Thursday 5 March 2009

Closer to Heaven


 
 
 
 
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Click to enlarge and see more details!

High on these rocks 21 monasteries were built in the past.. Now there are 6 of them still inhabited. We were so fortunate to be able to visit one of them.

The rocks were formed in the mists of 60,000,000 years ago.
The thousand and more sheer and soaring rocks with their mysterious harmony create in the visitor a feeling of ecstacy and awe. The monks of Meteora, true Sky Watchers, have been the guardians of these mysterious rocks for hundreds of years.They built their monastries so high to be closer to heaven.


Sky Watch is hosted by Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy & Louise
Thank you so much for this great meme, it's always a pleasure to participate, and see all the other skies around the world. If you want to see the other skies please click on the logo in the side bar.

47 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

I have always wanted to visit one of those high monasteries reader wil - how wonderful it must be to live up there almost in the clouds.

Arkansas Patti said...

Beautiful pictures. You could whisper to God from there.
Such a climb though. I'm impressed that you did it and could still hold the camera steady. Those monks certainly were removed from temptation.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

The best pictures, EVER! That is so beautiful. It's almost like a vacation just to look at them. Well...almost.

Carol Murdock said...

Wil.......is there anywhere you haven't been? I'm so jealous!!
That must have been so awesome up there!
Huggies,
Carol

Maria said...

Oh my God! I once visited Meteora, but your pictures are PHANTASTIC! GREAT! APPLAUSE! WOW! PERFECT!

Anonymous said...

Wow, wow, wow, Wil. Just to see it on a pic is a treat! In which region of Greece is this?

Brenda said...

I have to show this to my husband. Fabulous!

SandyCarlson said...

Now those were some devoted builders!

Rune Eide said...

Building those was not done in a day or two. There is some very advanced masonry here. I hope they manage to take proper care of the last 6 ones.

Guy D said...

Wow what a beautiful location, you captured it perfectly.

Have a great weekend!
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Rob Ripma said...

Awesome shots and amazing information. Sounds like a place I would love to visit!

Jane Hards Photography said...

This has been a wonderful virtual tour this week on your blog and these are just breathetaking to finish. Puts modern architecture to shame.

imac said...

Brill, wonderful, super, post and pics.

Renie Burghardt said...

Wonderful photos, Wil! Monasteries and Castles were always built high up. Imagining how long and how much hard work it took to build these, makes one appreciate them even more.

Happy weekend!

Renie

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a fantastic place to be. I love the sky you shot but also the wonderful mountains and rocks.

bobbie said...

So beautiful!
I love the red roofs of Europe.

Rose said...

Oh, my! I sure hope everyone enlarged these! I could look and look and look at them. They are awesome!

George said...

Thanks for the pictures of these beautiful monasteries. It must have been heavenly to actually be there. A wonderful skywatch Friday post.

Sylvia K said...

Absolutely exquisite! You could indeed whisper to God from there! Brings back such lovely memories of the time I spent in Greece a number of years ago! Thank you for sharing!

Brad Myers said...

Good post, and good skywatch capture.

Lene said...

This is amazing and breathtaking!!! Unreal! Great sky watch post!!!

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm jealous, I've wanted to see those monasteries on the mountains, I've seen many but this one looks like they're really close to heaven. Is this still in Greece?

penny said...

Gorgeous photos and lucky you. It must have been a thrill to be there.

Anonymous said...

These are magnificent photos. So, near to the heaven indeed.

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Reader Wil

Wonderful view of old parts of this world!
Very interesting post!

Luiz

Janice Thomson said...

Wow and wow again. I would love to visit these. Fabulous photos.

Anonymous said...

Oh, wow - what a place to visit, let alone to live.

alicesg said...

Wow fantastic scenery. How did they built the monastries up so high during those times. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice weekend.

antigoni said...

These photos are awesome. They are for "God Watch".
In my blog there is an award waiting for you, my precious friend. Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Is je weer gelukt om voor SWF prachtige foto's te posten.

Groetjes Etje

Miss_Yves said...

J'aimerais tant visiter la Grèce !Merci pour ce beau voyage et ces magnifiques photos !
Le titre est bien choisi .

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Ah Greece,

makes me think of Mama Mia. Did you go to the islands.

Anonymous said...

Magnificent pictures - must be nice to be up so high.

I was reading the introduction to your blog... reminded me of my mother in law, she was born in Indonesia but she is Dutch. She lived and raised her kids in Suriname and moved to the Netherlands after some time.

I am also Dutch by Nationality but I am born as a Filipina;)

Ivar Østtun said...

Wow. Great shots and even greater buildings. Very nice. :-)

vincibene said...

Fantastic series, in my youth once I was there, it is a imposing landscape!

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Just beautiful. Wouldn't it be awesome to live up on a mountain like that! WOW!

Small City Scenes said...

Amazing---built out of the huge rocks. great shots. the Monks really thought they were closer to God, eh? MB

Middle Ditch said...

Stunning Wil, maybe on day I can see them too.

Unknown said...

Wow you are so lucky, I have seen piccies of these before and longed to visit - wonderful.

Gretchen said...

That is so gorgeous!

Marina said...

Your pictures are awesome and you've presented Greece better than I would have. Thanks for telling the world about our beaties in such a beautiful way! I haven't visited Meteora but I hope I will soon! People say that it's beautiful up there at Easter! So close to God!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful pictures! Fabulous.

Jeanette said...

Gday Wil, amazing and breathtaking
photography..You wonder how they got all the masonory and tools up there to build the Monasteries... up in the clouds...

Anonymous said...

Kom je een fijn weekend wensen.

Groetjes

antigoni said...

You've already given me two awards and i really appreciate it. You are so good friend, Wil. I know you feel the same way about me. And it's very precious to me. Love is the only thing i want in life. If you have love, you can do anything.

Barbara Martin said...

Wonderful photos and wise monks to be closer to heaven.

pictureeachday said...

Wow, "closer to heaven" is right! Talk about gorgeous!!