Makrinitsa Village: Quintessential Greece

Picture Greece and describe the portrait that emerges. Is it filled with mountainside villages, gorgeous views of seaports and sparkling blue water, quaint shops, cobblestone streets, and relaxed citizens? If so, your schema is the same as mine. I traveled to Greece with hopes of a three-week trip into a land of fairy-tale bliss and flowing milk and honey; I arrived to find myself stuck in Athens and Volos, large cities that are more similar than they are different from large American cities. I found escape, however, in the remote village of Makrinitsa found high above Volos. If you ever find yourself in Greece longing to get out of the tourist traps and throngs of scowling pedestrians and poor drivers, then head over to the bus station and purchase a ticket to Makrinitsa to regain your idealism.
The atmosphere of this little town invites its visitors to leave their worries and fears behind in order to sit back and enjoy the gift of life. No one moves faster than a pack mule (without the packs, of course). Carrying luggage might be too much for these villagers, who seem to find work optional. The only workers to be seen, the shop owners, all have the same items to offer—jam or trinkets or candies—but differ from the proprietors in the cities by not harassing every potential customer who comes within one hundred meters of the store. In fact, these Greeks seemed more upset at having to arise from their comfortable chairs to help us browse or to take our money. This was in no way related to an unkind character or mean disposition; they were just so relaxed in the mountainside splendor that a customer was a momentary interruption to their peaceful afternoon. I appreciated this detail enough to actually give them some of my business. “Kalo,” says a man reclining on his porch. “Very good.”
Though the view from the sole road of Makrinitsa is scrumptious enough to eat, there are wonderful restaurants that offer delectable dishes to satisfy your body as you continue to digest your surroundings and feed your spiritual hunger. The restaurant, located at the end of the road near an enormous, cavernous tree, offers one of the freshest Greek salads in all of Greece and some of the best homemade pasta man can make. The Greek salad comes in a generous (also known as an American) sized portion, with a hunk of herb-coated feta cheese on top of garden-picked cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and olives soaked in olive oil. The noodles of the pasta were so tender and flavorful that they could easily have been eaten plain, but were enhanced by a smooth tomato sauce and shredded cheese, along with rich veal meat if you so wished. The meal also came with a basket of bread, which I recommend dipping in olive oil, vinegar, and pepper (you will have to ask for this). All of this food comes with a seat overlooking the edge of the mountain free of charge.
Continue to stroll through the streets of Makrinitsa after you enjoy your leisurely meal. Take time to observe the serenity of the mountainside and the lack of stress of the Greek people. This mountain village can offer more than just a break from city life; it can also stimulate new ideas about yourself in an environment conducive to prolonged times of self-reflection. Americans and their extreme capitalism may earn enormous profits and make “productive” use of every second of every day, but what is sacrificed in the process? Family? Peace? Mental health? Nature? Here in this secluded little town, the people may not be rich in material goods, but they are richer than any sheik in Dubai in terms of environment and sanity. My jaded self cannot help but wonder, however, what exactly these Greeks do with all of their free time. I am pretty sure I would feel bored and useless if I had absolutely nothing to do all day, every day. Perhaps this is a lesson that can be learned from the Greeks: American ideology, born and bred in each of its citizens, is not always the only way or even the right way. Get away from the grime and hustle of a city and appreciate the simplicity that is relationships and nature and life. We are but a breath; the mountains are forever.

Stephanie C.