After a five-and-a-half hour train journey from Athens, I have arrived at the Meteora (Μετέωρα).

From the railway station in Kalambaka (Καλαμπάκα) I paid €5 for a taxi to Kastraki (Καστράκι), the next village, where I have double room with wonderful views over the Meteora. I shall write more about the Meteora once I’ve had a proper chance to visit it tomorrow.

Travelling first class on the train was probably the best thing I’ve ever done. The first class carriage is divided in to compartments of no more than 6 seats, with climate control, light control, bigger seats than 2nd class, and the door to each compartment can be closed.

I was sharing the compartment with a Greek family – a couple and their daughter, roughly the same age as me – who I spoke to in Greek quite a lot… they pointed out to me all the key points of interest as the journey progressed; I talked about my tour of Greece, they told me about their friends in England: my favourite line being “Brighton is by the sea but it has lots of gay people”. Now I know the Greek word for “gay”…

Also included in my €14,70 first class ticket was a free meal: so for breakfast (I had it at around 11, with the family) I had a cheese pie, a sort of melba toast with cherry jam to spread on it, a couple of chocolate bars, and a drink.

I will be doing the monastries of the Meteora properly tomorrow morning, Zozas has given me a map and written down the times of the busses. I can have breakfast at 07:30, then get the bus at 9 to the monastries. I’ll be able to leave my luggage securely in the hotel, then collect it when I get back before I head on up to Thessaloniki.

More on Kastraki to follow later.

Bye for now,

FH.