Grecian Getaway

Just a week ago Patrick and I hopped in the car and headed south through the Austrian Alps (and a massive get-behind-a-snowplow kind of snowstorm) to the Milan-Bergamo airport.  Final destination for this four-day weekend:  Greece.  We touched down in Thessaloniki, picked up our tiny car from the Hertz parking lot, and once again headed south.  After a lovely lunchtime stop in the village of Katerini and a few more hours on the highway, we found Sernikaki (a little village near Delphi) and Kelari Studios, our lodging for the night.

 Having enjoyed a home-cooked Greek dinner (complete with lamb and Greek salad), a much-needed night of sleep, and a quick breakfast, we explored the ruins at Delphi under a beautiful blue sky.

A few hours later we were winging our way south and east toward Athens and the Acropolis.

From our perch, the Athenian horizon appeared packed as tight as our carry-ons on the trip home.  It was time for a quick snack and then back to the car ... once we found that parking lot again. (Amazing story of God's provision during our exit from Athens not included here at this time.)  

Our next destination ... Meteora.  "From the 14th until the 16th century, twenty-four monasteries emerged on the countless summits of rocks and became the centers of the Orthodox creed in the Byzantine era.  Today, six remain to be explored and admired by all."  Beginning in the upper left corner and moving in a clockwise fashion: Hotel Pineas (our resting place), view of the incredible landscape from our hotel, a "selfie" in front of Great Meteoro Monastery, and finally a shot of Varlaam Monastery and Great Meteoro.

Great Meteoro

After hiking up and down and up and down and up and down, we took a little siesta and then hit the town of Kalampaka, featured below.                                 

                                    

What a huge blessing to celebrate twenty years of marriage...  

to celebrate in a land so beautifully crafted by our Creator.  

So thankful.