On our way back from Albania, we decided to visit Meteora again and to do this, we stopped in Greece for a few hours. Just thinking about this visit gave me a strange feeling. As soon as I got there, I felt overwhelmed by memories and emotions. It was a real pleasure to revisit the valley of Thessaly, an area blessed with unique landscapes which seem to be cut out of a fairy tale.

Admiring the beauty of this region was easy, but the difficult part was to compare the past images with the present ones. I felt like I was playing a game and I was trying to find the similarities between the two images.

The spectacular high sandstone rocks make this corner of heaven unique in the world. It is true that the image of these mysterious rocks, whose origin is still unknown, is simply breathtaking, but what really makes them special are the monasteries built on top of them.

The six monasteries were built by monks many centuries ago and for good reason they are the main attraction in the area. The Monasteries of Meteora seem to be unreal thanks to their extraordinary appearance which gives you the impression that they are suspended somewhere between the earth and the sky. It is unbelievable how the monks succeeded in building these masterpieces right on top of the rocks.Nowadays, the complex of monasteries is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its cultural and religious significance.

Even though I wanted to revisit all the six monasteries, I only managed to see three of them. The first one was the Monastery of Saint Stephen with its two lovely cathedrals which shelter sacred relics of saints and religious items.The second one was the Monastery of Varlaam located in the middle of a sublime scenery and blessed with an interesting museum where you can admire a collection of painted icons and holy objects. The last one was the Monastery of Great Meteoron, a real proof of architectural mastery. This is the biggest and the oldest monastery in the complex and it is blessed with beautiful frescoes, religious icons and spectacular views.

All of these monasteries were exactly how I remembered them. They looked as if the passing of time hadn’t changed them at all. My only regret is that I didn’t manage to visit all of them again, but at least I saw the other ones from the car. The Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and the Monastery of Roussanou looked unaffected by the passing of time as well.

Everything happens for a reason and maybe the fact that I haven’t revisited all the monasteries will make me come back to this place. Who knows, maybe I will return to this amazing place after 10 more years? What I do know is that Meteora is the kind of place which deserves to be visited more than once.

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This is a nice place where you will have the chance to combine relaxation with a lot of entertaining activities such as: beachside activities, shopping, visiting beautiful historical and religious places or just walking down its coquettish streets. I would say that Paralia Katerini is a perfect destination for all ages and budgets, because you will find everything you need there:  reasonable prices, cheerfulness and hospitality.

In my opinion Paralia Katerini is not a spectacular place but it is a good way to discover the amazing Greece. Its perfect location, on the east coast, makes it very easy for the tourists to visit a lot of other charming places in Greece. There are a lot of travel agencies in this village which organize tours to various tourist attractions. These agencies use tour guides and offer very good prices. Here are in my opinion the most beautiful and interesting trips you can take if you are in Paralia Katerini:

1. Athens, one of the world’s oldest cities, is a spectacular place which hides amazing tourist attractions such as: the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Poseidon, Agora, the Theatre of Dionysus and the Port of Piraeus. It will be a great experience to discover the beauty and the uniqueness of Athens.

2. Skiathos is a stunning island which displays amazing landscapes, an impressive architecture and beautiful beaches. You will have the chance to admire wonderful places on this island such as: Boutzi, which is a small peninsula, the Museum of Alexandros Papadiamantis, the Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Kastro, a beautiful and old fortress and the gorgeous harbor.

3. Meteora is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Greece. The six amazing monasteries built on top of the rocks are incredibly beautiful: the Monastery of Saint Stephen, the Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapausas, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, the Monastery of Varlaam, the Monastery of Rousanou and the Monastery of Great Meteoron.

4. Mount Olympus, the Castle of Platamonas and Palaios Panteleimonas are beautiful places that will awaken your senses and will take you on a journey with wonderful landscapes, Greek traditions, history and culture.

5.Thessaloniki is a lovely city and also a shopping paradise. If you have a real passion for shopping you should definitely visit Thessaloniki because you will have the chance to purchase quality products at good prices. After a great shopping experience, there is nothing better than a walk down the peaceful streets of the city.

As you can see, Paralia Katerini is a good way to discover the beauty of Greece and I am sure that you will think the same after your own wonderful experience there.

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Situated in the region of Thessaly, Meteora is an area blessed with giant sandstone rocks which come out of the ground. The way these rocks were formed is still an unknown phenomenon. The uniqueness of this place is given by the six amazing monasteries built on top of the rocks: the Monastery of Saint Stephen, the Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, the Monastery of Varlaam, the Monastery of Roussanou and the Monastery of Great Meteoron.

This complex of Greek Orthodox monasteries which were built by monks, was created to keep the Greek culture and traditions alive. The monasteries are considered true religious, cultural, artistic and academic centers. The entire complex is a place you should definitely not miss if you are going to visit Greece. On this note, it is important to consider the following tips for an unforgettable experience in Meteora:

1.Spend at least one day there, in case you want to have enough time to visit all the monasteries, because each of them has its own beauty and amazing views.

2.You can go there as part of an organized group or you can visit on your own. If you choose to visit the complex of monasteries as a part of an organized group, you will have a guide who will explain to you a lot of things about this place. The disadvantage in this situation might be the fact that only some of the six monasteries might be included in the program. If you travel on your own, you will have the chance to visit all the monasteries and also spend as much time as you want doing that. To sum up, how you choose to visit is a matter of choice but remember that each monastery has a different timetable.

3. You should also have a proper attitude and wear proper clothing during your visit to the monasteries of Meteora.

4. You can buy a lot of beautiful handmade religious items: icons painted on glass or bark, carved wooden icons, religious themed accessories and other cute things.

5. Rock climbing is another interesting activity that will complete your experience in Meteora. If you try it you will never forget the beauty and the uniqueness of this place.

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