Meteora - Berea - Pella - Thessaloniki

We began our morning with a trip up the mountain to a monastery in Meteora, Greece. The monastery we visited currently had three monks living there. We were only allowed to tour 20% because the monks like to be secluded. We began in the church but I do not have any pictures because they were not allowed. It has three sections, the section for the non-baptized, the section of the baptized, and the holy of holies. We were allowed in the first two rooms, but only the priest is allowed in the holy of holies. In the first section, the walls are covered in scenes of Christians through history being persecuted. It was supposed to persuade the non-baptized to get baptized or they would not go to Heaven. The church was so elaborate. Next we saw the wine cellar. Then we saw the old entrance. They used to hoist people up in a net before the bridge was built. They also would scale the wall if no one was up top to turn the crank to bring up the net. The net is still used today, but only for bringing up heavy items. 

Net Entrance

Net Entrance

Net Entrance

After a long bus ride, we arrived in Berea. We saw the monument to Apostle Paul, but James told us that it had no historical evidence that he was there. It was merely a monument. It was interesting to see how Paul was portrayed. 

We happened upon a rare tree in Berea. It was an oak tree and an olive tree had grown inside it. If you look at the picture close enough, you can see the two different leaves.

We then went to a synagogue. It was built many years ago and was still standing. It was no longer in operation though because to have a synagogue in operation, there must be ten males and apparently they did no thave ten males in this community. We were very blessed because the lady who kept the keys to it happened to be standing outside and she unlocked it so that we could go inside and tour it. 

After Berea, we drove to Pella. You could tell that the people who lived here were obviously very wealthy because of how extensive the houses were. They had many rooms with beautiful mosaics.

Then we drove to Thessaloniki to spend the night by the beach. It was absolutely beautiful. I loved it. While in Thessaloniki, we made a quick stop at the Roman Forum where it is believed that Paul would have stopped at. We also toured a basilica dedicated to Demetrius. It burned down and they had to rebuild it, but the built around the remains and incorporated them into the church. 

Roman Forum

Roman Forum

Delphi - Thermopyles

Yesterday, we embarked on our first trek of our four day Northern Greece trip. Three hours in, we made our first stop deep in the mountains of central Greece at a small town called Delphi. Delphi was known as the navel of the earth. Greek mythology says that Zeus believed that the world was flat and he wanted to find the center, or navel, so he sent a bird to the east end and a bird to the west end and told them to fly until they met. Needless to say, the birds met in Delphi and it was then named the navel of the earth. This place was amazing. Everywhere you turned, the view was spectacular. We were surrounded by mountains.

It's a Dr. Seuss tree!

Greece has stray dogs and cats everywhere and the cities feed them. I LOVE IT.

Rock of the Sybil

Stadium

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Theater

Theater

Theater

Treasury of the Athenians 

After touring the sight of Delphi, we visited the small museum with all of the artifacts that were discovered at the sight. Here are a few pictures:

Ancient Music

These statues were brothers. They carried their mother in a cart to the temple because the oxen were still in the field. Being so blessed by her sons, the mother prayed to the gods to give them a gift. Their gift: dying in their sleep at their highest point in their life. They died heroes.

Gold and ivory- the parts that are not gold are black because it was burned.

The navel of the earth. Zeus wanted to find the center of a flat earth so he sent a bird the east and west and told them to fly until they met in the middle, which was Delphi.

The Sphinx 

After another hour bus ride, we arrived at the sight of the Battle of Thermopyles, also known as what the movie 300 was based off of. There was a small monument to Leonidas and a hill that they know was the last place the Spartans were standing before they were killed. These are the beat pictures I could get.

Statue to Leonidas

Monument to the last 300 Spartans to die on this hill

Once getting back on the bus, we drove north for three more hours and arrived in Kalambaka for the night.