Hotel Kierion Karditsa

... an incredibly rugged valley until we reached Kalambaka.

The rocky outcrops that the Metéora Monasteries are built on look completely different then the surrounding countryside. It was cool to see them get closer and closer as we approached. We flew over the region and then landed in Kalambaka where a driver and guide met us.

We went to Great Metéoroan first, which is the largest and the tallest ...

... we only had gyros for tea not sure if I have explained gyros before but Ian is so addicted to it, its pitta bread with chicken or pork in it tomatoes, tziki and chips!!!! All rolled up it is tasty but some places are better than others Ian has had it so much I said he is going to be massive if he carrys on eating it. Its the Greek equivalent to fast food. We also had some candy floss from one of the street sellers at the rally and then went off to bed.

... ranges.



Despite what other English-speaking tourists & ourselves agreed seemed a disorganised start to the day, the Greeks remained fairly laid-back about proceedings, and we relaxed into what we guessed was the norm for them!




Once we arrived at the ruins of Delphi, amid some wonderful scenery up & down mountainous roadways, with huge valleys appearing at every turn, we were once again blown away by the ...

... we thought it might makes sense to move on to Athens one day sooner than planned. We headed back to the hotel and got on the internet and learned that our hotel in Athens, the Marriott Ledra, had discounted rooms available for tonight. We booked the hotel and then walked to the train station to buy tickets for the direct Kalambaka-Athens train departing at 5:30pm.

We spent the rest of the afternoon eating again at Café Panetillion, this time ...

... his age, nationality and name. We left and they didn't ever ask for money," muses Carrie. "I was all ready to fill our tons of paperwork, but none ever came. It was all so easy and quick and free-- so different than if it would have happened in the US." So the real mystery of the day surfaces- How can an unregistered foreigner receive such high quality medical care without a fee, while in his own country have waited for hours to even see a doctor?

I didn't really no where I was going that morning but I was determent to leave. I crossed the Rion-Antirion Bridge to the northern side of the Greek mainland and after a few Km decided to stop at a gas station and think. I spent about two hours at that Gas station, reviewing my maps, working on my laptop and calculating different itineraries. My initial thought was to "skirt" Greece from the north-west ...

... along the nile from Aswan. Supposed to get to Edfu but the wind didn't allow for that, so ended up in Komombo. Dinner on board cooked by Nubian crew. Am getting very good at doing absolutely nothing!! (how will I ever go back to work?) Swam in the nile - better get a blood test when I get home! More buses and trains to return to Cairo, where we visited more pyramids at Saqqara & Dahshur - in my opinion ...

... to vomit and thankful it was over, as the road was your typical 2 lane-er that weaved and winded across the mountain range, with switchbacks and shear drops on one side of the vehicle. Once the taxi dropped me off, I had to sit for a bit and eat an apple to calm my stomach , but then I was on my way. It took me 3 hours to reach the refuge, so I was within the estimated time. Its funny that I find myself competing with the given 'estimated time' from the visitor ...

... hello o our good friend Nikos and the boys in the kitchen. A heat wave has hit the island that has made life pretty difficult for cycling, let alone sleeping. The tent is like an oven at night time. Even the wind is hot. Last night at midnight Od and I went and took our pillows and cycled to the beach to sleep as at least there was a breeze that was a little cooler than the campsite. Tomorrow we will make action plan B, as at ...

... of the rocks. It must take great effort to transport all the materials, the tools and the man power to the top of the rocks to built them!






Aaaahhhh.... Please don't break on me, please don't look down, please let there be no strong wind... Haha, nope that wasn't us. It is only used to transport those people who are not able to climb up in the olden ...