Our introduction to the larger extended family was our first night in Platykampos which ended after an incredible dinner and dropping into bed at two o clock in the morning which was to be the theme of our stay.
Our first morning saw us rise from our slumber at around nine o'clock which was when we anticipated we would be leaving.......siga siga...........
We were joined for our trip to Meteora by Ira, Manoli, their daughter Konstandina and Ira's mum, Poppy (who had never been to Meteora to vidit the monasteries dispite the relative close proximity) so it was a very social trip in more ways than one. The mountains as they came into view were only a small fragment of what was to greet us as we turned each bend on the winding road snaking its way up to the monasteries.
Apparently the roads are in much better condition than when Joan and John had visited previously which allows more tour buses to reach the top and deposit all the tourists who now come to visit. The monasteries take it into turns to close for a day but are now open in the afternoon allowing visitors all day.
The views of the monasteries precariously perched on the edge of the narrow cliffs is mind boggling and it is difficult to imagine how they would have been built. Each turn of the road gave us a different perspective as each monastery came into view. To get to each monastery we had to to walk well tramped steps. Our visit took us to two monasteries - the largest of the six still functioning today - The Transfiguration of Christ, and the older Monastery of Varlaam, which dates back to the mid 1300s. It is totally mind boggling to imagine how these buildings were created so long before our modern technologies. The Transfiguration was prepared with all the building materials stored for over twenty years and then constructed in the mere twenty days, again back in the 1300s!
Entry to the monasteries is governed by strict requirements. Women must have covered shoulders and are not allowed to wear pantaloons! Neither are men or women permitted to wear shorts. To get around this problem for tourists there are plenty of heavy sarong style wraps and baggy hessian type wide leg trousers to pop over what you're wearing. Fortunately we were warned, so we took our own wraps and lighter sarongs which made for easier walking up the 150 plus steps at each monastery. While Linda and I had to pay our €3 entry at each one, the Greeks are allowed free entry.
The world of the monks and nuns who still reside in these amazing buildings has changed considerably over the past 8 centuries. Hopefully now there are no more gruesome battles with foreign invaders but the battle of the tourist invasion is certainly increasing. The buildings house some beautiful works of art, church icons, historic memorabilia and museums showing the every day life of the monks as carpenters, wine makers and religious leaders. As we were leaving the monastery the flying fox system for easy transfer of goods across the almost bottomless ravine gave us another insight into the workings of the monastery. It was so worth the climb to the top.
After our time in the inner sanctum we headed back down the windy road and came across a beautiful shady taverna. Just what we needed to refuel for the afternoon and night ahead. No tourists here, just locals in the know!
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