18.05.2011 - Greece - Ioannina to Athens

We got up really early to take our drive to the capital of Greece,Athens. We met a tour guide that showed us the natural sandstone towers (Meteora-suspended rocks), Its situated in a town called Kardisa, these mountains were under water 60 million years ago....meteora means - between earth and sky'.....they were used as retreats as far back as AD985 and then in the 14th centuary monesteries were developed, these buildings are litterally perched on top of these rocks. It is voted as one of Greece's most spectacular sights as welln as on the Unesco world heritage list. All ladies have to wear skirts (modesty), so you will see some photos of ladies in colourful wraps. The chapels were amazing, all walls and roofs were beautifully painted with 14th centuary art. The photos with the doors is where the nuns live, we visited the monks residence on one hill and the nuns on the other. It was obvious which were the nuns as the gardens were immacullate and potplans everywhere.

WE then relaxed over lunch in a local restaurant. It's owned and run by a greek mamma, where you litterally take your place to the kitchen and she slops on all the delicious greek foods, baklava, mousaka, katitiva, slouvaki, and not to mention a glass of Uzo.....we got into Athens 7pm, so it was pretty much downtime, as it was a long day's drive.