Up early this morning. Slept good last night and feel rested. Did not mess around and took 1 Tylenol pm. It did the trick. First stop was a Byzantine art workshop. As we walked in a sample of their gummy candy covered in powdered sugar was sampled( samples in Olympia too). Then a quick demonstration of how the art is produced from all handmade to
Lithograph. It was a large gift shop. I tried to identify the St Barbara but they were not marked. Mili said” you have to have a Saint Barbara” she found assistance and I am now an owner of a small serigraph Saint Barbara Icon. St Barbara is the patron saint of armory and military. Darn I thought it would be of food and cooking. The drive up through the hillside to Meteorea was so beautiful. The mountains just reach to the sky like special Fingers or Spears. Saint Stephen nunnery is first stop. Mili has us here early and we are the first inside. So peaceful, shaded and cool in the courtyard. I had to wear a wrap skirt around My shorts. Rick took no time in getting my picture. Mili explained in detail the chapel with walls covered in Byzantine art ( new) and a few objects in the museum. Mili bought some incense which I thought interesting. The gardens are in full bloom with rose bushes. The next is a picture stop for Holy Trinity ( James Bond) Mili said that only one time did she take a tour to Holy Trinity . She said it was a big mistake. The steps up are too strenuous. Valaam Monestary is next. The other tourist have arrived. Seems crowded and buses lined up outside. An artist was painting ( refurbishing) on the ceiling in one of the rooms. He is up on scaffolding with his head and neck in a sling. He has his wrists also in a sling above his head to be able to relax arms as painting. Fascinating. We are shown the pulley system for supplies. The chapel is original Byzantine painting. Much darker in colors. The museum is interesting with pictures of monk from older days and now . The robes are beautiful decorated in intricate colored threads m. The views from the patio are awesome. I had my picture taken with St Barbara monestary in background. Do not know why it’s not on the tours. May not be much to see inside. Took some artistic pictures with the roses and buildings. The end....a little disappointed to only visit 2 and only spend a few hours. Lunch back down in town at tourist place. Almost like meat and three but very confusing cause we were first in line. We all had cumin meatballs ( Greeks love their meatballs) I had stewed okra and tomatoes. Mili told us that they had really good goat stew, a Greek favorite. Grant and I split a bowl. It was a clear broth with potatoes and carrots and a piece of roasted goat. Pretty yummy especially when you are continuously thirsty. One good thing about Greece is all the water is potable. Tap water at all meals. I’ve also been drinking from a glass in bathrooms. Can not get enough in this heat. Long uneventful 4 hour drive back to Athens. There is a new 4 Lane highway built between Athens and Meteorea since here in 2015. The Athens Plaza hotel nice. Great location next to Syntagma Square and on same block at Grand Bretagne. After resting we ventured out toward “souvlaki row” for dinner. Ran into ladies from Hong Kong-as we both passed the shopping street. It just takes me a while to adjust to the energy of a city. Feeling overwhelmed . We chose a table at Thanaus next to walking area. I feel Like all 3 million are walking by. One good thing is lots of the people have packages. I’m also watching diversity walking by. Dinner was good. Grant and I had the “ special “ kebob. Some sort of formed meat on skewer with onion tomato on pita. Rick had chicken souvlaki. We had tzatzaki and fried cheese for apps. Walked rest of way to Monzaraki square . Headed back to hotel with a little trouble . Finally had to pull up google maps. We were not too far off. Fun walk by hip bars with good music and people sitting outside. Scored more oregano potato chips at corner stand while getting water!!