Mt Pindos. The national park of Valia Calda (The Warm Valley). (VI) Πίνδος. Εθνικός Δρυμός Βάλια Κάλντα. (VI)

The main stream at the bottom of the valley is called in Greek "Αρκουδόρεμμα" (Arkoudorema), which means the "bear stream".  There is a healthy population of the Eurasian Brown Bear living in the area. In the last few years, a new motorway was built, passing through their habitat, and great care was taken to have the least impact on them. They have built many long bridges and dug tunnels through the mountain tops, so the bears would pass under the bridges. Also the road was fenced, so bears would not cross it. But bears, living in the area for so long, follow their old paths in search of food or water. And more than once have been seen climbing over the fences and crossing the motorway sometimes successfully sometimes not. Usually, when there is a young cub following the mother, it is fatal for the little one. Although there are warning signs on the roads, drivers do not pay the attention they should and  accidents happen. Sometimes the bears enter the villages in search of food and do a lot of damage to vineyards and the beehives. So they are not very popular with the locals either.
I was hoping i might be lucky to photograph one bear there, but i m afraid you ll have to be content with just the story about them.
Φωτογραφίες από το Αρκουδόρεμμα. Τον κύριο χώρο διαβίωσης της Αρκούδας της Πίνδου.

Mt Pindos. The national park of Valia Calda (The Warm Valley). (V) Πίνδος. Εθνικός Δρυμός Βάλια Κάλντα. (V)

Sometime I reached the bottom of the valley. There are streams and small waterfalls falling down from the sides. I like very much to photograph running water. I play with the shutter speed, trying to make the water drops freeze in mid air.
Κάποια στιγμή έφτασα κάτω στην κοιλάδα. Υπήρχαν παντού ρυάκια που έπεφταν από τις πλευρές. Μ' αρέσει να φωτογραφίζω το τρεχούμενο νερό και να προσπαθώ να κάνω τις σταγόνες να μένουν ακίνητες στον αέρα, παίζοντας με την ταχύτητα της κάμερας.

Mt Pindos. The national park of Valia Calda (The Warm Valley). (IV) Πίνδος. Εθνικός Δρυμός Βάλια Κάλντα. (IV)

The track was not bad for a 4X4 to negotiate. But,  sometimes, you were facing something like what you see. And you had to come out and check if you can squeeze in between the fallen rocks or take the outside lane. And check what was happening outside the outer lane. which was something like this:

Ο δρόμος δεν ήταν τόσο άσχημος για το τζιπάκι. Αλλά καμμιά φορά είχες ν' αντιμετωπίσης κάτι σαν κι αυτό που βλέπετε. Κι έπρεπε να σταματήσεις για να ελέγξεις αν χωράς ανάμεσα στους δυό βράχους, ή να πάρεις την εξωτερική λωρίδα. Και τι υπήρχε παραέξω από την εξωτερική. Κάτι σαν κι αυτό :

But every stop was an opportunity to admire and photograph new beautiful landscape.

Αλλά κάθε στάση ήταν ακόμη μια ευκαιρία να θαυμάσης και να φωτογραφίσης περισσότερη ομορφιά.

Mt Pindos. The national park of Valia Calda (The Warm Valley). (III) Πίνδος. Εθνικός Δρυμός Βάλια Κάλντα. (IΙI)

Mt Pindos. The national park of Valia Calda (The Warm Valley). (II) Πίνδος. Εθνικός Δρυμός Βάλια Κάλντα. (ΙI)

As you go deeper into the valley, more beauty is being revealed.

Όσο προχωρείς βαθύτερα στην κοιλάδα ανακαλύπτεις περισσότερη ομορφιά.

Like these wild orchids.

Σαν αυτές τις άγριες ορχιδέες.

Jiminy Cricket was there waiting for me too.

Εκεί με περίμενε και ο όμορφος γρύλος.