The Meteora of Greece

I started working closely with Greeks since 2001 when I went on board my first commercial vessel, transporting oil cargo from Middle East to Southeast Asian countries.

During snack time or meal time, my Greek chief cook will always tell me about stories of Greek civilization. I never tire hearing it because I was interested in knowing the rise and fall of one of the greatest civilization this Earth could offer, and that is, the Greek culture.

Meteora? I heard the word, but never comprehend clearly back then. My chef just told me that it is a great place to commune with nature and pay homage to the priests and monks or the monasteries atop of those stone mountains that are rarely visited by city dwellers due to the hurly burly of city life, especially in Athens.

When my second Greek ship, a container one, from the same shipping company (Tsakos Shipping and Trading, S.A.), anchored at Piraeus shore, I asked my new Greek cook (he's from island of Crete-that's where the company's founder lives or the Family Tsakos) about it. He told me that it is far, so, if I want to visit it, I have to live in his country (no pun intended).

I was fascinated before, as of today, regarding Meteora.I really want to explore it one day. It's on my 'bucket list' now.

Note: This is not pertaining to the second album of the rock band Linkin Park; but I've read that they based the name of their sophy album from it. This is all about the place where I can be closer to the gods and goddesses of Greece and the mystery behind those amazing rock formation.

Imagining myself to be there in Meteora and be one of the monks or the hermits who started living there since 9th century can be both exciting and enlightening. If you really want to have a secluded life, away from the hustles and bustles of the city or the modernization it can offer, this is the most-suited lifestyle you should choose.

Tired of the stressful work at the corporate ladder of the company you belong with? Try being one of the monks or the Orthodox priests who are living there right now. Just say for a week, months or even a year. You can be part of those people who want to have inner peace by imitating the lives of these hermits.

I can brave myself climbing the stiff cliffs before reaching its monasteries. I am used to trekking mountains back here in the Philippines. I cannot feel any aching joints as of this moment. At 39, I am still on my A-1 readiness to explore those high-top religious edifices that hide mysteries and secrets of the so-called Meteoron monastery that Athanatios Koinovitis of Mount Athos founded in early 13th century.

These rock pillars of Meteora near Kalabaka (Kalambaka) just near the Plains of Thessaly became the last refuge of the hermit monks when Turkish invasion happened during the Byzantine period in 14th century. The succeeded 800-year reign of this empire made these holy men settled inside the fissures of these rock formation and built monasteries on the top of these stone hills.

My Greek friends (mostly sailors) said that it has an arid weather surrounding Meteora. So, if I go there, I will experience heavy rains and cold weather in late months of the year but extreme hot summer starting May or so. I'm used to it, though. Wet and dry seasons in the Philippines are just similar to this arid weather 'thing'.

Good thing, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declares that Meteora is an important cultural site of Greece and it has been a tourist attraction ever since.

Even if tourists, like me, flock at Meteora, my reminder is to really preserve the area by respecting its clean surroundings by not throwing waste on it.and avoid vandalism.

If I have enough budget, I am eager to go there someday for a very memorable adventure!

I don't have a first-hand photos and videos of Meteora. My appreciation goes to those people, Greek residents (friends, too!) and foreign tourists as well as academicians and enthusiasts who contributed to make my hub more picturesque and credible.

For the photos, UNESCO and private individuals provide attractive shots that can lure or invite others to go there, especially those monasteries.

Tourists, local and foreign alike, can't resist to roll their video cameras to have a recorded data of their travels, there.

By the way, one of the monasteries, The Holy Trinity Monastery was the location site of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

So, if you're ready to peruse my finds.....