Meteora, Greece

Greece,

Prepare to be amazed.... we sure were..

Metéora or in Greek: Μετέωρα means "suspended rocks", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above".

Meteroa is one of the largest and most important complexes of monasteries in Greece. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars. Of these six, five are inhabited by men, one by women. Each monastery has fewer than 10 inhabitants. The monasteries are now amongst the most popular tourist sites in the world and now serve primarily as museums.

Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders lashed together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people.

Steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau. During World War II the site was bombed and many art treasures were stolen.

Until the 17th century, the primary means of conveying goods and people from these eyries was by means of baskets and ropes.

Here I am....scarred to death of heights!

Here are our travel mates.... Two Chaplains and a JAG...(seems like the start of a very good joke!)

Did I mention I am afraid of heights?

And no trip is complete until you are bombarded by the tourist shopkeepers!

Blessings to those enjoying the altitude,

Kristie