducing rhythms.

The duration of the tour is 4 hours. Except for the festive barbeque that is day filling. You can also stay a few days in Parakalamos, do several tours and really experience life in Parakalamos.

Yiannis and Nellie Chaldoupis
Parakalamos, Ioannina
Landline ++30 26530 31688
Cell phone Yiannis ++30 6946473209
yiannischaldoupis@gmail.com
Skype: yiannisnellie