The trekking us in dreams Zagorochoria, in December 2015, had two allies. A sunny weather that came from a prolonged sweet autumn and an excellent guide, Vassilis.

Vassilis Katsoupas, with a degree in Political Science and a master's degree in Environment, decided at some point to return to his parents' homeland, to deal with mushrooms and to open the Cinnamon and Clove restaurant in Vitsa.

At the same time, he is the president of ZEN, a collective effort that aims to establish a network of companies that will attract quality tourism in Zagorochoria. That is, everything I needed for my website.

The program we designed was very dense and tight and so we visited interesting companies, met important creators and tasted continental flavors, while my old research material for cafes was not only confirmed, but also enriched with new findings.

The trip - apart from the visits to the rivers and the geysers - also included the acquaintance with the villages Kalpaki, Excellent, Papigo, Viko, Kato Pedina, Deer habitat, Dilofo, Fir, Kapesovo, Tsepelovo.

The overnight stays took place in hospitable hostels, such as Papaevangelos in Megalo Papigo, on Anemi in Kato Pedina, the Terrace in the enchanting Dilofo and finally in the impressive Aristi Mountain Resort in Aristi.

Η gastronomy of Epirus is associated with pies like no other region of Greece, and the late Alexandros Giotis had recorded about two hundred of them. We had the good fortune and the honor to prepare for us - extremely dedicated - three of the most widespread, the cashew pie, The plaster and mushroom pie, which of course we enjoyed on the spot. We tried local flavors at his restaurant hotel Zisi in AristiAt restaurant Astra in Papigo, at restaurant In Riza in Elati with a wonderful view of Tymfi, at Salvia restaurant of hotel Aristi Mountain Resort overlooking the peaks of Vikos, grilled trout on Πηγές next to the Monastery of Vella, we watched the thickening of fresh gruyere in Rokka agro-tourist hostel in Elafotopos, served immediately as a tithe with fresh bread and helmet jam and finally at Vassilis's restaurant Cinnamon and Clove, the menu included mushrooms in many versions, but also its preparation traditional batsaria.

We confirmed their operation amazing cafes of the Stern in Kapesovo and of Telemachos in Tsepelovo, of mistress Alexandra in Aristi and of Vikogiatro in Koukouli and finally we discovered the just exquisitely renovated history coffee Meeting of Euripides Dinalexis in Elafotopos!

At Della watermill in Kalpaki We procured chopped wheat, cornmeal and wheat flour for our pies and at Zagori cheese factory, by Christos Boutsikos and Antonis Doumas, apart from feta, his amazing yogurt, galotyri and vasilotyri.

For two reasons we left Zagorochoria. One to visit Glinavos winery at Zitsa to try the famous local variety Debina and the other wines and the other - a little bigger scrap - in Curlers to see if the Akanthos cafe of friend Napoleon holds up well!

The impressions from this marathon road in Zagorochoria very encouraging. Landscapes insurmountable. Villages where absolute peace reigns with unbearable beauties. Arrogant settlements. People isolated from the bustling cities, proud, almost hermits - when the average population of the 48 villages is less than 30 inhabitants - looking to find their new balances and a way to make a living, while protecting and developing their place.

Something great is being built in Zagorochoria, as in parallel with the independent promotion of the catering and hospitality units, thanks to ZEN the bases are created for the development of a spirit of collective action that can take off the area. A big thank you and wishes for good success of the project.