Imagine going to the net! If you could not climb up to the top of the monastery at Varlaam in Meteora, the only way up was in the net. People, building equipment, material, and the goods, all had to be placed in a net and pulled up 300 meters.
The monks pulled their nets up and down with a net and pulley system.
Imagine climbing over the edge to get into the net! Don’t start down too soon for a very quick descent to the bottom. Kostas told us that’s how they knew it was time to replace the net!
The photo of the man in the net, on the cover of this book sold at the Varlaam Monastery bookstore, catches our imagination, doesn’t it?
Kostas pointed out the earliest music manuscript.
The monastery water storage system, as used by the monks in this 16th century, included this very large oak water barrel!
One of the most isolated places in the world, the Monastery of Varlaam is one of six monasteries in the area, all built on the top of great sandstone pillars.
We walked back down to the ground, climbed into the bus and rode until we found a great place to take a few pictures.
The Moody Symphonic Band played a concert that night.