Day 4 : SUNDAY, 16th October. A gorgeous, warm, sunny day for our second visit to the monasteries, which looked quite different in the morning light and there were many more people about today. Of the 21 monasteries which once stood on the rocks of Meteora, six still function today, the remaining 15 are uninhabited and in ruins. The population of the six monasteries ranges from one to thirty, a lot of space for a very few. The many steps to two or three of the monasteries we deemed way too steep for us to attempt and were content to admire them from the outside. While others were visiting the Holy Monastery of Grand Meteoron, which we'd checked out on the Sunset Tour and declared beyond our capabilities, today's driver and guide kindly offered to take us to St Stephens, dropping off a young couple of rock climbers and their guide on the way (rock climbing and hiking are very popular in Meteora). We'd already enjoyed a visit to St Stephens (which has only a few steps} yesterday, but were happy to return though Mike went in alone today, Marion & I bought a cappuccino each (they were awful!) from a kiosk outside and sat in the sunshine to wait. We all succeeded in negotiating the 115 steps to the Monastery of Varlaam, and Mike visited the Roussanou Nunnery...once again, Marion and I sat on the wall in the sunshine and admired the view while waiting.
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| Kalambaka |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Varlaam |
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| Monastery of Varlaam. In 1922, stairs were hewn in the rock so that pilgrims could go up safely. A rope net is also used, but only for provisions |
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| Monastery of the Holy Trinity, founded between 1458 and 1476, has a cable car for use by the monks. Visitors must climb the 140 steps added in 1925. In the old days the only access was by rope ladder as in the other monasteries. |
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The Roussanou Nunnery
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Back in Kalambaka after the tour, we agreed over lunch that the tours were well worth taking and would recommend them, especially to the fit and able. We then spent the afternoon relaxing and preparing for tomorrow's departure.
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