The Ely miner., 1928-07-06
prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington. d. CD


Society. Washington, d. C)
"HERE is legend, perhaps it is
history. that there was once a
ruler in Constantinople who dis
liked his brother and wished to
Danish him to the remotest corner of
his Kingdom. Consequently the mon
arch built monastery on a well-nigh
inaccessible mountain in Thessaly and
founded a brotherhood, about four
hundred years ago, in what seemed to
be the uttermOSt corner of the earth.
The monastery was called Me
teOra," meaning ''domicile of the sky"
After the original was built twenty
three others grouped themselves
around and were inhabited for awhile
They were, however, finally aban-
doned. with the exception of three,
which are still in use.
To reach this settlement one can go
directly from Athens by train in 13
hours, or one can cross the Thessa-
lCnian plains in seven hours by train
from the port of Volo.
The season of good weather COM
mences in April, when the mountains
are green and yellow with gorse and
the sun shines almost continually.
Earlier there are apt to be heavy
rains, and the spring thaw causes a
mist TO rise from the frozen mountains
which Obscures the view, while the
snow. melting into the earth, makes
mud one or two feet deep, and travelling
on horseback is almost impossible II,
however, one is fortunate enough to
hit the last of winter, when the sun
shines and the mountains are still re-
splendent in their dazzling whiteness,
then one sees them in all their glory.
The rocky eminences on which stand
the "a monuments of mans erstwhile
habitation seem to forbid nearer ap-
proach, and yet they lure the adven-
turer TO them by their danger.
Across the Plains of ThessaIy.
The seven hours trip across the
plains of ThessaIy to the town of
Kalabaka is most enchanting. Range
after range Of hills roll up from the
plateau. The foothills in winter are
powdered with snow, as though an
angel had shaken the down from his
wings; the higher hills are whittier and
bleaker, and the highest hills are as
pure as the drifting clouds into which
they seem to melt and disappear into
highest heaven.
On the plains flocks of goats and
sheep, attended by their shepherds,
are spread SO numerously over the
land that mushrooms in field never
appeared more abundant The shep-
herd himself is picturesque person.
His legs are encased in long, white
leggings, ending in pointed, turned-up
shoes adorned with tassels. A sheep
skin hangs from his shoulders and
staff with crook is carried in his
hand.
The train crawls over the hills and
across the plains at slow speed, and
the sheep-dogs run barking by it's
side; indeed, one wonders that they
do not Outpace it. The villages, in
yariably set back from the railway,
are far better to look at in the dis
tance, for the stucco houses are not
attractive near to; but their fiat, red
roofs add pleasing touch of color
to the middle landscape.
Occasionally a Greek priest, with
long beard, long hair, and long gar
ments, rides by. His high hat and
his large cross indicate prominently
hn i, IN
great a hurry, pedestrian may stop
him, kiss his cross, and be touched on
the forehead with little switch, pre-
sumably dipped in holy water, and the
sinner obtains absolutiOn for the day.
One leaves the train at Kalabaka,
and there takes horses and guides to
climb TO the high-buiIt monasteries.
For three hours the horses pick their
way over hilIsides where, in the month
of February, no trail is visible.
Up the beds of streams the way
leads and the rushing waters must be
forded. Suddenly one comes upon a
rock formation so awe-compelling from
its immense height and forbidding
steepness that Dore could have i'm
agined no more formidable bulwark.
Andromeda might have been chained
to one of these sheer rocks, and the
eagles that swoop, and dip, and circle
among them could have been the only
thing 10 reach her, until Perseus came
to set her free. In those days the
valley was evidently body of water
and could easily have harbored mon