Sunday 8th November - Meteora

At our normal getting up time of 0730 I asked Anne whether she really wanted to go walking around the rocks as the rain continued to pound down on the tent - a definite “No” meant that we rolled over and snuggled deeper under the duvet.  After an hour or so we felt we ought to venture out as the Dutch guys were looking to leave about 1000 and we needed to get some Turkey insights from them.  We needn’t have rushed as they were delayed with children still in pyjamas and trouble with their gas fridge, which Dave (one of the Brits, a builder from Bath) eventually solved with the help of his handy camper van repair manual.

The Camel Active pants were worn today, but the pictures have been censored on decency grounds as they are somewhat skimpy.

The rain had eased but our noses told us that our towels could do with a wash, so we decided to put on a load and wait until after lunch to see what the weather would do.  A 3 hour cycle and 400rpm spin makes for very wet washing, but at least it was clean and we hung it up under the awning in the vain hope that it might eventually end up slightly drier than when it came out of the machine.

Pip and Mac kindly offered us a lift up to the monasteries in their camper van, which beats walking as it was actually quite a climb.

We only got to go into one (Varlaam) as winter opening hours have kicked in, but the frescos were pretty spectacular in their darkness, especially the skinning alive of one unfortunate sole as he was hung upside-down by his feet.

We weren’t 100% sure what restrictions were being imposed by the sign “...no slacks or pantaloons for women...”, but Anne and Pip got away with their trousers and weren’t made to don long skirts.  Mac also introduced us to the term “sneaky jeans” - the photo explains all.

The rock pinnacles have an almost otherworldly feel, especially with the low clouds swirling around them, and we were all taken by their weirdness.

A cup of tea in the camper on our return was most civilised - on wet days we get slightly jealous of the comfort enjoyed by the camper van fraternity, but we still wouldn’t trade the Camel.

We cooked our dinner and then returned to Pip and Mac’s camper to share our Greek wine and their Serbian home brewed spirit, which they had been given as a gift whilst in the country.

The apricot one was smoother than the plum one, but they both burned slightly on the way down, although there was a nice warming after effect.  We passed on some places worth visiting in the Peloponnese and details of our guesthouse in Athens, then all joined Beatrice and Cyrille, a French couple, and Theo, their three year old son, by the fire they had build in the BBQ area.

They started out in a yacht around the Mediterranean in August, having never sailed before, and have a year to explore.  We’ve been invited to join them for a few days, so we’ll have to see if things work out.

Anne’s words as we stumbled off to bed a little before midnight were “Those damn Kiwis have got me drunk”.