Chasing Ideals

Hopefully my companions take no offense to this but we had what seemed a comical drive from Nafpolio to Meteora. Wiesieck was at the wheel and Andrej his navigator. We covered what seemed not too far a distance in what seemed an excessive number of hours. I was in back with the kiddies watching movies on the laptop but noticing navigational difficulties all the while. I myself have experienced problems in attempting to decipher Greek signposts but their troubles seemed to me to border the ridiculous. I won't go on about it but must say that this was not the finest hour of the old boys. Our friend Georg might have given us a run for our money on his bicycle if he'd had the opp.

If anything though their lackluster performance behind the wheel was made up for by the fabulous fish dinner we consumed with glee at roadside. Andrej did the honors of purchasing the marvelous gill breathers along the way and we later stopped and cooked the blighters. They were some fine and juicy fish and well worth the search for them. We had been promising ourselves the acquistion of a few of the Mediterranean's finest and that day turned out to be the day for it. Unquestionably the finest fish that have passed these lips I might add. Wiesieck did the honors of chefing it for the occasion and a fine job he did. We ate our fill and continued on.

Meteora was reached after the sun had long set. We meandered up a steep mountain road in search of a place to spread our tents and after some time found the spot. No indication of whether we could camp there but at that hour it hardly mattered. We set up quickly and hit the proverbial hay on a cold and wet night. Cold and wet has been the story of the last few and it became increasingly difficult to avoid a soiled feeling come morning. Sleeping horizontally in a tent is always preferable to the contortions that car sleeping requires so all in all was a good night. Only come morning were we made aware that free camping in the area was a no no. The police came by and told us to skidaddle. Not rudely but directly and so we packed up and headed for Meteora.

We had been unsure of what this Meteora place had to offer but I think that none of us left dissapointed. Many of you have already seen the pictures of this incredible place but if not then take a gander. Many centuries ago the first monks and nuns scaled these rock formations and brick by brick built their monasteries atop them. While I disagree with their idea that one can reach God through solitude I admire their dedication to the task at hand. The monasteries were built with naught less than sweat and toil. Paths to the tops now forged for tourists did not exist in times past and many a pilgrim was hoisted to the summits of these formations by pully and in basket. It is a marvelous feeling to be witness to an achievement that modern developers cannot understand. Even today it is not known how these structures were built in the sense of how all of the supplies were raised to where the stone buildings now stand.

Beyond exploration of this breathtaking place we piled in and made the return voyage to Thessaloniki. We pitched our tents one last time and settled in for the night. Come morning we had our brekers and set about exploring the beach for rocks and other goodies to take to our respective homes. Then after a repacking of car and van the gang set out for Poland. This not before sweet goodbyes and tight squeezes round the neck. This journey of mine has been one full of relationship, the joy of new friendships and at least for now the sadness of goodbyes. I am blessed to be joined along my way and my friends can return to Poland refreshed as result of their time of travel. How like God that two months ago I knew not the existence of these people and have now had the opportunity to share in my journey with them. I am on the road now to country number 14 of this journey, Turkey. New friendships await me and gracious hosts to meet and know. Take a look at the two new photo albums I added to Lovable Quirks.