2024 Balkans Overland Adventure, Meteora, Greece...

Quick start to the day…we were running one hour behind with no clue that the time went ahead by one hour when we crossed the border into Greece. I did a short walk about before we left Ioannina, returning to the hotel without a clue about the time change... Our destination today was Meteora and Athens. Our driver Giannis took us the old road out of town so we could see Ioannina Island from above…the fog did not really afford great views. However, the higher we climbed we broke through the clouds to bright sunshine…this was quite a site to be above the clouds and looking down into the valley at a boiling caldron. Turning off the motorway on the road to Meteora was an adventure driving through the Pindus Mountains with amazing views of the Thessaly Valley below. Once in the Thessaly Valley, Kalambaka is a town below the surreal rock formations of Meteora that seem to defy gravity. These gigantic sandstone rock pillars are up to 400 meters high and topped with monasteries that make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The columns were separated by earthquakes and then shaped by wind and water. The Meteora monasteries are one of Greece’s greatest cultural and historical treasures. Meteora means “suspended in the air” and stems from the ancient Greek word meteors. This is a fitting name considering the monasteries’ locations. These ornate religious structures here are perched high on cliff tops. Once upon a time, there were 24 monasteries but today just six remain. The Meteora monasteries date back to the 13th to 16th centuries. The interiors, like the exterior of the Meteora monasteries, are laden with vibrant frescoes…. Unfortunately, climbing up to the Great Meteoron.  I discovered that photos are no longer allowed to be taken inside the monasteries. Our driver, Giannis is very familiar with Meteora and knew all the key viewpoints to capture photographs of all the monasteries from different breathtaking angles. Giannis also knew a great restaurant in Kalabaka where we had wonderful Greek food for lunch. After lunch we left for our 4-hour drive to Athens through the lovely Greek countryside. We have an overnight stay in Athens before rejoining the Oosterdam in Piraeus. Reflecting back over the past two weeks of touring the Balkans for the first time, we have visited so many incredible places that far exceeded our expectations. The Balkans is a hidden gem and has progressed so far after what they have endured in the past…Over the years we have met many crew members from different Balkan nations and now we can share our experiences with them. The scenery was incredible, wonderful architecture, interesting history, great accommodations and friendly people. The touring was intense, and we saw an incredible number of places and sites…We had a fabulous time thanks to our tour company, Jayway!