Where: Patmos, Greece
When: July 24, 2007
With: Rachel, Lucy and the Contiki crew
The morning after Mykonos was...rough. And while we only had a couple hours on the small island of Patmos, most people opted to stay in bed and skip out.
And in fairness, it was not an easy start...with a mile climb up a mountain in 90 degree heat. This was to see the site that makes Patmos more famous for pilgrimage than partying and has turned the island into the "Jerusalem of the Aegean": the Sacred Grotto.
The history is that back in 95AD, St. John the Divine, one of the 12 apostles, was banished from Ephesus for preaching Christianity. He was sent to Patmos where he wrote the last book of the Bible while living in a cave. Apparently, the voice of God came down to him and spoke so powerfully that it cracked the very walls of the cave. The part of the Bible he wrote is now known as The Book of Revelation.
I'll admit, I actually didn't know much of this history. And while I was on board for this hike, I wasn't particularly excited about it. Like I said, it was sooo hot, even for "early" in the morning. And looking up to how high we had to go was not inspiring.
When: July 24, 2007
With: Rachel, Lucy and the Contiki crew
The morning after Mykonos was...rough. And while we only had a couple hours on the small island of Patmos, most people opted to stay in bed and skip out.
And in fairness, it was not an easy start...with a mile climb up a mountain in 90 degree heat. This was to see the site that makes Patmos more famous for pilgrimage than partying and has turned the island into the "Jerusalem of the Aegean": the Sacred Grotto.
The history is that back in 95AD, St. John the Divine, one of the 12 apostles, was banished from Ephesus for preaching Christianity. He was sent to Patmos where he wrote the last book of the Bible while living in a cave. Apparently, the voice of God came down to him and spoke so powerfully that it cracked the very walls of the cave. The part of the Bible he wrote is now known as The Book of Revelation.
I'll admit, I actually didn't know much of this history. And while I was on board for this hike, I wasn't particularly excited about it. Like I said, it was sooo hot, even for "early" in the morning. And looking up to how high we had to go was not inspiring.
However, once we did reach the top, the views were spectacular. This was actually one of my favorite pictures from the trip. As Patmos isn't as much of a party town, the beaches and grottos are quieter and more secluded.
The Sacred Grotto is mostly a dark cave with a building built around it. This mosaic over the top of the entrance is a rendering of God speaking to St. John. I couldn't get a good shot of the grotto itself (old camera technology).
Beyond the Grotto, at the top of the hill, a monastery was built in the 11th century. It was a beautiful maze of ruins and old stonework. Very peaceful. We had a wander around for a few minutes, but then had to start the trek back down the mountain.
Nothing beats the view from the top.
While our stop in Patmos was short, it sure packed a historical punch. And it was beautiful. Ironically, we sailed out for Ephesus, the same place that St. John was banished from for his preaching. I stared out again at that blue, blue water and it wasn't hard to picture how the island must have looked when he arrived almost 2,000 years ago.
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