11/11/19 Kastraki and Meteora Greece

As we said yesterday, we are staying in the lovely small village of Kastraki, which is nestled in a valley with the huge rock formations of Meteora towering above it, it’s quite a breathtaking spot!

The Meteora rock formations are largely sandstone and granite mixed together. The area has been inhabited by beings for over 50,000 years. Those caves make handy hiding spots.

Cindy decided to try hiking to a monastery above the village and see how far she could go. I took a pass, I’m paying for my Turkish Bath massage on my knee😳

She made it about half way up until the trail became vertical.

After a picnic overlooking the Meteora, we decided to take a driving/hiking

tour over the top.

From 1200 until 1400 hermit monks lived by themselves in caves in Meteora. They only met to pray on Sunday and religious holidays. In the 1400’s and 1500’s, twenty-four monasteries were built by hermit monks in the Meteoras. Only six remain open, two of which are now Nunneries. They are open to the public on certain days

Today there are very few monks in each monastery, as little as one, as many as seven. The nunneries are fuller 20-30 in each. Quite the place and the views are staggering.

Ok, off on a three hour drive to Parga tomorrow, located off the northern Greek island of Corfu, for four nights. Unfortunately, it looks like our luck on the weather is changing, rain in the forecast every day 😳 Might need to sip some vino and read a book👍😎🍷

By the way, cats and dogs are everywhere here, as they were in Istanbul. Be thankful for our humane society ✔️

Ciao Ciao