The Island of Apocalypse
For the first in my life I went on a cruise, part of a press trip with Celestyal Cruises. Remarkable experience, and I think I found where I want to go for vacations, or live for a whole summer.
I fell in love with Patmos as soon as I walked in its heart.
So, after Mykonos and Kuşadası, next stop was Patmos. We left the ship and got on a boat so we could disembark on the port. At first sigh there was tranquility. I'm not a very religious person so the whole religious history of Patmos never really excited me. Mind you, the Monastery of St. John is a must see and so is the Cave of Apocalypse.
We used a bus to get close to the monastery and we walked for the remaining road. Between old white neighborhoods and smaller shops with handcrafts (I did stop there), you walk up to the monastery breathing fresh air and the view (picture above) is outstanding.
In 1092, the greater part of the monastery was completed by the soldier and priest John Christodoulos who pretty much turned it into a fort, at least on the exterior, because of the threats of piracy. You would notice that the houses' windows have gates and the wooden shutters open inside. That was a way for the people to protect themselves and their houses from pirates.
When you walk inside the huge gate there is a small hallway that lead to a garden with arches and a fat cat who apparently is famous around the world. Inside the church you notice the impeccable wood carvings around the pictures that present flowers, as well as scenes from the Bible. You move on to the chapel and you see that indeed eons ago the building was a temple. There are parts of the columns visible under the newer structure of the church. Before you return to the garden you pass from the museum that houses gifts from various great leaders of Europe, clothes and manuscripts. There is also a library that is not open for tourists, that has 330 manuscripts, including 82 manuscripts of the New Testament. UNESCO has declared the Monastery of St. John the Theologian a World Heritage site.
*Pictures were not allowed inside the church and the museum.
I fell in love with Patmos as soon as I walked in its heart.
So, after Mykonos and Kuşadası, next stop was Patmos. We left the ship and got on a boat so we could disembark on the port. At first sigh there was tranquility. I'm not a very religious person so the whole religious history of Patmos never really excited me. Mind you, the Monastery of St. John is a must see and so is the Cave of Apocalypse.
We used a bus to get close to the monastery and we walked for the remaining road. Between old white neighborhoods and smaller shops with handcrafts (I did stop there), you walk up to the monastery breathing fresh air and the view (picture above) is outstanding.
In 1092, the greater part of the monastery was completed by the soldier and priest John Christodoulos who pretty much turned it into a fort, at least on the exterior, because of the threats of piracy. You would notice that the houses' windows have gates and the wooden shutters open inside. That was a way for the people to protect themselves and their houses from pirates.
When you walk inside the huge gate there is a small hallway that lead to a garden with arches and a fat cat who apparently is famous around the world. Inside the church you notice the impeccable wood carvings around the pictures that present flowers, as well as scenes from the Bible. You move on to the chapel and you see that indeed eons ago the building was a temple. There are parts of the columns visible under the newer structure of the church. Before you return to the garden you pass from the museum that houses gifts from various great leaders of Europe, clothes and manuscripts. There is also a library that is not open for tourists, that has 330 manuscripts, including 82 manuscripts of the New Testament. UNESCO has declared the Monastery of St. John the Theologian a World Heritage site.
*Pictures were not allowed inside the church and the museum.
Next stop: the Cave of Apocalypse.
This grotto is believed to be the place where John received his visions that he recorded in the Book of Revelation and you can actually see the details inside the caves; where he lied down, where Christ appeared and where the rocks broke in three to symbolize the Holy Trinity. In 1999, UNESCO declared the cave a joint World Heritage Site.
You go down a few stairs (including some narrow ones) until you reach the cave but it's worth it. Go for it.
This grotto is believed to be the place where John received his visions that he recorded in the Book of Revelation and you can actually see the details inside the caves; where he lied down, where Christ appeared and where the rocks broke in three to symbolize the Holy Trinity. In 1999, UNESCO declared the cave a joint World Heritage Site.
You go down a few stairs (including some narrow ones) until you reach the cave but it's worth it. Go for it.
And then came something wonderful: the town center.
It's a typical Greek island, without all the fuss and the noise of a thousand tourists. You see shops and small cafes and taverns, and kids riding their bicycles, and dogs walking around... it's a dreamy summer paradise. You know I want to go back ASAP. We sat at Mostra Cafe for coffee and some tasty lemon pie.
It's a typical Greek island, without all the fuss and the noise of a thousand tourists. You see shops and small cafes and taverns, and kids riding their bicycles, and dogs walking around... it's a dreamy summer paradise. You know I want to go back ASAP. We sat at Mostra Cafe for coffee and some tasty lemon pie.
We returned to the ship for dinner. Seafood saganaki for main and an OH-MY-GOD chocolate mousse before we went to sleep.
What's next?
It was a three-days cruise and, as you know, I talk a lot, so it was impossible to write about all the destinations in one post. I broke it down to five posts that you can find in their respective pages (Kusadasi, Mykonos, Santorini, Heraklion).
Song of choice:
What's next?
It was a three-days cruise and, as you know, I talk a lot, so it was impossible to write about all the destinations in one post. I broke it down to five posts that you can find in their respective pages (Kusadasi, Mykonos, Santorini, Heraklion).
Song of choice:
