Monasteries, Bacon, and the Beginning of the End

Right. Let’s see how well my memory holds up for the rest of Greece.

After visiting Delphi, we headed north to Meteora for a change of scenery, drawn by the famous monasteries perched atop towering rock formations. Unfortunately, the experience was a bit underwhelming—though that may have had more to do with our stay than the sights themselves. A gloomy hotel and an especially grumpy owner took the shine off the visit. It’s frustrating how much a bad stay can taint your impression of a place.

With two days left before we had to return the rental car to Athens, we decided to make the most of the drive back. We stopped at Thermopylae and took in the historical weight of the site—an awe-inspiring moment that stood in contrast to what came next.

That night, we stayed in the coastal town of Livanates. The town had the eerie charm of a summer holiday spot in the depths of winter—shuttered restaurants, empty streets, and a stillness that bordered on surreal. Our hotel was the only place open and had no other guests, yet it was bustling with locals who treated it as a communal hub.

The next morning turned into an unexpected and hilarious showdown among the locals: who could feed us the most? Bacon, bread, and a whole array of other dishes—most of which I can’t even remember—were piled onto our plates with genuine enthusiasm. Our joy in eating seemed to fuel their excitement, and the food just kept coming. A walk through the empty town afterwards was much needed to digest it all. The silence and emptiness gave it a strange post-apocalyptic vibe, like we were the last two people left in the world.

After wrapping up our time on the mainland, we made our way to the islands: Santorini, Heraklion—and then onto Cyprus. Sadly, this final leg of the trip bore a nasty injury, bringing everything to a halt. It was the moment that paused the updates to the blog. Until now of course.