 |
 |
 |
CHRISOSKALISTISSA IN CRETE
 Chrisoskalistissa is the name of a 17th century white painted monastery on the southwestcoast of Crete. It's build on a rock overlooking Stomia Bay and the Libian sea. The name means "golden staircase", and it is said that one of the 90 stairs to the top of the monastery is made of gold, but that only a person without sin can see it. I'm afriad that neither I nor my friends saw any gold on the staircase during our visit. Another story tells that it did exist but that the monks were forced to sell it in order to help the Patriarchy of Constantinople to pay off its debts to the Sultan during the Turkish occupation. You can have a nice view of the surroundings from the monastery after you climed up. It can be reached from Kisamos over a spectaculair road which is also a bit scary from time to time, because it takes you so high up in the mountains it's hard to look down.... For those of you who want to stay over: there's not much accomodation around. We stayed at a nice hotel which has a taverne across the street with nice views over the sea and towards the monastery in the background. It's just a little back from where you came from, and it's called Glykeria rooms and tavern. They are the only two buildings there, so an opportunity for a nice sunset and a star filled sky in complete quietness. It's a small place with 10 rooms all with balconies facing the sea. It's run by a very helpful, funny Swedish woman called Frida, who happens to be also a great cook, both in the evening and in the morning at breakfast time. |