Sandstone cliffs, some with monasteries built on top
When we arrived at Meteora and our hotel, I was awestruck by the gigantic stones around the town, overshadowing everything by their sheer presence.
60 million years in the making
This “unique geological phenomenon” was created by earth forces lifting sandstone beds up, breaking them apart into great sections from vertical faults. Then natural weathering over millions of years, slow change from wind, water, and temperature extremes, carved them into the huge rock pillars we see today.
Eastern Orthodox Monasteries
As we rode the bus next morning up the winding road through the pillars, we began to see monasteries built on the tops of some of them. For more than a thousand years, monks and hermits have been living in these places. There are more than a thousand rock outcroppings in this area of western Thessaly.
The way the sun creates highlights and shadows is a treat to witness, and how they change throughout the day. You don't just observe this from a distance either, but are right in the middle of it all – a real visceral experience.
The opportunities for taking photos and doing sketches in this area seems endless. Unfortunately for us, we were on a bus tour of the area, so we weren’t able to stop where we wanted. There were many more roads and vistas available to explore in the area. Given that, I guess I feel that my photos really don’t do this place justice.
Meteora is yet another amazing location that deserves to be revisited, knowing what more there is to see here. Next trip I want to do some hiking as well.
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