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alice--pallas · 9 months ago

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TRIGGER WARNING: mental illness (depression, psychosis), abuse mention, drug addiction, pregnancy mention

❀ *◦ kaya scodelario. cis woman. she/her. bisexual. ⇝ hey, isn’t that alice pallas? i think that the thirty-three year old from chicago, illinois works as a journalist at the anchorage daily diem, but outside of that, people describe them as soft rain on your window pane early in the morning & the smell of fresh coffee. i hear they are stubborn & impatient, but they are also known to be nurturing & genuine. consider giving them a visit at their home in delilah’s den gated community and get to know why they’re called the empath.

BASIC INFORMATION

NAME: Alice Marie Pallas NICKNAMES: Al, Ali BIRTH NAME: Aliki Elena Pallas AGE: 33 BIRTH DATE: October 30, 1991 ZODIAC SIGN: Scorpio ETHNICITY: Brazilian, Greek GENDER: Cisgender female (she/her) ORIENTATION: Bisexual BIRTHPLACE: Meteora, Greece OCCUPATION: Journalist for the Anchorage Daily Diem

RELATIONSHIPS

SIBLINGS: Cyrek Fawn (brother, fraternal triplet), Caleb Alcott (brother, fraternal triplet, deceased) Astarion Choi (brother), Samantha Alcott (step-sibling), Haerin-Mae-Nava'i (step-sibling), Alizka Palls-Dexicos (half-sibling), Annaki Pallas-Dexicos (half-sibling); Anka Mae-Nava'i (sister-in-law), Micah Villanelle (sister-in-law) RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single CHILDREN: Rhea Pallas

PHYSICAL TRAITS

FACE CLAIM: Kaya Scodelario EYE COLOUR: Blue HAIR COLOUR: Dyed blonde, naturally brown HEIGHT: 5′6″ WEIGHT: 120 lbs. BODY BUILD: Slim

HEALTH

ALLERGIES: N/A SMOKES?: No DRINKS?: No DRUGS?: No CHRONIC ILLNESS: N/A

DISORDERS

ADDICTIONS: Heroin (in recovery), alcohol (in recovery) MENTAL DISORDERS: Depression WHEN WAS THIS DIAGNOSED?: Alice was diagnosed with depression when she was 17 after an overdose. At the time, she was specifically dealing with a bout of psychotic depression

BIOGRAPHY

EARLY BEGINNINGS

Alice was born on October 30, 1991 in Meteora, Greece via C-section. While she greeted the world, she left her two triplet brothers, Cyrek and Caleb, behind. Alice, Cyrek, and Caleb did not share the same father and therefore are triplets due to paternal superfecundation

Alice's father met her mother while on a business trip in Greece. They had a brief yet torrid love affair and afterwards, her father went back to Chicago, planning to never look back. However, when he found out that he had a daughter on the other side of the world, he couldn't leave her behind. Shortly after Alice was born, her father flew back to Greece and collected his daughter. Growing up, Alice had no idea about her origins

Alice's father, David, didn't know quite what to say when he brought a little girl home to his wife. Needless to say, she was furious and swiftly filed for divorce, leaving David to be a single father to young Alice. While Alice was growing up, David tried to be there for his daughter, despite his busy work schedule

Growing up, Alice was very close to her father, even though he had to go away for work a lot. Being a hotshot lawyer, David had plenty of money to supply Alice with nannies and practically anything she could ask for, though she didn't really care about any of that. Her favorite thing was getting to spend time with her father. However, she always felt the aching absence of a mother figure and David never really had a good answer when Alice inquired about her mother. Her father just felt like it was too complicated a situation to explain to a young child

As a young girl, Alice got involved with figure skating and at the very beginning, she'd wanted to be a professional figure skater. While her love of writing overtook that dream, she never stopped skating, as she always loved the feeling it gave her

While Alice was relatively well-behaved throughout her childhood, she developed a rebellious streak in high school and began to act out. She would sneak out, go to parties, and get drunk. David was at a loss of what to do for his daughter. He tried disciplining her but that only pushed her away. Alice felt like she deserved a little freedom and it was all just good fun--at least, that was until she met Tristan

Tristan was a few years older than Alice and was your classic misunderstood bad boy--though when they met, Alice didn't realize how bad he truly was. What started out as a whirlwind romance quickly spiraled into a cycle of abuse. Even worse, Tristan introduced Alice to heroin and she was instantly hooked. Alice, who desperately wanted to feel loved and cared for, quickly fell into this cycle and once she was in, she had no idea how she was going to get out

Alice, a 17 year old who had once been a straight-A student, was now regularly skipping school to meet up with Tristan and get high. Her grades quickly plummeted and it wasn't long before her father figured out what was really going on. After a huge fight with her father, Alice sought solace in a needle Tristan. In a desperate attempt to numb everything out, Alice accidentally overdosed on heroin that happened to be laced with fentanyl and when Tristan realized what was happening, he bailed, leaving her for dead. It was only thanks to her father finding her in the nick of time that she was able to be saved

THE BREAKING POINT

What no one realized at the time was that Alice had been suffering from hallucinations for over a year at that point. The first time she experienced the hallucinations, she thought she'd been drugged. But she quickly discovered that she was having at first auditory, and then visual hallucinations, even when she was stone-cold sober. Being a teenager, she felt like if she told anyone, they'd think she was crazy so she kept it to herself. Sickeningly, it seemed that heroin was the only thing that gave her relief from her hallucinations, which only further fueled her addiction

When Alice came to in the hospital after her overdose, she was met with a look of frightened relief from her father. David was at his wits end and didn't know how else to help his daughter. He informed Alice that she would be going to a treatment center to get the help that she needed. Though Alice went kicking and screaming, quite literally, it didn't change her reality--she was stuck in that hospital for what felt like forever

Alice certainly wasn't cooperative at first. In fact, she spent about a year-and-a-half treating her treatment plan like a joke. She would sneak around, find the liquor that the staff had stashed for themselves, and get wasted. Unable to get her hands on any drugs, she settled for alcohol instead. While alcohol hadn't been a huge problem for her before, it now became her crutch. While in treatment, she was diagnosed with severe depression and she found out that the hallucinations had stemmed from a bout of psychotic depression which occurred due to lack of treatment. Even with this information, Alice was perfectly fine with rotting away in the facility for the rest of her life, too lost in her self-loathing to better herself. It wasn't until Alec showed up that everything changed

For better or worse, the prospect of love is what motivated Alice to really work on her recovery. Alec, who had once been one of Tristan's old friends, showed up one day out of the blue--and as a patient nonetheless. Even though he'd hung out with Tristan back then, Alec wasn't anything like Alice's abusive ex-boyfriend. Alec was kind and sweet, if not a little lost, and their romance quickly blossomed. After another year spent actually working towards her recovery, Alice was finally released from the hospital and things moved quickly with Alec

A FALSE START

After getting out of the hospital at 20, Alice was ready for a fresh start. Sober and feeling happier than ever, she enrolled in college where she studied journalism, as she'd always wanted to be a writer. She and Alec moved into together almost immediately and everything was bliss

During her second year of college, Alice was reunited with her long-lost brothers, Atticus and Cyrek. After spending her entire life as a lonely only child, she suddenly had a twin brother and an older brother to bond with. At first, she was unable to forgive her father for lying to her for so long. She'd asked so many times about her mother and where she was and all he'd done was lie. She didn't speak to her father for about 6 months but eventually, they reconciled. After all, she couldn't deny that David was the one person that had been there for her as a child. Sure, he hadn't always had the right answers or known what to do but he had stayed and that's what mattered to her the most

While Alice's life was seemingly cheerful on the outside, inside, she was struggling with her recovery and she relapsed a couple times. Still, even with a few bumps in the road, she never gave up. Through each relapse, her loved ones were always there for her, especially Alec--which is why it was so devastating to discover that Alec had been dealing drugs behind her back to make ends meet. One evening, Alice had found a massive load of pills stashed inside the toilet tank and she almost lost it. Oddly enough, a huge blowout argument resulted in Alec asking Alice to marry him. In hindsight, it was clearly doomed from the start but Alice was so happy at the prospect of having someone to love her for the rest of her life, she was willing to look past this mistake

After a long engagement, as well as some trials and tribulations, Alice graduated college with her Bachelor Degree in Journalism and got married to Alec. It was a beautiful wedding day that was filled with all of her loved ones. It was the start of something so promising--Alice couldn't wait to build a family with Alec and grow old together. But unfortunately, it was never meant to be

Alec had been struggling mentally, though he'd kept it a secret for Alice--that is, until he could no longer keep it hidden. One night after Alice got home from work, she found Alec in the middle of a mental break. She'd tried to calm him down but nothing worked and he eventually ran off into the night. He disappeared for 2 straight weeks--Alice had had him declared a missing person and everything. However, when he finally did re-emerge, he apologetically told Alice that he needed help and space. Though she insisted on sticking by his side, in sickness and in health, he insisted that he didn't want her by his side. This broke Alice

Alone and abandoned, Alice spiraled into a depression and relapsed with heroin. Thankfully, her brothers quickly helped her get into rehab where she was reminded why she had worked so hard to get clean in the first place. Since then, Alice has proudly remained sober

A NEW LEAF

Life after marriage was difficult for Alice and she went through a period of feeling very ashamed of her failed marriage and the fact that she was a 25 year old divorcee. Even though all of her loved ones knew it wasn't her fault, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed and for a time, she foolishly swore of love entirely

Though she was still heartbroken over Alec, what was even more devastating was the fact that she'd planned to have a family with her ex-husband and now, that had all been seemingly ripped away from her. However, after a while of being stubborn, Alice finally realized that she didn't need a partner to have a child. She made the decision to go forward with invitro and in December of 2019, she found out that she was expecting

On August 12, 2020, Alice gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and named her Rhea. The little girl, now four, is Alice's pride and joy. Even though one day, she would still love to find someone to share her life with, her daughter, her amazing extended family, and her wonderful friends have truly made Alice the happiest she's ever been

Alice is currently a journalist at the Anchorage Daily Diem. While she tries her best to only stick to the stories that her boss wants her to cover, due Alice's natural curious mind, she often finds herself getting into sticky situations and putting her nose where it shouldn't necessarily be

Alice still figure skates as a hobby and you can usually find her down at the rink early in the morning--her favorite way to greet her day is with a hot cup of coffee and a loop around the rink

#oof this took forever #i did make a few minor changes #anchorintro #tw: mental illness #tw: depression #tw: abuse mention #tw: drugs #tw: pregnancy mention #tw: psychosis

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jasmineway · 1 month ago

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Pasta | Bar // 7-26-2024

So many good ideas, executed with precision... yet not necessarily executed well.

I want to premise that I wanted to love this restaurant. As a longtime Valley once-local, Pasta Bar was an aspirational goal for me years before I finally made it through the door. It was advertised as a Pasta version of Scratch | Bar. As someone who loves fine dining and pasta (but rarely gets the latter at the former) this was exciting, a way to enjoy my two loves.

What I will say is there a very big difference between the Pasta Bar experience, and even the Pasta Bar presentation... and the actual cohesiveness of the food. I had a good time... I had a great show... I had amazing bread... the meal itself, though?

Hmm.

Much like a splenectomy that somehow resects the liver... the greatest preparation skills mean little if the materials used are not ideal for what's necessary.

Arrival

You'll find the restaurant via a subtle plaque on frosted glass on teh second floor of an unsuspecting shopping complex, in a quiet corner in Encino.

Welcome

You are let in to a small holding area, in a bar that overlooks a prep kitchen quarantined from the actual 'dining room' / chef's counter. We were each offered a welcome cocktail and three amuse bouches, my favorite of which made reality the 'cube food' fantasy of early 2000s infographics.

Main Dining

After our brief foray into the tasters with some of our many chefs hosting us that night, we were shown to our seats in the main dining room, all lined shoulder to shoulder with fancily dressed neighbors and circled around the kitchen.

Martha's Sourdough cultured butter

I will say it may have been a mistake to start with bread, because this bread was so good it may have ruined half the meal for me (spoiler, it was not). Each pair gets one loaf, and there's no room for seconds as they make them all right before dinner service so god help you if you breeze through it too fast and crave more.

Salad wagyu, herbs, ponzu

I ate every bite of every plate served to me this evening, but even my plant-loving friend could admit this was a creative take on 'salad.' It kind of looked like a salad, if a bloody mary decided to become savory. It was fine, but was much more beautifully plated than it was gracefully edible or flavored.

Crudo pistachio, calamansi, caviar

I was given a tuna alternative, and whatever I ate was delightful. Ignoring the mild tryptanophobia from the sauce decorations, it was light, fresh, and clean-tasting.

Raviolo king crab, macadamia, tom kha

This was our first 'pasta' dish in the evening, and the first sign that I may have misinterpreted the restaurant's namesake. There was a Bar, yes... Pasta, yes... but Pasta, singular. This would become a theme.

Side note: most everything looked beautiful, but I am not sure if I was feeling the crab-with-macadamia-with-no-sauce in a ravioli over here.

This would be a recurring theme--everything cooked to perfection and absolutely beautiful, but I'm not sure I actually liked many of the plates.

Cavatelli mole, secreto, poblano

Another beautiful, vibrant, flavorful, lovingly assembled... pile of interesting. It looked great. It tasted vaguely spicy. I don't dislike mole. I was not expecting the petals to be crunchy. Not unpleasant, but it did seem more apt for Meteora than 14 courses of theoretically pasta. Disappointingly, no pasta (another recurring theme).

Cappelliti mushroom, dashi, escarole

Okay, plural pasta, finally making an entrance. This dish was beautiful. It tasted okay. It felt like a sharp disconnect from the previous plate, which took me out of the experience. Despite my classic mocktail request, palette cleansers were strongly needed between the bold but somewhat incongruous creations presented.

Tagliolini truffle, uni, brioche

This was spectacular. I hate uni, and even without the uni, this was great. My server only told me after serving it (to me and my fish-allergic friend) that the uni alternative is far better than even the uni. Why not lead with that fact and offer it, or just not mention it unless brought up? Dish hurt slightly by fomo. I did eat minimal uni.

Striped Bass zucchini, tomato, coconut

This was a fish... wrapped in a blanket... made of vegetables. It was very pretty. It tasted better- than-okay. That's all I have to share about it.

Lamb cherry, cipollini, merguez, truffle

This was considered a pasta dish. A pasta dish! Yes, those microscopic beet-shaded accents indeed, were considered to constitute a pasta! What are they doing. It was so beautiful, the artistry in the plating was there... but the tastes and ability to spear the full experience into one bite on a fork was just, not. I overall enjoyed this one, but wished I hadn't had to chase it around (and lift my plate to angle the contents for leverage) to consume it.

Bone Marrow black currant, raspberry

Bone marrow... she tends to like that one, you may be thinking. Except, I don't know if I've ever had bone marrow served as a dessert. Firstly, even as a person used to bones and internals, this was too visceral for me (scooping it out of the bone did not help). Second, ice cold, the gelatinous undertones take on a less pleasant mouthfeel. Thirdly, whatever ice-cream/raspberry/mousse emulsion this thing was whipped into tasted vaguely of toothpaste and was not doing it for me. 1/10, truly.

Gelato geranium, strawberry, pink peppercorn

This one, praise be, was fine. The peppercorn was an odd but non-obtrusive choice. Strawberries were a delight to dig into. The color palette was the same as the last dessert, but it's amazing how much 'not making you feel like you're scooping out someone's dismembered limb' does for a tasting experience.

Caviar brown butter brioche, smoked banana

Okay, we're going from cold-goop-with-berry-fruits to... salty caviar. Once again, a flow that's confusing. My family would be delighted to spot the cameo of Michael Aram, and hearing the ingredients read out to me I could see a bananas-flambe inspiration to look forward to.

Unfortunately, it was another cold ice-cream-style thing, which didn't taste bad, but personally, I didn't think the caviar went well with the sandwiches at all.

Menu in Summary

Perhaps its my adamant commitment to avoiding spoilers, or my overall less varied palette than some of the cutting edge choices in the kitchen, but, unlike a lot of fine dining, I truly don't think you'll still enjoy your food if you are not a very adventurous eater. From what I've heard from friends who have been several times, I think this particular evening was more of a Scratch | Bar rather than Pasta | Bar menu. And that matters when you're advertising the latter.

Overall Impressions

Every chef was very nice, every host was gracious, every plate plated beautifully, every drink served neat. Honestly, there's a lot to love about this place, and I genuinely enjoyed my time interacting with the chefs and other diners. However, at the price point it's at, I think the food was just... not bad, but, not for me. At least not at this time.

Thank you for the wonderful team for putting this together! I hope to be back, but possibly for a night when there is more actual pasta :)

#jasmineway #finedining #losangeles #michelinstar #foodblog #onestar #PastaBar #ScratchBar #foodie

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leonbloder · 1 year ago

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Understanding the Spirituality of Icons

Outside the spectacular views of Holy Meteora in Greece, there is a non-descript workshop and shop embedded in what can only be described as a strip mall on the side of the road.

The Pefkis Workshop of Byzantine Icoons lies within, and it was one of the most fascinating stops on my recent journey through Greece.

Father Theodore Pefkis (a Greek Orthodox Priest), his wife and sons, and various other family members are the principal artists, and with a host of woodworkers, they create their icons by hand right there on the premises.

Their icons have become so sought after that the Vatican has commissioned them to create an altarpiece.

Each frame is hand-carved from local wood – cedar, walnut, linden, or beech – then covered with a canvas made from cotton fabric and coated with a thin layer of plaster. Unlike other religious icons, those produced at the Pefkis workshop are painted on canvas rather than wood.

I got to see Father Pefkis at work alongside his wife (Orthodox priests can marry and have a family), using materials like cobalt, ochre, and egg yolks to produce the vibrant colors for the icon he was working on.

His son told me the colors could maintain vibrancy for over 600 years, which was astonishing.

During the Byzantine era of Christianity (330-1453), icons proliferated throughout the Byzantine Empire and served a unique purpose.

These icons look strange to many of us because they are two-dimensional, with a highly stylized way of depicting the subjects in the paintings. They don't look realistic; for some, they might seem almost primitive.

But when you look closely at them, you can see the intricacy, the detail, and the beauty of icons.

In the Orthodox Church, an icon is a sacred image, a window into heaven. An image of another reality, of a person, time, and place that is more real than here and now. More than art, icons have an important spiritual role.

I used to be a bit of an "iconoclast," meaning I didn't believe any of what I just wrote above. But over the years, as I have traveled the world and have had the chance to see scores of icons and learn the stories behind the saints depicted in them, I've changed my mind.

Sometimes, we need a window into another world to know how to pray. Sometimes, we must be reminded that God's reality is just on the other side of our own.

And when we read the stories of the saints who have gone before us in the Christian faith, we also find inspiration and comfort, knowing that this "great cloud of witnesses" is somehow cheering us on, longing for comfort and peace.

So when I look at the icons I have collected over the years and see the images of St. Paul, St. John, St. Nicholas, St. Mary, St. Blaise, and many more, I find a connection with them and God and a sense of belonging to something far bigger than me.

We are not alone in our often stumbling journey after Jesus. We are surrounded by a vast cloud of witnesses of the saints in light, even those of our loved ones who have passed on to God's reality before us.

I should also add that, despite what many of us may have been taught in our faith traditions, praying is perfectly fine when we gaze at an icon or a painting depicting one or more of those saints.

You might say, "Make me open and willing to do your will, God, like Mary, the mother of Jesus." Or "Make me both grateful and generous like your servant Nicholas."

And guess what? It's also perfectly fine to ask one of the saints in light to pray for you, watch over you, and cheer you on as you run your life's race. I have done this on more than one occasion.

Anyone who has gone on to God's reality is with God, so to speak. I believe that they are enveloped in God, held in God, and are wherever God happens to be, which is everywhere, all at once.

Remember that you are not alone. Not only are you surrounded by a God who loves you beyond all understanding of love, but you are also surrounded by all who are now part of the Church Triumphant.

May this bring you peace and joy. And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.

#presbymusings #dailydevotion #leonbloder #dailydevo #dailydevotional #christian living #leon bloder #faith #spiritualgrowth #spirituality

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midnightdemon7 · 1 year ago

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What's your all-time favorite album? #WPDP

What’s your all-time favorite album? This is so hard to choose just one. Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Stones in the Road and Taylor Swift’s Fearless TV is a tie. I also like Mary Chapin’s Come on, Come On album as second. Pearl Jam Ten and VS, Soul Asylum Grave Dancer’s Union. Are all my top favorites as well as Linkin Park’s Meteora.

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#dailyprompt #dailyprompt-2067

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learnhowtosway · 2 years ago

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April 10 2023

With the exception of new-ish health concerns and long term friends who still haven't memorized my birthday on April 6th (saying sorry I didn't realize it had passed/I had it in my calendar, I'm the worst, doesn't make it any better but so long as it doesn't become a pattern), this year's birthday was one of the best I can remember in a while. Nothing too spectacular happened, but I just had a good burst of dopamine which I haven't had in a while.

Went to see Hamilton on my actual birthday and I'm glad I didn't really listen to the music or watch the recorded show beforehand because I got to thoroughly enjoy it for the first time. I quite liked it! Then the following day, Don and I had brunch at Mary Be Kitchen - the weekender meal will always be a favourite.

I did have to go to a walk-in clinic afterwards, but I at least had a productive assessment. I had the same concern last month and the doctor at that time didn't investigate anything. This time, I have bloodwork ordered for a bunch of things that could cause my issues and also x-rays and ultrasound. The difference a doctor makes asking the right questions! Honestly, call me a hypochondriac, but I am committed to using the health care system to my full advantage. I want answers and want to move on from some, if not all, of my health concerns.

Anyway, after that we finally checked out Pop Music record store and it is now a new favourite. Quaint shop but with great selections and the owner so friendly and knowledgeable! I got Don the Linkin Park Meteora 20th anniversary vinyl boxset and for myself the Sugababes One Touch gold vinyl on sale, Mobb Deep Infamy copper vinyl that was also on sale, and Cat Powers The Covers Record, one of my ISOs! Such a good record haul that brought me so much cheer.

My parents gifted me generously this year and my brother is buying me a Coach leather pill case now that I am a prescription medication gowrl. I'm also on a supplement and gut health journey, so it's only right that I store my pills in a chic way.

#just checked some of the results of my blood work 😓#journal

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xtruss · 2 years ago

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LANYON QUOIT! Once tall enough for a horse and rider to pass beneath, Lanyon Quoit is Cornwall’s most recognizable and prominent megalithic site. The immense capstone, weighing more than 13 tons, originally sat on four upright stones until a thunderstorm toppled it in 1815. The site was resurrected nine years later with money raised by locals; it remains standing today.

PENTRE IFAN! The most popular and best-preserved megalithic site in Wales, Pentre Ifan is a remarkable burial chamber with a 16.5-foot capstone delicately poised on three upright stones, dating roughly to 3500 B.C. The stones here come from nearby Preseli Hills, the same source for some of the boulders at Stonehenge, 150 miles away.

CHÂTEAU DE QUÉRIBUS! This isolated castle in the south of France is known as the last stronghold of the Cathars, the heretical Christian sect active in the 12th-13th centuries in western Europe. Visitors can drive almost to the top of this peak in the Pyrenees, then continue on a steep 10-minute walk to the castle entrance. Visitors must present a health pass before entering the Château de Quéribus.

DEVENISH MONASTIC SITE! Founded in the sixth century, Devenish is the most prominent of the many island church settlements dotting Lough Erne, two connected lakes in Northern Ireland’s County Fermanagh. Since its founding, Devenish has survived a Viking raid and a fire before it flourished in the Middle Ages as a parish church and priory. After taking a short ferry ride from Point Trory, visitors can explore the ruined Augustinian abbey with intricately carved sculptures, and then climb the hundred-foot-tall round tower for panoramic views.

PEYREPERTUSE CASTLE! From this perch on a limestone cliff in the French Pyrenees, the vantage point of the Château de Peyrepertuse allowed Cathars to control the mountain passes and send communication signals further south to the Château de Quéribus. These days, the 13th-century site hosts a contemporary art and music festival in the summer. Adult visitors must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test to enter.

SACRA DI SAN MICHELE! This ancient abbey built in the 10th century on top of Mount Pichiriano offers sweeping views of Turin and the Val di Susa in the Piedmont region of Italy. The main Church of the Sacra, which dates to the 12th century, is the final resting place for members of the House of Savoy, one of the oldest royal families in the world.

LAKE BAIKAL! Local legend says that a deity lives on this rocky outcrop along the western shore of Siberia’s wind-swept Olkhon Island. It’s one of the most sacred sites for the indigenous Buryat people who practice shamanism and Buddhism around Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest freshwater lake in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

METEORA! Second only to Mount Athos in significance for Orthodox Christians, Meteora was established by monks in the 11th century on almost inaccessible sandstone columns in central Greece. Only six of the original 24 monasteries remain in this UNESCO World Heritage site, along with the fourth-century Byzantine Church of Virgin Mary, one of the country’s oldest.

SKELLIG MICHAEL AND LITTLE SKELLIG! Sometime between the sixth and eighth centuries, ascetic monks withdrew from their monasteries to pursue a greater union with God on the Skellig Islands, located about seven miles off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland. Although the monks moved back to the mainland in the 13th century, the islands continued to lure pilgrims for centuries. Besides their historical and spiritual significance, the Skelligs are considered one of Ireland’s most important sites for breeding seabirds.

MENHIR OF SAINT-UZEC! Along the GR 34 hiking trail that snakes the coast of Brittany, France, a Christianized menhir, or an upright stone, dedicated to Saint Uzec stands next to a chapel of the same name. The 17th-century Neolithic block weighs 60 tons and depicts carved images of the Passion of Christ. Its original function remains unknown. Guided tours require reservations.

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