Day 7 - Wednesday, January 10

Following breakfast at the hotel, LEAD 41 walked through the Old Town area and were able to see a castle. They then took a short ferry ride to an Island where they had time to explore the small village. 

Then, the class took a bus ride into the mountain city of Meteora to visit the monasteries. The formations of the mountains were beautiful by themselves and unlike anything many of the group had ever seen. The beautiful construction of the various monasteries on the mountain peaks were truly amazing. 

Jamie Bright notes that before the monasteries were built, individual hermit monks came to live in isolation in caves in the area. Theopetra cave (near Meteora), was occupied from 135,000 BC to 4000 BC, and shows evidence of the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans as well as the transition from hunter-gathering to farming in the area. 

Lunch was hosted by Restaurant Taberna Panellinio in Meteora. Fellows were served Greece’s version of “fast food”, which was a spread of many traditional Grecian foods and were blessed by a priest who happened to be having lunch at the restaurant. According to Genti, the groups guide, this had not happened to any other group he had toured with - it was very rare.

 As fellows traveled through Greece, they noted that it is apparent that the group is visiting outside of the peak tourist season as many of the shops and restaurants have been closed. At times, this can be seen as a blessing to have such access. But one can’t help imagining how vibrant and busy these locations would be at a different time. 

The class then departed to the quaint town of Delphi, and enjoyed tangerines that were gifted to us from Domi Fruit company in Albania. After about a four hour bus ride, they arrived to their hotel for the evening. They enjoyed a local Greecian meal complete with a Greek version of chocolate cake for dessert, and began to prepare for their next day’s adventure. 

*Today’s blog contributors are Allissa Troyer, Jon Lechtenberg and Jamie Bright, in addition to your blog team of Kari Christenson, Jakob Burke and MiK Fox.

Photos

The ferry approaches the class to take them over to the island.
The ferry approaches the class to take them over to the island.
LEAD 41 on the ferry over to the island.
LEAD 41 on the ferry over to the island.
While exploring the island, a few fellows found this diorama of the island and the surrounding area.
While exploring the island, a few fellows found this diorama of the island and the surrounding area.
One of the side streets on the island. Fellows visited with shop owners.
One of the side streets on the island. Fellows visited with shop owners.
As the class traveled up to the monasteries, they began to see more weather changes. They thought they left the snow in Nebraska!
As the class traveled up to the monasteries, they began to see more weather changes. They thought they left the snow in Nebraska!
LEAD 41 and Genti, their tour guide at the monastery atop one of the cliffs.
LEAD 41 and Genti, their tour guide at the monastery atop one of the cliffs.
This fifteenth century barrel was used for storage purposes. Wine, water and various other things were stored here.
This fifteenth century barrel was used for storage purposes. Wine, water and various other things were stored here.
While exploring the monastery, many other monasteries were visible on other cliffs in the area.
While exploring the monastery, many other monasteries were visible on other cliffs in the area.
LEAD fellows and Dr. Hejny atop the monastery, with the city far, far below.
LEAD fellows and Dr. Hejny atop the monastery, with the city far, far below.
The class enjoyed a quick Greek lunch at a local restaurant.
The class enjoyed a quick Greek lunch at a local restaurant.