A Soggy, Sunny Day

Today was our trip to Edessa and the Pozar hot springs. We drove about an hour and a half to Edessa first, to visit their famous καταρράκτη, waterfalls. When the bus let us off, all we had to do was follow the sound of the rushing water and we found ourselves at the top of cliff looking down as the water crashed below. I explored all over and took a bunch of pictures—we walked from the top to the bottom, and at one point we went behind the falls without getting wet. There were rainbows all over the place (double rainbow all the way!) making complete circles around us. A few us us saw a bridge below and tried to follow a path to it, but the wind kicked up and we were absolutely drenched in the freezing water as we ran screaming to find someplace dry. When we got to the bottom it was pretty, but there was no way back up but the way we came. This time, the torrents of water smacked me right in the face—there was not an inch of me that wasn’t completely soaked through: socks, shoes, and all. I must have wrung a litre of water out of my shirt (you like how I snuck in that European measurement, eh? Yep, I’m getting all kinds of Greek over here…). I sat in the sun for the next half hour, and it was pleasant in the sun listening the sounds of the water, but I wasn’t even close to dry when it came time to get back on the bus, and spent the rest of the day pretty damp and chilled.

We rode for another half hour to the base of some mountains to the Pozar hot springs. Springing from the ground at approximately 38 degrees Celsius, the springs are frequently visited for those seeking some kind of magical healing from the minerals and such in the water, or by people like us who want to go for a swim in February. Pozar was very touristy, but it was Greek tourists. We didn’t actually swim in the river—there was only a little area designated for swimming, and you had to pay more to be there and fight the old, fat Greek ladies for primo positioning. Most of us swam in the pool by the river, which they empty every evening and fill with the spring water every morning. I was so cold and soggy from Edessa that it was actually warmer for me to change into my bathing suit, and the second I hit the water was pure bliss—I’ve never felt better in my life, and the sudden rush of warmth restored all my faith in life and humanity…it was really nice. I treaded and floated and did some handstands, and of course accidentally ran into three old people over the course of the evening. We didn’t swim in the hot parts of the river, but 100 meters up from the pool was a cold waterfall, about 3 degrees Celsius. It was weird, because the water around the falls sprang from the ground and was warm, and then you’re suddenly hit with an icy blast as you step under the falls. It was so cold I got brain freeze, and when I couldn’t take it anymore I ran back to the pool, where I was once again warm and toasty.

I laid my clothes in the sun, but they were still damp when I had to get dressed. It made for an uncomfortable ride back, and I took a nice hot shower as soon as I got back to my room. I’m staying in tonight just to be safe—I spent the majority of the day in wet clothes, and I don’t want to get sick.

Here’s some pictures from the falls at Edessa, hope you enjoy!

The main waterfall.

The landscape/view from the top. All the cloudy-looking stuff is mist created from the force of the falls.

Finally, a picture with people! I realize I haven’t had many shots of me in Greece, but rest assured, I actually am in the country. Me looking schlubby in front of the falls.

Heading behind the falls.

Oooh, so bright and vivid, it’s so beautiful, all the way across the sky! There were rainbows everywhere, I literally skipped somewhere over the rainbow just walking around.

Me and a rainbow.

Me with some of the study abroad kids. This is BEFORE I ran to the bridge; everyone is wet only from the mist near the bottom of the falls. I’m nowhere near soaked yet!