Meteora is Unique. It is the Bhutan of Europe. Mars on Earth. This is how I would describe it to a friend who could never see it. High Mountains with monasteries built on top , inside of irregular shaped mountains, gentle one of 300 to 550 meters, beautiful monolith rocks, with striating colours. Some shaped like tooth picks, just imagine massive ones with entire monasteries on it. It's beautiful, secretive, inviting, it's like the land of John Carter from that Sci fi flick. Yet it's here in Greece, a 4,5 hour ride away from Athens. North. Landscapes are dream like changing daily with the weather. It is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Incredible geology, it's the moraine of a glacier and has picked up all kinds of stones, creating clifflike structures of compressed stone. You can stand on one of these cliff like mountains and stare across the valley. You will see the braided shape of the river Pineios. The air is crisp in winter and life is pure.
Monasteries who's location, isolated, imperial, sacred seem to be able to reach up and kiss the clouds for breakfast, and see the sun set far below them over the valley below over the quiet village. There where when winter comes the winds blow, icy and grey clouds send fear through one's being. It's traditional, ropes, bells ,orthodox priests and nuns. High on the toothpick mountains and below, there is a village with it's quaint population over 20000 residents. One can stay in the village overnight, eat at the lovely tavernas. Go hiking, ride, come to peace with yourself. Take a tour. learn the legend of how the only way up the 550 m mountain was via a rope with notches. That they used the same rope again and again. No quality control, laugh and be horrified as you discover legend has it that the steps upwards where built after a slightly heavy monk examined the rope and thought it might snap under him. There is much to see, feel and transcend.
The ropes are gone, and a staircase leads you up to the monasteries. It's not easy , but which things in life are? I'm teasing you, that was the past, now there is a road that takes you almost to the top. You could catch a bus to the top, walk or some cliffs have superb flying fox cables and you can slide and glide between the cliffs. Food can be bought in the village shops
This amazing place, is found in Thessalia in Greece, breath taking views. astounding hills, there are approxiamtely 55 monasteries, and the village below is called Kalabaka.
To get there take a train from Athens, to Kalabaka, this takes aprox. 4.5 hours
To drive there is just over 350 km by car.
If you don't want to stay in Kalabaka stay in nearby Trikala. There is this fabulous known taverna you can go have superb grilled dishes. A famous song known as Dio Stena was written by Tsitsianis. Long ago there was a boy stabbed there between two streets.Tsitsianis, was a master bouzouki player , the song and the place will move you.
We have lot's more to discuss...
Best Regards
Maria
I walk with and for
See Athens Walk , we do familiarisations tours in Athens,
See Athens Walk https://www.seeathenswalk.com
Address:
They are located on: You need to book to ensure a spot on the tour:
Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 50 Athens 10558
Telephone:
+306947344484
Map:
https://g.page/seeathenswalk?share
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