|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 6, 2009 19:14:27 GMT
During our holidays in Greece (been back a week already!)
We took the time to visit Patmos, its Monastery and the "Cave of the Apocalypse".
I will post some pics another day ...
This island is very dear to our Greek Orthodox friends and I am told that Patmos is No 2 in the hierarchy after Constantinople. (they still call it like that).
We also appreciated the quiet and coolness of the cave where, according to traditions immemorial, St John the Evangelist had a vision and subsequently wrote the book of the revelations there (? not sure of this second point?)
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2009 19:28:27 GMT
Shit, where's the tzatziki?
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 7, 2009 0:45:43 GMT
The traditions surrounding John of Patmos have given rise to some fantastic art:  Jean Fouquet - 1420 - 1481Welcome back, Annie, and so glad you all had a good time. Where all did you go? What did you do? Can't wait to hear every thing, including the food details! |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 7, 2009 19:47:00 GMT
Bix, we were very successful at doing almost nothing. sleep and siesta featured heavily, so did the ouzo in the evening (sometimes also one at lunchtime!).
I think Jean Fouquet had not been to Greece. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Jul 7, 2009 21:01:17 GMT
I didn't know that Annie was away!
|
|
|
|
Post by tillystar on Jul 9, 2009 14:04:27 GMT
**Cough Cough**
Any chance of those pics Annie?
|
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 9, 2009 19:59:57 GMT
think I am going to post them this weekend.
I have only 10 minutes of computer left before Maffoo takes over... sorryyyy!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2009 20:55:30 GMT
Excuses, excuses....!
|
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 18:45:54 GMT
The coolness of the Cave where St John had the vision of the "revelation" (book of the revelation by St John the evangelist) was really appreciated. This is a picture of the entrance to the sanctuary. No pictures allowed inside. You have to walk down steep steps between houses to access the cave. It seems greeks and russians visit in communities, with their priest.  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 18:51:16 GMT
And the door to the monastery - the museum within this complex is interesting with very old documents such as an edict by Suleiman the magnificent showing that Patmos was allowed to be Christian, for a mere 40 units of grain or such similar tax.  unexpected:  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 18:53:39 GMT
The courtyard of the monastery:  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 18:55:28 GMT
A view from the outside wall of the monastery. Looks more like a fortified medieval castle!  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 18:59:48 GMT
View from the monastery, looking down into the small harbour town. Skala sees so many tourists in summer! we were lucky to visit at the beginning of the tourist season, and would have been happy to visit earlier in the year. But the heat was totally bearable, what with the breeze from the sea always at hand.  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:01:15 GMT
A better view of Skala:  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:02:38 GMT
Colour: Bix, what is this plant?  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:04:39 GMT
Deceptive - one couldn't ride a horse and visit Chora:  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:07:33 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:09:30 GMT
A famous "typical" image - disused windmills  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:12:16 GMT
Chora from Skala  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:16:30 GMT
So after all this activity, in front of such a view (almost reminds me of Dartmoor!)  or one like that:  You enjoy an ouzo, some tzatziki and other local specialties! |
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 10, 2009 19:22:42 GMT
Annie, I am almost sick with envy! That is absolutely beautiful, incredibly interesting, and seems to be the very essence of Greece. Those ancient white-washed buildings and narrow, squatty alleyways are exotic, yet seem "known". Loved the panoramas of Skala and that great photo of the brilliant bougainvillea against the white, white wall.
Do you know the age of the monastery and why it seems so fortified?
Thank you for this exciting travelogue.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2009 19:28:41 GMT
The whitewashed walls of the villages of Greece are always magnificent. These photos are great, Annie. I do always think of the number of earthquakes that these places have survived, being destroyed and rebuilt constantly. The triumph of the human spirit, plus the availability of unlimited building stones!  |
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:41:23 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Jul 10, 2009 19:53:51 GMT
Pics taken by the Mister... will inform him of your comments!
|
|
|
|
Post by Jazz on Jul 10, 2009 20:31:32 GMT
Annie, your photos are beautiful! The simplicity of the architecture, the whitewashed walls...I am intrigued by monasteries and have visited many. Of these, I love the door leading into the monastery with a hint of the interior, the fuschia plant against the textured white wall, the pointed archway and small passage, and the simple blue window. All of the photos are great. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jul 11, 2009 12:02:01 GMT
The" fuschia" plant is a bougainvillea. They grow spectacularly all over the Mediterranean area.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2009 21:04:37 GMT
I tried to keep a bougainvillea alive in Paris after it had finished blooming (you can buy small potted ones, but they are supposed to go in the trash after a few months -- I just can't do that!). Anyway, I failed, of course.
|
|
unexpected:
