Last time we went to Toplou Monastery it was a madhouse of tour buses and people. Today, when we arrived there was not a single bus or car in the parking lot. We hoped it was open.
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It's such a pretty spot, a short drive from Sitia, with nothing around, so peaceful.
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A metal and cement memorial to monks killed in Turkish and Nazi invasions.
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A man we approached said yes we could go in, no photos and there was no light as they were working on the electricity.
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We could take pictures in the small courtyard, hidden inside the fortress-like exterior.
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Wooden stairs, arches
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and plants, this felt more like a monastery than its forbidding facade had.
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We had been greeted by a couple of friendly dogs, but saw no monks.
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Inside, the chapel was small and dark, just lit by a few flickering oil lamps. Rick used the flashlight on his phone to look around - ornate wooden chairs against the walls, a very old bible, open on a stand, paintings on the walls and ceiling of saints - we were more taken by the courtyard.
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On the way out I had to use the facilities. I haven't seen one of these since traveling in Europe in the late 70s. (and my thighs were in better shape then).
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Still no-one else here.
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Rick walked around, checking out the monks vineyards and I sat and sketched the windmill.
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Our next plan was to drive to the south of the island but as we set off I decided that I really didn't want to traverse the mountains with their switchback roads, so headed instead back into Sitia.
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