“We’re having lunch tomorrow at Palaios Panteleimonas before heading back to Thessaloniki.” said The Greek Mister as he gulped down the last drop of his tsipouro.
“Pantele-what?” I asked.
“It’s the place that you showed me from Marissa’s blog.”
He does listen and pay attention! Holy crap!
A very long time ago, I came across this blog post of My Greece, My Travels called A Weekend in Pieria and as I learnt that it’s so close from The Greek Mister’s city, I asked him why he hasn’t brought me there ever and all I heard back from him was a grunt. You see, he’s not very well-informed of his own place (although if you ask him where’s the best bar is he’d be able to tell you) and he’s practically seeing new places in Greece at the same time as myself.
I’ve totally forgotten about that place until he told me that we’re headed there for lunch. We were in Leptokarya with his friends, visiting another friend who owns a taverna by the beach. From here, Palaios Panteleimonas is only 20 minutes away by driving so a short visit for lunch was feasible.
It was hot the next day, I think we brought the heat from Qatar to Greece that day. I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead after only 5 minutes of walking towards the entrance of Palaios Panteleimonas. I let The Greek Mister and his friends walk ahead of me as I took millions of photos at the entrance. I do this everytime we travel together, I leave him somewhere to have coffee or beer as I explore the area and take photos as I please. Palaios Panteleimonas already looked good from the outside, I’ve never imagined that it could be more beautiful inside the village itself.
Located at the foothills of the famous Mount Olympus, Palaios Panteleimonas offers a unique and stunning view of the Thermaikos Gulf with the added bonus of being rich in fauna. Walking around it wasn’t a difficult feat even during summer as you get the fresh mountain breeze to relieve you from the heat. Unlike Qatar, the humidity in Greece in general isn’t at all that bad. You can seek shelter under a shade of a tree and you’d already feel cooled down.
Exploring Palaios Panteleimonas is like walking back in time with cobblestone streets and stone houses around you which has stood the test of time for four centuries now and counting. There is a small square where the church of Panteleimonas is located surrounded by numerous tavernas and small shops. It was said that the original inhabitants of this village abandoned it during the 1950’s and was only revived in the 1980’s possibly because of a film by Theodoros Angelopoulos called O Megalexandros which was shot there. How can anyone abandon this?
Thanks to that movie (which I think I must see) people are now able to appreciate the beauty of this place. After a million more photos were taken, I joined The Greek Mister and his friends who were all waiting for me in a taverna across the square for lunch.
“So did you like it?” The Greek Mister asked as I sat down.
“I loved it! I can’t believe you’ve never taken me here before!”
He grunted in response. Of course.
Disclaimer: No husband was harmed during this trip.
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It is such a beautiful place, and what a coincidence, I know Marissa… in fact we met in person when I was in Athens last May 😀 hahaha
this blogging world is so cool! 😀
Great photos!!
Happy to have you on #MondayEscapes 😉
We also met in Athens. Lol. Yes, the blogging world is really very cool! :p
Ha ha, love this post and how you wrote it! So glad you got to go explore this awesome place. In the Mister’s own backyard, too 😉
Thanks, Noemi, for sharing this on #MondayEscapes. Your photos are so beautiful that I have bookmarked Palaios Panteleimonas to visit during my trip to Greece one day.
Thank you Ahila, make that trip to Greece one day today! :p
I love, love this place. I hope your husband liked it too. I can’t believe he had never visited the place. I was reading about similar mountain tows located close to the Vikos Gorge (in the Lonely Planet Magazine). I have a desire to visit those but now, I have another town to add to my list.
Yes he did love it too from the comforts of his seat in a taverna with a beer in his hand. Lol. I do love mountain villages and old towns, I think we’ll get along really well if we travel together. :p
What a gorgeous place – i’d never heard of it before but how lovely. I think i’d have taken wandering over coffee too. #mondayescapes
Wandering over coffee always, unless I’m hungry then food over anything else. Lol.
What a cute little town 🙂 #mondayescapes
Definitely is. 🙂
Looks delightful, such a spectacular view too. I am very glad your husband found the taverna there! Nothing worse than a hungry hubby 🙂
Hahaha! Normally, it’s nothing’s worst than a hungry wife. Lol. I always get hangry. :p
nice place! I’ve not heard of it before:) #monday escapes
Now you have. No more excuse to not visit it. :p
Never heard of this place before but my oh my is it STUNNING!! Definitely pinned this one! #MondayEscapes
Your Monday Escapes entry is totally new to me too! Pinned it as well. :p
Never heard of this place before. Seeing pics on your blog, I think I should definitely bookmark all these places when I plan to go to Greece
You know I had to stop following you on snapchat cause your snaps of Greece where just to amazing! Seriously can’t wait to visit one day! Will definitely be stalking your blog before I go. 🙂
I’d take that as a compliment. Lol. I also unfollow people’s snapchat when it’s too amazing! Lol.
I am in love with Greece. Been seeing pictures of Greece these days and its soo beautiful! Your pictures are awesome!
Thank you Sahar! Make Greece your next holiday destination. 🙂
Greece has always been in my travel list….. And this place looks absolutely stunning to my taste ….I am gonna check it out sooner or later !!
Make it sooner! 🙂
Wow! That is definitely going on to the bucket list of places to visit. The best places are usually those lesser known places. Thanx
I agree, the lesser known places are always much better. For one, there will be less people to deal with as you explore it. 🙂
I have not heard of the movie, but your captures of this place is outstanding, makes me wanna go there.
It’s a Greek movie, I hope there’s a subtitle available for it. :p
What a nice place. Have you met with Marissa?
Yes I met her on our first night in Athens. 🙂 We forgot to take a selfie though, we need to brush up on our Asian genes I guess. Lol.
Hahaha! I am looking to meet you guys in the future. 🙂
Oh that would be super! 🙂