WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879 Imagine hanging over a thousand feet in the air, 00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:06.240 right? And you are just crammed into this tiny 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.000 fraying rope finette. Oh my gosh, my palms are 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.939 sweating just thinking about it. Right. The wind 00:00:11.939 --> 00:00:15.820 is just howling through this massive canyon and 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:18.859 the ropes are literally groaning under your weight. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.019 And you're just, you're being pulled up the side 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:26.149 of a sheer vertical sandstone cliff. By hand. 00:00:26.550 --> 00:00:28.350 Exactly. Completely by hand. And I mean, if that 00:00:28.350 --> 00:00:30.690 rope snaps or if the pulley gives out, well, 00:00:31.010 --> 00:00:32.950 that is just it. Game over. Yeah, game over. 00:00:33.310 --> 00:00:35.850 But the crazy thing is, for centuries, this was 00:00:35.850 --> 00:00:38.350 literally the only way anyone could reach the 00:00:38.350 --> 00:00:41.009 Meteora monasteries in Greece. It's just terrifying. 00:00:41.189 --> 00:00:43.729 It completely defies all logic. It totally does. 00:00:44.090 --> 00:00:47.229 but is entirely by design. Anyway, welcome to 00:00:47.229 --> 00:00:49.729 the Travel Podcast by Excursion Pass. We are 00:00:49.729 --> 00:00:51.509 so glad you're here with us today. This is honestly 00:00:51.509 --> 00:00:54.070 one of our absolute favorite formats to do. Oh, 00:00:54.070 --> 00:00:55.890 for sure. We love doing these deep dives. We 00:00:55.890 --> 00:00:58.509 are your guides for today. And our mission basically 00:00:58.509 --> 00:01:01.810 is to unpack this huge full day trip from Athens 00:01:01.810 --> 00:01:04.930 to these impossible monasteries in the sky. Yes, 00:01:05.390 --> 00:01:08.469 we are breaking down this exact tour, pulling 00:01:08.469 --> 00:01:11.269 straight from the key tours and excursion pass 00:01:11.269 --> 00:01:13.530 listings. Right, which usually run anywhere from 00:01:13.530 --> 00:01:16.930 like 74 euros to 98 dollars, depending on the 00:01:16.930 --> 00:01:19.290 options. Exactly. And we're going to share every 00:01:19.290 --> 00:01:22.069 single vivid detail with you, all the inside 00:01:22.069 --> 00:01:24.810 secrets, just as if we literally got off the 00:01:24.810 --> 00:01:26.709 bus ourselves and are sitting here having coffee 00:01:26.709 --> 00:01:28.969 with you to compare notes. Because we want you 00:01:28.969 --> 00:01:32.370 to feel like you are right there with us. But 00:01:32.370 --> 00:01:35.040 look. I know what you are thinking. I can hear 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:36.799 you through the speakers. Oh, I know exactly 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:40.340 what they're thinking. You're thinking 14 hours 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:43.379 on a bus in one single day. Are you absolutely 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:45.980 crazy? It is the ultimate pushback. And look, 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.379 it is totally valid. Hearing 14 hour bus ride 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:51.500 makes almost anyone just instantly flinch. Right. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:54.019 It just sounds like a complete logistical gauntlet. 00:01:54.140 --> 00:01:55.719 It's so tempting to just say, you know what, 00:01:55.780 --> 00:01:57.620 I'll stay in Athens. Yeah, just grab another 00:01:57.620 --> 00:01:59.540 coffee and pluck maybe look at the Acropolis 00:01:59.540 --> 00:02:02.420 one more time. Exactly. But I promise you, once 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:05.019 you understand exactly what is waiting for you 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:07.359 up on those cliffs, that 14 -hour commitment 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:10.319 is going to start making perfect sense. Oh, totally. 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:13.120 Because before we even get into all those grueling 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.719 logistics, we really need to paint a picture 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:18.939 of this destination. It justifies the entire 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:22.159 journey. OK, let's unpack this. Because Meteor 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:24.659 isn't just like... a bunch of old buildings on 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.800 a hill, it's this geological anomaly. Visually, 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:30.419 it makes absolutely zero sense. Not at all. You're 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:33.219 just in this relatively flat valley, right? Yeah. 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:36.159 And then suddenly, boom, there are these massive 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:39.419 sheer pillars of solid rock just shooting straight 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:41.300 up into the clouds. It's like something out of 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:43.340 a fantasy movie. The natural landscape alone 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:46.759 is just staggering. It really is. And this is 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:49.340 the part that gets me. You realize that human 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:52.580 beings in the 14th century somehow built these 00:02:52.580 --> 00:02:55.860 sprawling, intricate stone monasteries on the 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:57.719 very tips of those rock needles. Without any 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:00.099 modern equipment. Right. I mean, try to imagine 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:02.699 building a modern skyscraper today, but you have 00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:05.689 no cranes. no helicopters, and no safety harnesses. 00:03:05.889 --> 00:03:08.729 Just ropes, pulleys, and some really extreme 00:03:08.729 --> 00:03:11.270 faith. What's fascinating here is exactly what 00:03:11.270 --> 00:03:13.289 this tour actually covers when you get there. 00:03:13.289 --> 00:03:14.889 You're not just looking at one building. No, 00:03:14.889 --> 00:03:17.430 it's a whole complex. Exactly. You get to see 00:03:17.430 --> 00:03:20.689 all six of the remaining UNESCO listed monasteries 00:03:20.689 --> 00:03:22.870 from the outside, which is just incredible for 00:03:22.870 --> 00:03:24.610 photos. Oh, the panoramic views are unmatched. 00:03:24.750 --> 00:03:27.409 And then the tour actually takes you inside three 00:03:27.409 --> 00:03:29.729 of them. Usually, it's the Holy Monastery of 00:03:29.729 --> 00:03:32.110 Varlam, Rusenu, and the Holy Trinity. Walking 00:03:32.110 --> 00:03:34.389 inside is just... It's a whole different level 00:03:34.389 --> 00:03:37.430 of awe. They're standing where these monks sought 00:03:37.430 --> 00:03:41.930 this extreme spiritual devotion and total isolation. 00:03:42.210 --> 00:03:44.310 Yeah, they literally wanted to disconnect from 00:03:44.310 --> 00:03:46.629 the entire earthly realm. And beyond the main 00:03:46.629 --> 00:03:50.009 monasteries, the tour also takes you to the Hermit 00:03:50.009 --> 00:03:52.969 Caves of Badovas. Oh man, the caves. We have 00:03:52.969 --> 00:03:54.610 to talk about the caves for a second. We really 00:03:54.610 --> 00:03:57.409 do. Because, okay, full warning here, based on 00:03:57.409 --> 00:03:59.430 actual reviews from people who just took this 00:03:59.430 --> 00:04:03.270 tour, the Hermit Caves segment is kind of notorious 00:04:03.270 --> 00:04:05.699 for being a literal drive by. A blink -and -you 00:04:05.699 --> 00:04:08.240 -miss -it situation. Exactly. Because the mountain 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:11.159 roads are so narrow, the Megabus literally cannot 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.419 pull over and stop. So if you happen to be sitting 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:15.900 on the wrong side of the bus aisle, you will 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:18.779 completely miss these centuries -old caves because 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:20.860 you'll just be staring at a metal guardrail. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:23.300 That is so frustrating. You have to really keep 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:25.180 an ear out for the guide's announcement. You 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:27.500 do. You have to be ready to aggressively lean 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:29.620 across the aisle over the person next to you 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:31.970 if you want to see them. Honestly, that tension 00:04:31.970 --> 00:04:35.209 right there is a perfect transition because these 00:04:35.209 --> 00:04:37.870 monks were so good at finding the most isolated 00:04:37.870 --> 00:04:40.870 inaccessible spot in Europe. Getting there today 00:04:40.870 --> 00:04:43.529 is still a total logistical nightmare. Okay, 00:04:43.550 --> 00:04:45.149 but let's be real about this schedule for a second. 00:04:45.750 --> 00:04:49.329 We really need to act as true experts here. and 00:04:49.329 --> 00:04:51.350 address the practical reality of this day trip. 00:04:51.490 --> 00:04:54.870 Let's do it. It's a marathon. It is. An 8 .0 00:04:54.870 --> 00:04:57.769 AM start at the Larissa's train station in Athens 00:04:57.769 --> 00:05:02.089 and a 10 .3 year PM return, sometimes even 11 00:05:02.089 --> 00:05:05.009 .00 PM. How chaotic is this actually going to 00:05:05.009 --> 00:05:06.829 be in practice? Well, let's break it down step 00:05:06.829 --> 00:05:09.550 by step. The tour advertises complimentary hotel 00:05:09.550 --> 00:05:11.649 pickups from central Athens. Which sounds great 00:05:11.649 --> 00:05:14.240 on paper. Like a seamless luxury experience. 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:17.180 Right. But reviewers point out a major pain point 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:19.939 here. This morning transfer is often the most 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:23.199 chaotic part of the entire 14 hours. Oh, totally. 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:25.339 Because it's not just one bus picking everyone 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:27.759 up at their hotel. Exactly. Small vans pick you 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:29.639 up and just sort of dump you at the main train 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:32.939 station. And one reviewer mentioned they spent 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:36.620 30 agonizing minutes just wandering around the 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:39.279 station looking for the actual main tour bus. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:42.439 Just wandering around at like 730 in the morning. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:46.120 Yeah. surrounded by dozens of huge buses and 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.699 hundreds of confused tourists. And to make it 00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:50.899 worse, sometimes those initial transfer drivers 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:53.519 don't speak any English. Oh, that is peak travel 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:57.040 anxiety. You're holding a lukewarm coffee, dodging 00:05:57.040 --> 00:05:59.620 rolling luggage, and this driver just points 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:02.879 vaguely at a sea of buses and drives away. It's 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:04.759 rough. You really have to pack your patience 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:08.149 for that first hour. Seriously. But okay, let's 00:06:08.149 --> 00:06:09.870 fast forward to the end of the day because that 00:06:09.870 --> 00:06:12.509 late -night return is a massive safety and logistical 00:06:12.509 --> 00:06:15.410 point, especially for solo travelers. Yes, this 00:06:15.410 --> 00:06:17.649 is so important to highlight. A reviewer pointed 00:06:17.649 --> 00:06:21.029 out that the 11 .0 p .m. drop -off is not back 00:06:21.029 --> 00:06:23.529 at your cozy hotel. It terminates right back 00:06:23.529 --> 00:06:25.490 at that same train station. In the dark. In the 00:06:25.490 --> 00:06:27.949 dark. And you might just be standing there completely 00:06:27.949 --> 00:06:31.129 exhausted waiting for a taxi to happen by. So 00:06:31.129 --> 00:06:34.569 our advice to you... Do not wait until you step 00:06:34.569 --> 00:06:37.610 off that bus to figure out your ride. No, absolutely 00:06:37.610 --> 00:06:41.350 not. Have your Uber app open and plan that ride 00:06:41.350 --> 00:06:43.569 while you are still rolling down the highway. 00:06:43.870 --> 00:06:46.310 Pre -planet, it changes the whole vibe from stressful 00:06:46.310 --> 00:06:49.209 to totally manageable. Definitely. And speaking 00:06:49.209 --> 00:06:51.089 of the highway, we have to talk about the food 00:06:51.089 --> 00:06:53.649 stops because this is honestly hilarious. Oh 00:06:53.649 --> 00:06:56.250 my gosh, yes, the infamous food stops. So it's 00:06:56.250 --> 00:06:58.250 a 14 -hour day, so obviously they have to feed 00:06:58.250 --> 00:07:01.870 you. The tour offers this optional 10 -course 00:07:01.870 --> 00:07:04.509 Greek lunch in Kalimbaka, which is great. Sounds 00:07:04.509 --> 00:07:06.730 amazing. But for the mid -morning brunch and 00:07:06.730 --> 00:07:08.629 the late -night dinner stops along the highway, 00:07:09.209 --> 00:07:11.569 reviewers notice something really funny. They 00:07:11.569 --> 00:07:13.949 stop at the exact same beachfront restaurant 00:07:13.949 --> 00:07:17.199 both times. Yes. 10 hours apart, you are back 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.519 at the exact same diner. It so clearly shows 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:23.680 this very cozy relationship between the tour 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.519 company and the restaurant. The classic tour 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:28.839 industry hustle. Like it's the only place with 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.519 a parking lot big enough for a 45 person bus. 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:34.879 Exactly. And honestly, the food is fine, but 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.910 it's super rushed. eating against a stopwatch. 00:07:38.189 --> 00:07:40.170 Which is why my biggest piece of advice here 00:07:40.170 --> 00:07:43.550 is to pack a serious arsenal of snacks. Oh, absolutely. 00:07:43.829 --> 00:07:46.589 Bring your own survival kit. I'm talking protein 00:07:46.589 --> 00:07:49.589 bars, nuts, maybe some local fruit you grabbed 00:07:49.589 --> 00:07:52.370 in Athens. Because when you are stuck on a bus 00:07:52.370 --> 00:07:55.389 and your blood sugar crashes, you are going to 00:07:55.389 --> 00:07:58.329 be miserable. And you cannot afford to be miserable 00:07:58.329 --> 00:08:00.870 because once you survive the bus ride and actually 00:08:00.870 --> 00:08:04.259 arrive in Kalimbaka around midday. you have to 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:06.660 physically perform. Right. And this is my next 00:08:06.660 --> 00:08:10.839 big question. If I am not in, like, peak physical 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:14.019 condition, should I even attempt this? It's a 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:16.079 really valid fear. We have to be totally honest 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:18.220 about the physical reality here. Because it's 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:20.620 not just a casual stroll. Not at all. Moderate 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:22.439 fitness is absolutely required. First of all, 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:24.319 this is not wheelchair accessible on the slightest. 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:26.579 Noted. And to actually get into some of these 00:08:26.579 --> 00:08:29.339 monasteries, you will be climbing over 300 stairs. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:32.809 Over 300 stairs. Yes. And these are not nice 00:08:32.809 --> 00:08:35.750 even modern stairs. They are carved directly 00:08:35.750 --> 00:08:38.470 into the rock face. They're steep. They're uneven. 00:08:38.590 --> 00:08:40.909 And in the summer, you are doing this in the 00:08:40.909 --> 00:08:44.029 blazing Mediterranean heat. Wow. So you're literally 00:08:44.029 --> 00:08:46.009 sweating through your clothes just trying to 00:08:46.009 --> 00:08:48.450 get to the front door. Pretty much. But there 00:08:48.450 --> 00:08:51.350 is a helpful alternative. If you are traveling 00:08:51.350 --> 00:08:54.370 with someone older or if you just have bad knees, 00:08:54.509 --> 00:08:56.809 you don't have to stay on the bus. Oh, that's 00:08:56.809 --> 00:08:59.399 good to know. What can they do? You can wait 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.960 at these designated benches in the parking areas 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:03.600 right near the base of the pillars. You still 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.639 get those incredible sweeping views of the valley. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:09.000 You just miss the interiors of the monasteries. 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:11.940 Exactly. It's a decent compromise if the stairs 00:09:11.940 --> 00:09:14.200 are just impossible for you. Okay, so let's say 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:17.240 you do the stairs. You conquer the 300 steps, 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:20.000 you are completely out of breath, and you finally 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.940 reach the top. Here's where it gets really interesting. 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:24.659 Oh, I know where you're going with this. The 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:27.649 dress code. Because you cannot just waltz into 00:09:27.649 --> 00:09:31.309 a 14th century sacred Byzantine monastery wearing 00:09:31.309 --> 00:09:33.389 whatever you want. No, they are incredibly strict 00:09:33.389 --> 00:09:35.789 about this. It's a functioning religious community. 00:09:36.210 --> 00:09:38.929 Right. So men, you cannot wear shorts. Do not 00:09:38.929 --> 00:09:41.629 even try it. You have to wear long pants. And 00:09:41.629 --> 00:09:44.009 for women, the rules are even stricter. You must 00:09:44.009 --> 00:09:45.950 cover your shoulders and you absolutely have 00:09:45.950 --> 00:09:48.149 to wear a long skirt that goes below the knee. 00:09:48.789 --> 00:09:50.789 Now, this is the number one doubt I see from 00:09:50.789 --> 00:09:53.149 travelers online. People always ask, well, what 00:09:53.149 --> 00:09:55.730 if I just show up in like really loose jeans 00:09:55.730 --> 00:09:58.629 or long slacks? Right, because one reviewer did 00:09:58.629 --> 00:10:01.029 mention that pants were okay for them. Yeah, 00:10:01.029 --> 00:10:03.809 but that reviewer got lucky. Maybe they caught 00:10:03.809 --> 00:10:06.990 a lenient monk at the door on a busy day. But 00:10:06.990 --> 00:10:09.529 officially, they strictly enforced the skirt 00:10:09.529 --> 00:10:12.389 rule for women. It has to do with obscuring the 00:10:12.389 --> 00:10:14.710 silhouette of the legs entirely. It's a deep 00:10:14.710 --> 00:10:17.450 theological tradition. It is. So what actually 00:10:17.450 --> 00:10:20.009 happens if you show up in jeans after climbing 00:10:20.009 --> 00:10:22.799 300 stairs? Do they just turn you away and make 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:24.700 you walk all the way back down? Thankfully, no. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:27.220 They are very pragmatic about this culture clash. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:29.299 Right at the entrance, they actually provide 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:32.559 these wrap skirts you can use. Yes, but it's 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:35.220 not free, right? No, it's a small surcharge, 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:37.460 usually about two euros. Which you have to pay 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:41.200 in cash, so... bring small coins. But honestly, 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:44.399 it leads to the funniest fashion statements. 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:47.820 It really does. Just imagine a huge group of 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:52.299 exhausted, sweaty tourists all tying these identical 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:55.919 borrowed monastery wrap skirts over their travel 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.649 pants. It is quite the look but hey it gets you 00:10:58.649 --> 00:11:01.070 inside and that's what matters. Exactly. Okay 00:11:01.070 --> 00:11:02.909 so we've talked about a 14 -hour transit day. 00:11:03.250 --> 00:11:06.149 Yep. We talked about chaotic mornings, rushed 00:11:06.149 --> 00:11:10.330 repetitive lunches, 300 grueling stairs, and 00:11:10.330 --> 00:11:12.370 renting emergency skirts. It sounds like a lot 00:11:12.370 --> 00:11:14.629 of friction when you list it all out like that. 00:11:14.730 --> 00:11:17.990 It does. So why on earth does this specific tour 00:11:17.990 --> 00:11:22.110 have a 4 .6 star rating and a 91 recommendation 00:11:22.110 --> 00:11:24.710 rate? It's a great question. And honestly, it 00:11:24.710 --> 00:11:26.850 all comes down to the human element. The people 00:11:26.850 --> 00:11:28.750 leading this tour are what make it work. You 00:11:28.750 --> 00:11:30.450 know, I always say a good tour guide is basically 00:11:30.450 --> 00:11:32.470 like a great movie director. Oh, I love that 00:11:32.470 --> 00:11:34.529 analogy. Right. Because they can take a totally 00:11:34.529 --> 00:11:37.090 chaotic script, like confusing bus transfers 00:11:37.090 --> 00:11:39.710 and a crazy tight schedule, and they just frame 00:11:39.710 --> 00:11:42.190 the experience perfectly to turn it into a masterpiece. 00:11:42.610 --> 00:11:45.129 That is so true. And the reviewers back this 00:11:45.129 --> 00:11:48.509 up completely. The local English speaking guides 00:11:48.509 --> 00:11:51.389 literally make or break this trip. They really 00:11:51.389 --> 00:11:53.350 do, like reading through the reviews. There are 00:11:53.350 --> 00:11:55.590 some absolute legends on this stuff. Oh, for 00:11:55.590 --> 00:11:58.429 sure. People specifically name drop Katerina 00:11:58.429 --> 00:12:00.690 all the time. They say she is incredibly witty 00:12:00.690 --> 00:12:03.049 and so compassionate. Which you desperately need 00:12:03.049 --> 00:12:04.870 when people are getting cranky in the midday 00:12:04.870 --> 00:12:08.210 heat. Exactly. And then there's Apostolis. Yes. 00:12:08.789 --> 00:12:10.970 Apostolis is apparently the guy you want if you 00:12:10.970 --> 00:12:14.049 love taking photos. He is. Reviewers rave about 00:12:14.049 --> 00:12:16.450 him because he literally acts like an unofficial 00:12:16.450 --> 00:12:19.529 photographer for the guests. He knows all the 00:12:19.529 --> 00:12:21.669 best angles on the cliffs and actively helps 00:12:21.669 --> 00:12:24.570 you get that perfect shot. That is huge because 00:12:24.570 --> 00:12:26.250 you want proof that you are actually standing 00:12:26.250 --> 00:12:28.909 on top of these impossible rocks. Totally. But 00:12:28.909 --> 00:12:30.929 we also have to give a massive shout out to the 00:12:30.929 --> 00:12:35.139 drivers. Like Spyros. Oh man, driving a 45 -person 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:38.299 Megabus up those terrifying mountain roads. With 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:40.600 those sheer drops on the side, it takes serious 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:43.519 skill. One reviewer specifically praised Spyros 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.620 for navigating all those hairpin turns with, 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:48.360 and I quote, the patience of a Greek. The patience 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.500 of a Greek. I love that. And it really makes 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:54.100 you think, you know. What stands out to you when 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:56.580 you book a trip like this? Yeah, that's the real 00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:59.259 question for the listener. Is it having... absolutely 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:02.080 perfect seamless logistics where nothing ever 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:05.909 goes wrong. Or is it that human connection, the 00:13:05.909 --> 00:13:08.490 storytelling that makes the history just come 00:13:08.490 --> 00:13:10.330 alive while you're standing there? For me, it's 00:13:10.330 --> 00:13:13.590 the storytelling every single time. 100%. I will 00:13:13.590 --> 00:13:16.450 happily endure a confusing morning at a train 00:13:16.450 --> 00:13:19.929 station if it means I get to stand on a 1 ,300 00:13:19.929 --> 00:13:22.909 foot cliff while a passionate guide tells me 00:13:22.909 --> 00:13:25.509 how these desperate monks built a sanctuary in 00:13:25.509 --> 00:13:27.850 the clouds. It makes all the physical exhaustion 00:13:27.850 --> 00:13:30.350 completely worth it. It really does. So to kind 00:13:30.350 --> 00:13:33.570 of wrap all this up for you. The Excursion Pass 00:13:33.570 --> 00:13:36.230 Meteora trip is, without a doubt, a grueling 00:13:36.230 --> 00:13:38.090 marathon of a day. You were going to be so tired. 00:13:38.169 --> 00:13:41.169 You were going to be exhausted. But the unparalleled 00:13:41.169 --> 00:13:44.330 views and that rich, deep history genuinely make 00:13:44.330 --> 00:13:46.190 it a once -in -a -lifetime experience. As long 00:13:46.190 --> 00:13:48.230 as you know exactly what you were signing up 00:13:48.230 --> 00:13:52.899 for. Which, now, you do. Exactly. But before 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:55.720 we let you go, there is one final kind of provocative 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.700 thought we want to leave you with. Yeah, something 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.940 to just sort of ponder on your own while you're 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:02.000 staring at the bus window on that long ride back 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.039 to Athens. Hit them with it. So the original 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:07.940 monks built these monasteries on these sheer 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:12.039 impossible cliffs for one very specific reason. 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:14.539 Right. They wanted to seek the ultimate isolated 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:17.279 connection with the divine. Exactly. They wanted 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.899 to be as far away from humanity as physically 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:21.919 possible. They literally pulled the ropes up 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.899 behind them. Yes. Yet today, their solitary isolated 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:29.120 refuge attracts massive crowds. Thousands of 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:31.980 people. Right. 45 % mega buses roll up there 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:35.320 every single day. So the question is, does our 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:38.679 modern desire to witness their extreme isolation 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:41.700 ironically destroy the very peace they sought 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:44.960 to create? Wow. That is a heavy, amazing question 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:47.080 to chew on. Are we ruining the very thing we 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.100 came to see? It really makes you think about 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:51.279 how we travel and interact with history. It totally 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.399 does. Well, that is all the time we have for 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:55.419 today. Thank you so much for joining us and letting 00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:57.440 us share this incredible destination with you. 00:14:57.799 --> 00:15:00.519 Yes. Thank you for being here. We hope you feel 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:03.279 totally prepared for Meteora now. We really do. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.759 And don't forget to subscribe to the Travel Podcast 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:08.779 by Excursion Pass for more of these deep dives 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:10.919 into the world's best experiences. We'll see 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:12.879 you next time. Safe travels everybody.