Towards the Sky

There is a place, so unbelievably beautiful, so perfectly peaceful, 

and just as remote, that takes my breath away, every time I visit it.

To get there, you need to make your way towards the sky, 

into 'cloud country'. Following the curvy, cliffy roads, 

Endemic to Crete, camouflaged Kri-kri lounge between boulders. How many can you see?

 you'll soon come upon Crete's cutest mountain climbers, 

 the famous Kri-kri goats- that is, if you can spot them!  

 

Nuns greet visitors at the entrance of the Monastery of Savvathiana, Crete.

 At 440 metres above the Aegean, nestled among hilly meadows,

 you will find yourselves at the Monastery of Savvathiana,

 whose history dates back to the tenth century,

with a striking, cave-like temple dedicated to

 Saint Anthony, by its founder, monk Savvatios. 

The monastery, which operates as a nunnery today, is

situated in a richly wooded valley, near a ravine.

 

Here, an abundance of flowers, fruit trees, and vegetables seem 

to thrive effortlessly, but upon closer observation, it is evident  

 that this little oasis is the result of the nuns' hard work.

As I wrap myself around the luxury of the landscape, I feel

blessed by its holy spirit, which warmly covers me in light.

Thanks for visiting, and

 have a lovely weekend!

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Athens: Academia, Antiquity, and Architecture (Part 2)

Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion

High above the Aegean Sea, at Cape Sounion (43 miles SSE of Athens), the southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula, the Temple of Poseidon (444-400 BC) was erected by the ancient Athenians, under the reign of Pericles. 

Poseidon, God of the Sea

Cape Sounion is famous for a very popular Greek myth. In accordance to the legend, believing his son, Theseus, had been killed in a competition with the Minotaur of Crete, King Aegeus, of Athens, took his own life, and jumped into the sea that bears his name, after spotting the black sails on the returning ship, as Theseus had forgotten to hoist white ones, signifying his victory.

The Aegean Sea

A more recent 'legend’ states that the Romantic poet, Lord Byron, carved his name on one of the temple’s marble columns, when he visited Sounion twice, from 1810 to 1811, on his Grand Tour of Europe. The poet’s name is, indeed, engraved on the stone, but it has yet to be proven that the inscription was, in fact, his own.

Lord Byron's Inscription

Heading back towards the capital, this outdoor mall, near Spata, boasts a neoclassical style, complete with pastel hues and shady pergolas, a perfect spot to cool off with a refreshing drink, after some serious power shopping! 

On a thickly forested hilltop in Athens, we visited a beautiful monastery, with panoramic views of the city below.

Hanging in the hot, mid-morning sun, the church bells, still and silent, were off duty until evening mass.

As we took our last stroll through the downtown core, we were delighted to stumble upon a fall flower exhibit, which dotted the wide city square with rich, bright blooms and enthusiastic admirers.

Well, that was our trip to the capital and it was a nice distraction from the regular routine. Back on the island, the temperature has dropped and the layering of clothes has increased. So, light the fire, bake the cake and let the cocooning begin! 

Varkiza, a suburb, south of Athens

Thanks for visiting!

Poppy

All images: Poppy View, 
except where otherwise noted

A Sacred Place in the Mountains

Vosakou Monastery, Crete Greece

Welcome back.

Yesterday, many Christians around the world celebrated the Feast of the Cross, which honours the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. In Greek, this is referred to as the Raising Aloft of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross.

Vosakou Monastery, front entrance

 Here in Crete, there are several churches that are devoted to the Holy Cross, and thus, are named after them. The main church at the Vosakou Monastery in the prefecture of Rethymno, is one of them.

We attended the liturgy at the main church which was very peaceful, considering there were many people present, as well as a few animal folk!

The grounds at Vosakou are beautifully landscaped, perfectly complementing the various hues of the terracotta coloured stone, which has been roughly laid throughout.

The monastery dates back to the early 17th century. Yesterday morning, hundreds of people  came from all across the island to celebrate the Holy Cross in quiet prayer, high above the Aegean Sea, in the tranquility and beauty of a sacred place in the mountains.

Hope you have a wonderful summer weekend; it's the last!

Talk to you soon.

Poppy

All images: 
Poppy View