{"id":9796,"date":"2019-02-20T07:08:14","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T15:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/?p=9796"},"modified":"2020-12-30T02:32:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-30T10:32:54","slug":"the-mountains-and-monasteries-of-meteora-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/20\/the-mountains-and-monasteries-of-meteora-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"The mountains and monasteries of Meteora, Greece."},"content":{"rendered":"

Do Greek pugs like scrambled eggs? YES or NO?<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Ummm, YES! Yes they do. Or at least this one did.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

And Greek cats? They prefer kibbles from Yoda.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Time to head up the mountain to check out the rock formations from up top and to see what these monasteries are all about.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

The first car pull-out on the drive up had a fellow overlanding traveler. We didn’t get to say hello but it feels nice to see other campers out and about again now that winter is coming to an end.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

The kids’ favorite part of the drive so far? The view? The rock formations? Or this phone booth?<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Phone booth for the win.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

When we saw pictures of these monasteries perched on top of towering rocks, we didn’t know it was possible to just drive right up to them. In fact, they take tour buses up here during the high season. Probably not what the monks had in mind when they built them but we are glad to not have to scale sheer rock faces for a visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

The 6\u201d of width we lost by switching from the truck camper to the van saved us from getting permanently wedged in a Greek city street today.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Entrance to Varlaam Monastery, the second biggest monastery in Meterora. Admission is 3 euros. Kids 12 and under were free. So we paid 6 euros total for today’s visit.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Woman are required to wear long skirts during the visit. If you don’t happen to have one on, the monastery will let you borrow one for free.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

This is the monastery where monks would be hoisted up to its tower via a net.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

It was founded in the mid 14th century but the elaborate monastery was not built until the mid 16th century.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

The 16th century oak barrel used for water storage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Beautiful details.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

After visiting one monastery, we decided that was plenty for us. We really wanted to take in the natural aspects of this place instead.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Eastern Orthodox monks built monasteries on the top of these majestic rocks in the 14th century. A big part of me is very impressed with what they’ve accomplished and admire their dedication to their beliefs. There’s another part that feels disappointed with mankind that we constantly have to alter nature to somehow prove our own worth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

We drove around the mountain and found viewpoints where we could appreciate the views around us.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Waiting to take a photo of the kids at the edge of this rock… but had to wait a LONG time for these dudes to take the perfect shoe shot. Lol.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Our turn. Cheese.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

And done. Let’s get outta here.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

OK.<\/p>\n

\"Meteroa,<\/p>\n

Here’s a VLOG Dan put together for our time visiting Meteora.<\/p>\n