Antonis grew up in Agria, Volos, and lived in central Athens for six years. Although the city offered him valuable professional experience, the desire to leave its fast-paced lifestyle behind was always present.
His first meaningful introduction to Epirus came through frequent visits to his partner, Christina, who had moved to Metsovo to study. Since Antonis worked remotely, he was able to spend more time in the region and gradually become familiar with its mountains and villages.
This flexibility also played a decisive role in his decision to leave Athens. Antonis continues to work remotely to this day, allowing him to relocate his everyday life to Epirus without giving up his professional activity. In this way, the decision to decentralise became easier and could be tested gradually in practice.
Through this journey, he also discovered Demati. When the couple decided to leave Athens permanently and move to Epirus in September 2022, they spent their first four months in the village, until they found a home in Ioannina.
What was initially meant to be a temporary stay gave him the opportunity to experience daily life in a small mountain community. He was especially struck by the view of Mount Peristeri and the Arachthos Valley, but above all, he began to build a lasting connection with the place and its people.
Even after moving to Ioannina, Antonis continued to return to Demati at least once a week. Later, he and his partner rented a small house in the village so they could spend longer periods there and be closer to the activities of The High Mountains, of which Christina is now president.
Antonis’s relationship with Demati did not develop through a sudden change, but through a series of visits, an initial period of residence, and his gradual integration into the village’s everyday life.
As he tells us:
“By making my peace of mind a priority, I changed my life for the better.”