SLIDER

meteora




One of my workmates visited Meteora 4 years ago and the monasteries sounded so amazing when I decided to go to Greece, visiting Meteora was on the itinerary.



My accommodation was in the old part of Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. This was the view from the balcony.




My accommodation backed onto the monks walk which took you from the Byzantine Church to the Holy Trinity Monastery. 




It was a 45 minute scramble uphill, passing by olive groves and vineyards. I arrived pretty hot and sweaty.






I was too tired to walk on to St. Stephens so I clambered back down the hill and planned which monasteries to visit the next day.



The day dawned a bit grey and gloomy and by the time I caught the bus to St Nicholas, the first monastery, it was pouring.



I'd planned to walk the rest of the way but I was a bit concerned having to walk on the road - no footpaths/no shoulder and crazy drivers. I spied an unmarked pathway and followed it, even though I wasn't sure where it would lead.



It was such a pretty walk and I had it all to myself. 



I walked higher and higher until I eventually started to hear some voices. I'd arrived at the Varlaam Monastery, the 2nd monastery of the day.



The first 2 monasteries I visited were quite small and spare but Varlaam was huge and crowded with large tour groups.



This was the view from the terrace. 5 minutes later the fog rolled in reducing visibility to nothing.



This was the Holy Monastery of Greater Meteoron peaking through the mist, the next monastery I visited.



This was the largest of all the monasteries with the most lavish frescoes and chandeliers in the chapel. Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photos of these areas.



I started making my way back down the hill to the final nunnery, the Roussanou nunnery.



As I made my way down the hill, the sun came out and the fog started to lift.



Eventually it cleared,



revealing the Grand Meteoron Monastery in all it's glory.



By that stage I was monasteried out so I decided against visiting the Roussanou Nunnery.



Instead I photographed some of the trees and flowers



and the stunning landscape.



I decided to photograph St Nicholas again this time in sunshine then walked through the village of Kastraki to Kalambaka, happily munching on an excellent cheese pie.





Even though I walked home with wet shoes and socks and my hair all wild and woolly, I didn't mind because I'd had such a good day out.

Bye for now,

Jillian


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2 comments

  1. I wonder who that workmate was ;) These amazing photos really capture the mystical and spiritual feeling of the area, takes me right back there!

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