01/06/19
Today was full of serendipitous moment that made for an exceptional day.
We had planned to take a secondary path to spend the night in historic Samos. This meant less people & gave us time to more fully enjoy the town & its famous monastery. On the way, we diverted to visit another monastery that had been artfully updated and now serves as a 60-bed aubergue. Upon arrival, we found only one person, a pilgrim, Rosa, who was one of four visitors staying in the cavernous monastery the night before. We walked together to Samos where we first visited the aubergue housed in the Samos monastery- one large room with 50 bunks.
After a quick cafe stop, we squeezed into an English tour of the well-preserved monastery, its cloister & the impressive murals lining its walls. We also toured the gilded gem of a church. One monk alerted us that there would be a wedding in the chapel in the afternoon. That was like catnip to me.
Before the appointed hour, we crept into the back row in our best hiking finery, sat behind greenery & took in the festivities- ring-bearing children,the seating of top-ranking relatives & finally, the main event, the bride. No, we didn't lunge for the bouquet, opting instead for a quick getaway to our lovely room on the outskirts of town.
Casa de Diaz was plucked out of a fairytale. Gardens, pergolas, balconies (with our drying gear), antiques, a small restaurant & loving caretakers.
12k to Samos (population 150)
Today was full of serendipitous moment that made for an exceptional day.
We had planned to take a secondary path to spend the night in historic Samos. This meant less people & gave us time to more fully enjoy the town & its famous monastery. On the way, we diverted to visit another monastery that had been artfully updated and now serves as a 60-bed aubergue. Upon arrival, we found only one person, a pilgrim, Rosa, who was one of four visitors staying in the cavernous monastery the night before. We walked together to Samos where we first visited the aubergue housed in the Samos monastery- one large room with 50 bunks.
After a quick cafe stop, we squeezed into an English tour of the well-preserved monastery, its cloister & the impressive murals lining its walls. We also toured the gilded gem of a church. One monk alerted us that there would be a wedding in the chapel in the afternoon. That was like catnip to me.
Before the appointed hour, we crept into the back row in our best hiking finery, sat behind greenery & took in the festivities- ring-bearing children,the seating of top-ranking relatives & finally, the main event, the bride. No, we didn't lunge for the bouquet, opting instead for a quick getaway to our lovely room on the outskirts of town.
Casa de Diaz was plucked out of a fairytale. Gardens, pergolas, balconies (with our drying gear), antiques, a small restaurant & loving caretakers.
12k to Samos (population 150)
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