But two more at least.
After a roadside camp we are headed towards Meteora.
Over hills and across valleys.
This part of eastern Greece the rivers flow sensibly to the sea, unlike the jumble of the Peloponese.
We think!
All arable.
Not an animal in site.
This is Agios Nikolas Anapafsas.
Not quite as monolithic, this area is on the edge of other mountains.
Electric.
Even the chandelier in the church is on the end of an electric winch.
These days there are also stairs.
The horizontal wind and water erosion of the rock strata.
The vertical erosion of flowing water.
Though sadly no photographs allowed of the frescoes inside the churches.
We need to do a bit of research but we think around 16th century.
There are six remaining monasteries.
Original dates are a little vague but after 800 years of Byzantine rule the Ottomans were pushing in during the 1400's.
More than 20 monasteries were closed by the occupying Turks in the 15th century.
Opened again in the 16th century they were expanded and decorated.
Later decline was halted in the 1960's.
No photos allowed of the church frescoes.
And look back at Roussanou.
Guess what they do for drains.
Our ration was three, at E3 each per monastery.
A word of warning. Some are closed on Wednesday, some on Friday.
We were lucky it was Thursday.
Either the door wasn't closed because it was empty, or it was empty because the door was open.
And before you think how clever the first monks were to climb to the top. They probably used ladders.
The steps were added in the 1920's.
Not too onerous, and they provide "wraps" for the women.
Just a tad hot climbing the steps in jeans and thermal top (being the only long sleeved thingo).
Just checking its empty.
Sadly it is.
I could almost have stood in it.
An interesting series of wooden bands round the barrel.
Reminiscent of Ottoman furniture to us.
These items weren't representative of the furniture in the churches.
Replaced with wire rope and electric winch (just visible).
Maybe the door doesn't close.
Something for the tourists to talk about.
We are at the western edge of the Thessaly Plain.
Vikos Gorge is less than a hundred km west.
Not at all Olga-ish from this angle.
This lake is a bit peculiar to us. No boating, swimming, or wading.
I guess its what governments do when there's all that sea for water sports and the dam is for drinking.
One more day of monuments then a rest. Hopefully beside the sea.
Some evidence of cattle, and we can hear hens on the far side of the lake, but we haven't seen any farm animals for the last few days.
