How to Plan a Trip to KASTORIA, GREECE • Travel Guide PART 1 • The Poor Traveler ENGLISH
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Ang magandang mga oto sa Gris?
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Man pwedi mayroon ba ito in the first five
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na ito in the first ten
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na mong nakalauirin na kailangan.
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daming kailangan.
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Ang makapaganda ng mga oto
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sa mga nakintay maycigood
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sang tra investor
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00:50.000 --> 00:50.800
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00:53.800 --> 00:54.600
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Welcome to Captivating Kastorya!
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Hey there, poor traveler!
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We are Vins and Yosh.
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We didn't expect we'd get to see Kastorya
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and this side of Greece,
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but we're endlessly thankful that it happened.
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And in this video,
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we'll share with you some tips
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so you could fall in love with it
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if you haven't yet,
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please take the time to subscribe to this channel
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and click the bell icon next to it
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so you're notified whenever we have new travel videos.
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The term Kastorya can refer to two things.
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One is the regional unit in Greece called Kastorya.
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Think of it as a prefecture.
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But its capital city is also called Kastorya.
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we'll be using it mostly to refer to the city.
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Kastorya is part of the region of Western Macedonia in Northern Greece,
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near the border with Albania.
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You'll find it in the middle of the beautiful Lake Orestiada.
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In pictures, it's easy to assume that it's on an island,
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but it's actually set on a promontory
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sticking out into the water.
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The city is best known for its trove of Byzantine churches
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and its once thriving fur industry,
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which until recently had been driving its economy.
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Today, however, Kastorya's other wonders is slowly getting more attention,
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opening it up to tourism.
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No surprise there really because it is brimming with attractions
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that may or may not be quintessentially Greek,
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but worthwhile all the same.
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The official language is Greek.
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And yes, Greece has its own alphabet,
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which can be intimidating at first.
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There's a bit of a language barrier,
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but you'll find locals who can speak English well
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and street signs are written both in Greek and English,
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so going around isn't a problem at all.
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The time zone is UTC plus 2 or Eastern European Time.
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Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March
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to last Sunday in October,
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pushing it an hour ahead.
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So depending on the time of the year,
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it's 6 or 5 hours ahead of the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.
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The official currency is the Euro.
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And when it comes to modes of payment,
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cash is still the most common,
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but credit card payments are accepted in some establishments.
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Power sockets are Type F, which also accepts Type C plugs.
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And oh, Greece is party to the Schengen Agreement,
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which means travelers from most countries including the Philippines
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need to secure and present a Schengen Visa to enter.
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We'll be discussing the Schengen Visa in our future videos.
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The nearest airport is the Castoria Airport Aristotle,
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located in nearby town of Argos Orestiko.
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But it only serves a limited number of domestic flights,
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mostly from Athens.
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By limited, I mean flights are not available daily.
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If you find a flight that matches your schedule,
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then it is the fastest way.
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Otherwise, you'll need to look for another gateway,
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and the closest international airport to the airport is Argos.
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You'll need to look for another gateway,
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and the closest international airport is in Thessaloniki,
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which is 145 km away.
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Since we came from Manila, we had to connect in Athens.
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Here, we caught a domestic Sky Express flight to Thessaloniki.
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Our host family had us picked up at the airport,
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so we didn't need to worry about a transfer.
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But if you're taking public transportation,
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here's what we gathered from each agency's official websites.
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From the airport, take bus 01X,
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which will take you to the Macedonia Intercity Bus Station,
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operated by KTEL.
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There's a bus every 20 to 25 minutes from 6.10am to 10.40pm.
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Travel time is 50 to 55 minutes.
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Double-check the schedule at this website.
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And then, catch a KTEL bus bound for Castoria.
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There are only 5 to 6 journeys per day.
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The earliest bus is scheduled at 9am,
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and the last bus leaves the station at 8.30pm on most days
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or 9.30pm on Friday and Sunday.
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This schedule might change, so double-check by visiting this website
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and click itineraries outside the prefecture.
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Travel time is roughly 3 hours.
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If you're coming from Athens,
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the fastest way, as mentioned, is by taking a flight to Castoria Airport.
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But aside from flying, it's also possible to travel by bus.
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From Athens to Castoria, there's one direct bus a day.
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And it's scheduled to leave at 9.30am.
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Travel time is 12 hours and 30 minutes,
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which stops in Lamia, Larissa, and Kozani.
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The fare is €48.50.
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Another option, albeit much more complicated,
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is to board a bus straight to Kozani, which will take 7 hours,
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and then catch another bus to Castoria, which will take 75 minutes.
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But you'll also have to take into consideration the layover waiting time
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because buses are few and far between.
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Total travel time might still equal the direct bus depending on your timing.
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We visited Castoria in May, which was ideal in many ways.
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The weather was pleasant and the temperature very comfortable.
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And because the peak season wasn't there yet,
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the prices were also very friendly.
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We also got to witness the glorification ceremony in honor of St. Sophia,
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an important and newly proclaimed saint in the Greek Orthodox Church.
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It happens every May 6 here at the 700-year-old Moni Panagias Kleisouras.
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But every local we met told us that Castoria is a year-round destination.
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May is a shoulder month leading to summer, which is the busiest season,
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so expect direct flights from Athens to resume operations
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and accommodations to be slightly pricier,
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but still incredibly affordable compared to other touristy destinations in Greece.
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Castoria Prefecture is home to the biggest music festival in Greece.
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For a few days in the summer, usually in August,
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all roads lead to Nestorio, a small village home to this site,
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where 50,000 music fans gather.
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It's called River Party because, well, it's a massive party by the river.
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But while we were walking around,
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we could imagine how pretty the city would be in autumn.
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Trees line the lakeshore and deciduous woods cover many of its hills.
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And in winter, Castoria is said to be a wonderland.
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The lake freezes over.
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A small ski resort also attracts adventurers, especially beginners.
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A wild winter festival also erupts from January 6 to 8.
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It's called Ragout Zaria.
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Forgive me if I'm mispronouncing it,
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but I'll probably murder many Greek pronunciations in this video,
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This festival is a celebration in honor of Dionysus,
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the ancient Greek god of wine, festivity, pleasure, and ecstasy.
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First, let's be familiar with the geography of Castoria.
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As mentioned, Castoria is cradled by a peninsula jutting out into Lake Orestiada.
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It's almost completely surrounded by water, save for its western part.
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The easternmost tip is crumpled with limestone peaks.
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While the city also covers parts of the mainland,
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its heart and soul lie here, near the Neck.
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It's a small but hillous city,
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but you can traverse it on foot from coast to coast, north to south, or back.
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So anywhere in the city is within easy reach no matter where you stay.
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That said, there are three remarkable hotels that we have visited.
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The first is Hotel Orologopulo.
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Built in the 19th century,
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this 250-year-old mansion has been transformed into a 9-room hotel
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that mixes modernity and history.
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The look and feel remain very cozy and traditional,
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but the amenities are quite modern.
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It's located in the Dolce area near Dolce Square,
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in the southeastern side of the city proper, which is very convenient.
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Around the area are restaurants and cafes,
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and even the lakeside is just a quick stroll away.
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A room costs around €89 per night, inclusive of breakfast.
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And mind you, they serve really really good breakfast.
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My teammates, Vince and Ces,
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couldn't stop talking about the small but tasty selection,
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especially the cold cuts, local cheeses, and cakes.
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The service was also impeccable.
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Cideris, the property manager, made sure we were equipped
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with all the info we needed to know about the area.
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We'll be providing links to this incredible hotel
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and the other lodges I'll be mentioning in this video
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so you could easily find them.
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Just check the links in the description or the pinned comment.
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Not too far away is another building with great historical value,
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Vergula's Mansion, one of the oldest hotels in the city.
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Like Orogopulo, this was constructed around 200 years ago.
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As soon as we set foot in the property,
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we were greeted by its owner and his picturesque garden,
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adorned by various flowers and collectibles from around the world.
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And as you let your gaze wander,
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you'll immediately notice its incredible setting.
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Vergula's Mansion is perched on a cliff overlooking the lake,
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offering one of the best views in the city.
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We didn't actually spend the night here,
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but its current owner toured us around
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and shared with us that the place has sentimental value to him too.
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Turned out, when he was in grade school,
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this was his boarding house and it gave him a lot of good memories
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that when an opportunity to buy it presented itself, he grabbed it.
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He took us to the hotel's cross-shaped basement,
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where it became apparent that it was built on a rock.
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Remnants from its early days still remain,
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like this niche with a water jar used for washing in the olden days.
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For the longest time, this niche was covered within the wall
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and was only rediscovered when he had the room renovated.
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A stay here costs €81 a night, inclusive of breakfast.
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The third hotel in the city center we'd like to show you is much more luxurious.
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This is Esperos Palace Luxury and Spa Hotel,
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located outside the peninsula but still close to key attractions.
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While the first two I mentioned were more homey and cozy,
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Esperos is very modern, elegant, and grand.
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Housing 54 spotless and spacious rooms, 14 of which are suites,
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each filled with many conveniences you'd expect from 5-star properties.
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From anatomical beds to fragrant toiletries to bathrobes,
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it embodies the best that Castorian hospitality has to offer.
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Even the restroom near the lobby is just so fabulous.
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And oh, this grey marble was imported from Crete
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while this gorgeous white marble is from the Kozani region.
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At its core is this roomy and naturally lit restaurant area
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with a stellar winterfellish tree sculpture as its centerpiece.
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It's a naked tree.
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Well, almost, because it only has one leaf.
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One single leaf and eagle-eye diners can spend a few minutes spotting it.
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The menu is mostly Western.
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The bestsellers are its gigantic burgers, ranging from 9 to 13 Euro,
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the priciest of which is this Esperos burger,
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composed of a massive 200-gram patty with bacon, cheddar,
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cucumber, pickles, arugula, tomato, and a fried egg,
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slathered with remoulade sauce.
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Pasta dishes are also popular, ranging from 7 to 11 Euro.
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Our hosts highly recommended the spaghetti with salmon and lemon sauce
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and penne with broccoli and smoked pork belly.
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The Greek salad and Florina peppers were also remarkably fresh and delicious.
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These three are the properties that our hosts and other locals we talked to
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sang the highest praises for.
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But there are more options.
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For budget travelers, you'll find pocket-friendly inns
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for as low as 40 Euro per night for a double or twin room.
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If you wish to attend the River Party music festival
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or explore the Nestorio area and you're looking for a more luxurious retreat,
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consider the 4-star Afkos Gramos Boutique Hotel Resort,
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which overlooks both the Aliak Monas River and the Gramos Mountain.
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Each room is well-appointed and it also houses a restaurant
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serving sumptuous traditional Greek fare
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and a terrace that allows a fantastic view of Nestorio.
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Kastoria is a great addition to your Greater Balkan Tour too.
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If you're crossing the Greece-Albania border from Kastoria
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and you're looking for a place to spend the night,
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consider Crystal Resort in the idyllic border village of Krista Lopihi.
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Each room here is spacious.
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It also has a restaurant where you could fill up
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before you continue your journey across the region.
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Kastoria is not particularly known as a foodie destination,
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but it should be.
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Out of all the places we visited,
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this is where we had some of the best meals
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that graced our palate in the Balkan region.
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Every single ingredient,
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from the much bragged about Florina peppers
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to the succulent lamb chops, is high-quality
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and its freshness is undeniable.
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We'll be creating a separate video discussing
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how to make the best Florina peppers
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in the Balkan region.
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We'll be creating a separate video
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describing the dishes we tried.
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But here's a quick rundown of the places
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you shouldn't miss while in the city.
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This quaint mansion converted into a restaurant
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also has a romantic courtyard for alfresco dining.
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Its menu is composed mainly of traditional local dishes.
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From the sarmades, which are pickled cabbage
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stuffed with minced meat and rice,
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to Kastorian butter beans,
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baked with herbs, carrots, and tomatoes.
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To Bajos, which is brine cheese prepared Saganaki-style.
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Here at Paliya Poli, it's served with fried egg.
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Its Kraneja salad is also refreshingly good,
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made up of arugula, spinach, lettuce, and dried tomatoes,
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doused with cranberry sauce,
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and topped with pomegranate and crab apple slices.
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It's the right blend of veggies and fruits
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elevated by a bit of sweetness.
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This resto is located just across the street
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from the lake shore,
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so you could easily take in stunning views
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Speaking of stunning views,
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it's hard to rival the vista offered here
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at Prophet Elias or Elias Lounge Cafe.
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Perched on a hilltop,
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it has comfy couches stationed by the glass walls,
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allowing an unobstructed view of the entire peninsula.
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It has everything you want at a cafe.
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Aside from the spectacular view and a gorgeous location,
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it also serves rich coffee and tasty dessert.
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We were able to try its strawberry, cookies and cream,
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and classic hot chocolate versions.
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It also fosters a relaxing atmosphere.
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It was so quiet during our visit that if I had more time,
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I would have spent the entire afternoon here
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with a book on one hand and a cup of coffee on the other.
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If you prefer something easier on the pocket,
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this €1 kebab place might be just the spot for you.
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Here, many of the skewered items cost only €1 per steak,
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like this pork kebab, chicken kebab, and sausage.
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These fries and tzatziki sauce also cost €1 per order.
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But you wouldn't know when you taste it
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because they're all perfectly cooked,
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so juicy and not dry at all.
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Our host also took us to this humble eatery owned by his aunt Anna,
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roughly 20 minutes from the city center.
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It's a bit out of the way,
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but it was our favorite meal in our entire stay in Castoria,
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mainly because we adore home-cooked meals.
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It serves traditional Northern Greek or Macedonian dishes,
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but somehow, these plates had more soul.
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We started with this pita, which was filled with cheese,
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and it was so good we could have ended the meal right then.
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Its armadas or cabbage rolls were the best we had tried.
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A bit more sour than usual, but really really tasty.
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This dip is made of smashed walnut with eggplant,
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similar to hummus but better.
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We were also served three types of salad.
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This eggplant salad was my fave,
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but this Russian salad was also fantastic.
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And while I normally don't enjoy beets,
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this beetroot salad with yogurt and walnuts was surprisingly delightful.
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It was earthy and creamy.
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This cabbage salad was also very refreshing.
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Not sure what this is called,
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but the cabbage was said to be soaked for many months
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and mixed with bell peppers, celery, and dill.
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We've also tasted many versions of bajo before,
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but this one, while slightly oilier,
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was also flakier, crispier, and a tad saltier,
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which was perfect for me.
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And these were just the appetizers.
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For the main course, we were served a smorgasbord of grilled meat,
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but the standout was the pancetta, which was smoky and perfectly cooked.
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So were these meatballs.
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They were so tender and not dense at all.
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We could actually feel the meat bits and didn't taste processed,
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if you know what I mean.
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This sausage isn't the usual either.
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It was made with wild boar meat, so it was gamey,
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but they used the fatty parts,
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which reminded us of longganisa or Filipino sausages back home.
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Our lunch here was certainly one of the most unforgettable,
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not just in Greece, but in the whole Balkan region during our trip.
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As a small, quiet city, Kastoria isn't too big on nightlife.
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But you could still find some spots to let loose a bit and grab a drink.
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One of them is Nautical Hall, which is set by the lake.
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It offers a wide selection of drinks,
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from wines to beers to its signature cocktails.
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Its bar show is also pretty good but slightly costlier than other restaurants in the city.
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Don't forget to go out to the terrace for a view of the city lights
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reflected on the peaceful lake below.
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Kastoria is packed with attractions that are worth your time and energy.
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From its limestone caves to countless hilltop viewpoints,
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to Neolithic sites, to Byzantine churches,
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Kastoria will keep you busy.
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And we'll discuss them all in our next video.
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That's all for now.
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Remember, plan smart, travel safe, and make every trip worth it!
