Where the Circle Closes and a New One Begins— From Meteora to an eco community near Larisa, and the beginning of 1001 Views

After days on the road, kilometres behind us and countless impressions gathered along the way, we finally reached our destination. A place that, in many ways, was the reason for this journey. We arrived at Cob.gr, a small eco community near Larisa. We had the feeling that the circle had closed. As if, in a deeper sense, we had returned to our cave, not as a physical place, but as an idea. This time, we found ourselves not far from Meteora, in the valley around Larisa, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and landscapes that kept unfolding before us. The view of Olimp, rising like a giant above endless almond plantations, felt almost unreal. What at first glance appears to be “nothing” soon reveals itself as something far deeper and richer.

We were welcomed warmly. After the first introductions, and the familiar moment of “getting to know each other”, both among people and among dogs, everything settled into place. There was a sense of ease, as if we had arrived exactly where we needed to be. Curiosity led us forward. We explored every corner of the farm, listening to stories shared with quiet pride. Our hosts told us about the first house they built from clay and straw more than 25 years ago, and about many others that followed. Sometimes these houses are built by just two people. Not friends, as they explained, but people who know how to work and want to work. Simple as that. A house can cost 2,500 euros. Sometimes 500. And sometimes nothing at all. When you build with what already surrounds you, clay and straw become enough. The idea is simple: don’t spend unnecessarily, create with what is already there. But this place was more than just houses. It was a living system. Irrigation solutions, compost toilets, permaculture gardens, every corner revealed something new. Our curiosity kept growing, and with it, a sense of wonder. There is something deeply fulfilling in discovering new ways of living, in learning through direct experience.

This is not just a journey. It is a process of collecting knowledge, practices and stories from eco communities across Europe, with the intention of bringing them back and shaping new ways of living at home. This is also the essence of the 1001 Views project, to travel, to learn, to return, and to build. Not only structures, but ideas, connections, and new possibilities for living.

Benji followed us every step of the way. The more he experienced new environments, new people, and new rhythms, the more relaxed and confident he became. It was as if he knew he was exactly where he was meant to be. In the right place, at the right time. After a night in Larisa, filled with impressions and new ideas, we slowly began our journey back. Or perhaps forward, depending on how you look at it. We did not capture all 1001 views, and that was never the goal. But we experienced enough, sunsets, early mornings, the stillness of forests, the intensity of cities, the calm of islands, the quiet mystery of mountains, and the vastness of open landscapes. It was enough to fill both heart and mind. It was time to return home, as new adventures were already waiting. This time, they lead us to the Netherlands. Benji will stay home, while our bags are already being prepared for new beginnings in another place that feels both new and familiar at the same time.

This was only the beginning.
The first steps of a much longer journey across Europe.

Croatian version bellow

Gdje se jedan krug zatvara, a novi započinje
— Od Meteora do jedne eco zajednice nedaleko od Larise i početka projekta 1001 pogled

Nakon dana putovanja, kilometara iza nas i bezbroj dojmova koje smo usput skupljali, napokon smo stigli do svog cilja. Do mjesta koje je, na neki način, bilo razlog ovog putovanja. Stigli smo u Cob.gr, malu eco zajednicu nedaleko od grada Larise. Imali smo osjećaj kao da se krug zatvorio.
Kao da smo se, na neki dublji način, vratili u svoju špilju, ne kao mjesto, već kao ideju. Ovoga puta nalazili smo se nedaleko Meteora, u dolini oko Larise, okruženi planinama, rijekama i pejzažima koji su se pred nama neprestano otvarali. Pogled na Olimp, koji se poput gorostasa uzdizao iznad nepreglednih plantaža badema, djelovao je gotovo nestvarno. Ono što na prvi pogled izgleda kao “ništa”, ubrzo se pokazuje kao nešto puno dublje i bogatije.

Dočekala nas je toplina. Nakon prvih pozdrava i onog poznatog trenutka upoznavanja, među ljudima, ali i među psima, sve je sjelo na svoje mjesto. Kao da smo stigli točno tamo gdje smo trebali biti. Radoznalost nas je povela dalje. Istraživali smo svaki kutak farme, slušajući priče koje su naši domaćini s ponosom dijelili. Govorili su o prvoj kući od gline i slame koju su izgradili prije više od 25 godina, ali i o svima onima koje su uslijedile. Ponekad takve kuće grade samo dvije osobe. Ne prijatelji, kako su rekli, nego ljudi koji znaju i žele raditi. Jednostavno. Kuća može koštati 2500 eura, ponekad 500, a ponekad ništa. Kada gradiš od onoga što te okružuje, glina i slama postaju dovoljni. Ideja je jednostavna: ne troši uzalud, stvaraj iz onoga što već imaš.

No, ovo mjesto nije bilo samo o kućama. Bila je to živa cjelina. Sustavi navodnjavanja, kompostni WC-i, permakulturni vrtovi, iz svakog kuta izranjala je nova ideja. Naša znatiželja rasla je sa svakim korakom, kao i osjećaj koliko je vrijedno učiti kroz iskustvo i stalno otkrivati nove načine života. Ovo nije samo putovanje. To je proces prikupljanja znanja, praksi i priča s eco farmi diljem Europe, s namjerom da ih vratimo kući i kroz njih oblikujemo neke nove načine života. To je i srž projekta 1001 pogled, putovati, učiti, vraćati se i graditi. Ne samo prostore, već ideje, odnose i nove mogućnosti življenja.

A Benji? On nas je pratio u stopu. Što je više upoznavao nova mjesta, ljude i ritmove, bio je sve opušteniji i sigurniji. Kao da je znao da je točno tamo gdje treba biti, u pravo vrijeme. Nakon noći u Larisi, puni dojmova i novih ideja, polako smo krenuli dalje. Prema natrag, ili možda prema naprijed, ovisno o tome kako gledaš. Nismo uhvatili svih 1001 pogled, jer to nikada nije bio cilj. Ali uhvatili smo dovoljno, zalaske sunca, rane zore, šumski mir, gradsku vrevu, otočku tišinu, tajnovitost planina i širinu ravnica. I to je bilo dovoljno. Srce je bilo puno, a i duša. Vrijeme je bilo za povratak kući, jer se već na horizontu naziru nove avanture, ovoga puta vode nas u Nizozemsku. Benji ovaj put ostaje doma, a naši koferi već se polako pripremaju za neka nova buđenja na nekom novom starom mjestu.

Ovo je bio tek početak.
Prvi koraci jednog puno dužeg putovanja kroz Europu.