Stairs and bell

[topum]

The stairs



The bell



Simonopetra Monastery, Mount Athos, Greece

This is how it looks from the outside.

Comments

[topum.livejournal.com]

It was not easy to get the "visa" to visit the place (even though they are inside the EU they got a special exemption from free movement agreement and everyone has to apply and get a permit to visit). They accept only 100 visitors a day (for a three nights stay) out of which only 10 can be non-Orthodox (like me). You have to apply way in advance. Women are not allowed to visit. There are few places left in the world as unique as this place. I will be making a series of posts on it soon.

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Ah, so I would not be able to visit that place anyway! I will look forward to your posts.

[topum.livejournal.com]

The closest you would be able to get would be a boat cruise around the peninsular (that's what women do there). The boat cannot come too close but you can still see some of the monasteries from a distance.