Day 3 – Patmos, Greece
June 24, 2010
(Sat May 29) Day 3: Patmos, Greece -
Our trip to Patmos turned out to be not only a scenic surprise, but also it was very peaceful to me. Our guide, Margarita originally from Patmos, but studied in England, gave us so much great history and information to absorb. This is where St. John was exiled and had to spend years here on this island until he was allowed to return to his home. Not a bad place to be exiled.
We visited the grotto where the legend claims St. John received his Revelation of the Apocalypse. The grotto’s beautiful chapel displays a stone pillow once used by the saint.
We enjoyed casually exploring the monestary of St. John the Theologian. Its “Old Treasury” is now a museum displaying a stunning collection of chalices, vestments, and manuscripts. Back then just to print one book took 50 cows’s hide for just one book – no mass production was done then. The oldest book printed that we saw was from 500 A.D., and the last book written by hand was from 1494. Thankfully printing has come a long way.
Above in the arch in the Monestary that shows the eight saints.
Ruth (my awesome mother in law) and I stopped for a photo opportunity – smiling before we leave the monestary – it was a lot of steps to get up to the top – and that many to get back down! 
Hundreds actually – a great leg workout – go booty.
Once we completed our tour we ventured around town. Found a few keepsake’s and then discovered what turned out to be, the most wonderful lunch place. Both Ruth and I enjoy the Tzatziki and a Greek salad. The Greek salad was quite different from the one we think of, there was no romaine lettuce. The base of the salad was the most flavorful red juicy tomatoes. They were ridiculously flavorful! The salad also had cucumbers, feta cheese, kalamata olives, all lightly covered with a special Greek extra virgin olive oil. The tomatoes were the secret ingredient that made the salad. I haven’t had that many tomatoes in a salad like that, well, ever. I am afraid I have never seen that many flavorful rich tomatoes in one place before! I may never be able to eat another tomato again!
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