well, i'm not sure if i quite took 100 pictures, but it sure does feel like it. another one of those places, where every few steps you encountered another postcard-worthy photo op. so i clicked away. i probably have 360 degree panoramics of each and every one of these freaking monasteries. they're that amazing.
stayed the night last night in a room with no air conditioning. i haven't had ac in well, as long as i can remember now, so i figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal. sure its the hottest here that i've been in a looong time, but even my tiny little room got a nice breeze rolling through when i had the patio door open. but stupid me, i didn't even think about BUGS. christ, mosquitos or something weren't there when i fell asleep, but they were there in force a few hours later, let me tell ya. so i shut the door. again, stupid me, cause in doing so, i managed to trap both the heat and the bugs in. so i slept little, and woke up with a myriad of little red bug bites all over me. ATTRACTIVE. at least they don't itch TOO bad.
and as a result of the nonsleep, i missed the bus from town up to the monasteries. not a big deal though, as i don't really mind walking. so i walked. through the next village, and then the climbing began. the monasteries are on high cliffs afterall. i don't know what i was thinking when i thought it wouldn't be so bad. the sun beat down like a furnace, and shade resputes were few and far between. at least i had the forsight enough to buy a large water before heading off on this 10k uphill jaunt.
but then i made it. atop a cliff on my left, sat this monastery, which seemed to be CLINGING to the top of this sheer wall. more than that, it seemed to actually be a part of the rock itself. it was amazing. picture picture picture. then, after climbing up the billion stairs to visit the place, i continued my hike up the winding road. passed by tourist bus after tourist bus, i seemed to be the only loon who was walking it. i didn't care, as my walk afforded me photo oportunities that i otherwise (had i caught the bus) would have missed.
the first one was amazing, no doubt, but the subsequent monasteries were even more so. in all, i think there's over a dozen, and i think i made it to 6 or so of them. visiting inside a few, but mostly enjoying the views of each from outside. behind them, and below, off in the distant valley, you could see the town of kalambaka, which i had left earlier. truly an awe inspiring day.
and since my clock seems to reset itself or loose time or something, when i'd had enough, not even knowing what time it was, i decided it was time to hike back. i was badly craving a gyro, and the thought of a 3 hour hike down to the town was driving me crazy. again, stupid me, i had not packed any sort of food. LUCKILY, on my way down, a nice french girl in a car with her dog stopped and picked me up. we had a nice chat as she drove me nearly all the way back to my hotel-thingy. she was off for some other town, so i thanked her and her dog, and then set off to eat my gyro.
and tomorrow i'm off for athens, probably for only the afternoon, unless by some streak of bad luck i can't get a ferry out of there. i do believe that crete is my destination, but i won't know till i get to athens. i'm not exactly sure how it works, but i will soon find out...