Click a picture to see a larger view.

Our hotel last night was quite nice also. We were on the corner, so we had two balconies, both with an excellent view of the famous rocks of Meteora. I had left my camera on the bus and was disappointed that I couldn't take any pictures. I read a bit more of "In Conquest Born", which I'm enjoying, but made me think too much. I'm already nervous about my RA and whether I'm up to it.

I had strange, unpleasant dreams and was relieved when our wakeup call came, early though it was. We went down for another buffet breakfast and then back on the bus. We had to wait a lot longer than usual, as with the seventeen extra people we'd picked up after Delphi, someone was bound to be late.

Anyhow, I ended up sitting next to a middle-aged Australian lady who has a whole lot of pep.

The trip to Meteora was stunning. There are six monastaries and nunneries, all perched on rocky precipes. You'll get a feel from the photos how stunning it all was. We got to stop into one of each.

You'll roll your eyes, I know, but it just reminded me all over again of how pagan Christianity all is. Catholicism more so, and Greek Orthodox even more extreme. I have to admit, it all has a sort of barbaric appeal, but I'm glad I don't have to practice.

I'll only describe the inside of the chapels, which we weren't allowed to photograph. First was the Monastary of Saint Stephano, the nunnery was of Saint Haralambo.

The chapels had lovely vaulted ceilings, supported by four columns and formed in the shape of a cross. The inside was completely covered with paintings of religious scenes. The martyrs were the worst, with blood and torture everywhere. They also had the most amazing wood carving and wrought precious metals. Everything was gold leaf. It really didn't seem ascetic at all, especially with the monastary full of wine and the nunnery covered with flowers.

I think my photos are spectacular, though, and will show it best of all.

We stopped at an icon store afterward and I splurged five euro to buy one -- Saint Agnes; I'll tell you a risque story about her from one of Dan Brown's books later.

I guess that's about it I'm on the bus back to Athens right now.