Greece - Meteora

Oh man — today I understood what it must be like to be famous, with cameras constantly snapping. Unfortunately, they were speed cameras, scattered across a totally empty, zombie-apocalypse-style vastness. Nice to be the focus of attention i guess..

 

The excitement proves too much for one traveller.

I was route planning on the fly as I rode, and kept hearing intercom Sarah shouting, “Speed camera! Speed camera!”, mostly too late. 

 We'd left the final day of the Hellas Rally shortly after breakfast to catch a ferry to the mainland. The day was warm and bright, the roads a joy, and the conversation centred on travel attire and kit. The miles passed as easily as the warm breeze. 

The Greek mainland appeared to be observing a day of rest, today being the Christian Sabbath. We struggled to find a food shop to give us our daily bread (I’m sure there’s a prayer in that somewhere). 

It’s now 22:00 as I write these final notes, and the campsite has slowed with most sleeping. I’ve just finished an ouzo and water offered by the proprietor (delicious, by the way), and now sit by the tent. 

We’re at Meteora, a remarkable location for a number of reasons. 

The roads are a biker’s paradise. The scenery is made up of towering rock formations, created by crust movement, earthquakes, and weather erosion. (If you’re wondering where the David Attenborough knowledge came from, I overheard a coach party guide.) 

Honestly, it’s magnificent to see. 

The man-made structures, and this really is the cherry on the cake, which I had to google. in the 6th century AD, hermits hollowed out caves to live in the sheer rock face (look ok, but they're just holes) Not wanting to be outdone, and seeking spiritual enlightenment, by the 14th century monks had built 24 monasteries atop the cliffs. Six remain and we were staring at them. 

 It’s not often I need a moment to just absorb a view and take it in. Today, I did. 

 The phone camera doesn’t do it justice, and I’m really surprised this isn’t widely advertised as a wonder of the world. Incredible. 

That said, its time for me for me to join the sleeping at “Meteora Garden” Kastraki Camp