Personally it is probably the only city in the world where the man-made beauty is integrated so harmoniously and perfectly into its environment/nature. The backdrop of the turquise Argean Ocean against the white/blue-dotted houses hanging on the jagged caldera are simply astonishing and aesthetic that no other cities can be on par with.
The oldest surviving monastic community in the world. It dates back to Byzatine time period. Female is prohibited on the island. Special permit is required to get to the island and is issued only to male workers or monks. Though part of Greece, it is self-governed by its own local admistration.
The Holy Bible in Rev: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Rv 1:3).
Growing up I have always been intrigued by the lives of hermits/monks/nuns who live in monastaries. In addition to Meteora, my dream is to visit and spend a few days in Saint Catherine Monastary of Mount Sinai one day.
A city where the modern and ancient worlds mingled together. A city that taught me to reverence history and to avoid investing my life into building something grandeur here on earth as there is nothing as everlasting on this side of heavens. I don't like the modern Athens, but I do love the history of ancient Athens.
We spent 19 days in these two countries in June of 2009. Of all the itineraries I have prepared in the past, this is the most challenging due to the island hopping in Greece and the inability to make bus reservations online in Turkey.
