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(pleasant Greek music)
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- [Peter] In the first
series, I began unravelling
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the story of this spectacular
and historic nation
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by travelling from Athens,
around the Peloponnese
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and up to the Ionian Islands.
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I took in parts of the country that
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lots of tourists know well.
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But in amongst the popular places
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were hidden gems, undiscovered
by the holiday masses.
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This series, I'm back on board
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my beautiful boat, Mia Zoi,
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and heading to a region of Greece
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I haven't spent much time in.
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The plan is to skip between the islands,
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taking in the sights
of the Northern Aegean.
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It'll be a journey of discovery
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where I'll be digging deeper in the fabric
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that makes Greece so unique,
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and immersing myself a
century's old culture,
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unlike anywhere else on Earth.
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This episode sees me finishing
up my time on Thassos,
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before heading to the holiest
place in Greece, Mount Athos.
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From there, I'll be
making my to Samothrace,
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the Aegeans' adventure capital.
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(gentle Greek music)
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Another beautiful day in paradise.
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The sun is shining, the water warm,
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and I've planned a busy schedule
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to make the most of it.
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You can go to a beach that's crowded,
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or you can go to a beach that's secluded.
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Thassos has everything to offer.
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But you gotta go out to find it,
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get off the beaten track.
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We left my travels on
the south of the island
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where I explored the region
around the town of Aliki.
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Having seen the sights in this area,
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we enjoyed one final breakfast,
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overlooking the peaceful harbour,
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before it was time to
up-anchor and move westward.
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(gentle Greek music)
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Our next major port was Limaneria.
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But before reaching there, I
had to show you a special beach
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that's a favourite with
tourists and locals alike.
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It's accessible by road, so
anyone can pay it a visit.
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But plan to spend the whole day there,
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because there's more to do
than just relax in the sun.
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You know, I love the Thasian beaches.
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There's so many of them.
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But they all have their own identity.
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The beach behind me has this
beautiful structure up there,
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looks like a fortress.
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But it's not.
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This beach is called Metalia Beach
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and you can work that out.
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Metal beach.
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So this is where they
mined iron, ore and zinc.
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And I wanna go up there and have a look.
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I've been for a swim this morning,
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so, let's just go straight up.
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(subtle music)
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Most of these fun loving beach goers
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are oblivious to the rich
history that surrounds them.
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The island has a past of wealth
and mineral exploitation.
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And I'm told clandestine intrigue before
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and during last century's world wars.
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Some of that story is
told by this unique sight
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I'm about to show you.
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(subtle music)
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Although I've never
been to Thassos before,
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this place brings back memories of when
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I was a 10 year old with my cousins
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on the beaches of Greece.
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They've all got something
like this to offer
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and the nooks and crannies
you go around and explore 'em.
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It's great if you come into the beach,
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kids got somewhere to play.
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The beach is surrounded
by a massive buildings
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and this huge infrastructure.
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I got no idea what this building
is, but it looks awesome.
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These buildings and the
remnant processing equipment
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are protected for their
heritage significance.
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The massive pipes and stacks
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form part of an intricate plan
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that extracted calamine from ion ore.
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Calamine, you ask?
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Well, I'm told the minerals in calamine
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are the origin of a very special metal
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we use in coins, roofs, batteries,
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and amongst other things,
dietary supplements.
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Since the earliest settlements,
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different people have exploited
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the mineral wealth of Thassos.
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Beneath the rugged beauty of
the place, lay great wealth,
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and everyone wanted a piece of the pie.
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In 905, the Germans
came here and built this
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massive infrastructure
to exploit the minerals.
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Come 1914, World War 1 started,
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and the Germans left.
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But apparently the locals tell me,
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some of 'em hung around and use this place
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as a base to spy from.
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Now, I don't know how much
truth there is in that,
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but it sounds pretty good.
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These shells of the past
act as reminders of a time
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when the island was
thriving with industry,
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beyond just the marble quarries.
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They're engineering marvels
built with stone and steel,
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creating a dramatic backdrop
to a stunning beach.
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One of the locals that
has called Thassos home
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for almost his whole life,
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and has seen many of the
changes that have occurred here
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is cafe owner, Christos.
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His stories of living here in
his little piece of paradise
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left a lasting impression on me.
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(speaking in Greek)
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You would think that the Greek islands
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are a laid back place where
time is insignificant.
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And for the most part,
you'll be absolutely correct.
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But there's one place in this region
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where appointments must be kept,
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where there are strict rules
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that have lasted for over 1100 years.
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To visit this place, we needed a permit,
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which was organised many months before.
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They were also stringent
clothing regulations,
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meaning no shorts or short sleeves.
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So the usual beach guard was packed away.
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If you wanna step foot
on this hallowed ground,
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there's a number of other restrictions
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you must adhere to also,
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all of which exists to maintain
the sanctity of the place.
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The location I'm referring
to is Mount Athos,
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where 20 monasteries sit on a
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300 square kilometre peninsula.
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It's about as holier slice of earth
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as you can find anywhere.
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And a location I've long wanted to visit,
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not particularly from a
religious point of view,
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but to see what all the
hubbub and mystery's about.
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Very excited.
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Right now, we're about two
hours drive from Thessaloniki.
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Mount Athos is right behind us,
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50 kilometres of peninsula,
seven kilometres wide.
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This boat's gonna take us there
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'cause you can't go by road, special spot.
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Now I better get going.
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My priest's waiting for me, I better ago.
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We're just having a few
issues trying to get on
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because cameras are not
allowed on Mount Athos.
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So we're, there's all sorts of issues.
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(officials speaking in Greek)
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Not gonna let us on.
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(officials speaking in Greek)
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They know that we're taking the camera
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and we can't hide that, you know?
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Yeah.
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But we've got a letter from,
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well, you've got that letter, haven't you?
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Despite all the paperwork
and agreements in place,
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we still had to negotiate our way aboard.
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Countless phone calls to various powers,
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cajoling by Captain Yianni,
requests from our office
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in Athens to the head abbot
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and we were finally given
permission to board the ferry.
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Mind you, it does help when you tell 'em
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that you're flying your parish priest
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all the way from Australia to escort you.
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(pleasant music)
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(pleasant Greek music)
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Father Gerasimos, or Father
G, as some of us know him,
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is my parish priest.
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His brother is a monk at Mount Athos.
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So who better to take me on
this segment of my odyssey?
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So you haven't seen your
brother for five years.
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We're gonna see him today.
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What are the emotions like?
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- Separation feels like
someone's passed away.
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But the great joy is
that you get to see them
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every now and then.
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- Five years.
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That's not every now and then, father.
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- That's right.
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- So what is the emotion?
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Right now, how are you feeling?
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- It's measured anticipation.
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- And I gotta tell you,
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major anticipation for me because
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I've read a lot about Mount Athos,
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but I'm not too sure what to expect.
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A lot of men, obviously.
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- Well, it's all men.
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And Mount Athos is a place of
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full spiritual commitment and dedication
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to the spiritual life.
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- [Peter] Major sacrifice.
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- [Father Gerasimos] Sacrifice
all the worldly things,
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the property,
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the money,
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and they maintain their virginity as well.
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- Yeah.
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Coming into the monastery of Vatopedi
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sent shivers down my spine.
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To say I was blown away
is an understatement.
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My first thought was I
wished Helen was there
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to share that feeling with me.
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But that that could never happen.
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We do everything together.
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And I know she, like my mother,
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would have loved this spiritual journey.
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- [Father Mathew] Well, the
monastery in its present form
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was built in the late 10th century,
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and it was one of the first monasteries
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built on the holy mountain
of the present era.
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There was a monastery that
existed here before that time,
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which according to the tradition
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had been built by the Emperor
Theodosius, The Great,
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in the late fourth century.
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And the place of the church
built by Constantine, The Great,
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a few years before that.
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(Gregorian chant music)
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Vatopedi is the largest
monastery in Greece today
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as far as the volume of its buildings go.
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It has about 10,000 square
metres of living space.
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- [Peter] And number of monks?
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- Number of monks...
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So right now, we're about 125.
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- How does that rank on the mountain?
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- It's the largest brotherhood in Greece.
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- Wow.
- And we're still growing.
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When I came here in
1993, we were about 40.
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So the monastery has tripled.
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(Gregorian chant music)
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- [Peter] This was more than
just a step back in time.
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It was a leap through the ages.
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The architecture was
mediaeval and spectacular.
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The stillness, absolute
quiet and simplicity
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were unlike anything
I'd experienced before.
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I felt humbled.
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It's definitely the perfect
setting for meditation,
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collecting of thoughts,
and of course, prayer.
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You know, the common denominator I see
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in the Mount Athos monastery
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is these big thick defensive walls.
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In the first two centuries
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of settlement here in Mount Athos,
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there were 180 monasteries
and 20,000 monks.
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And the only ones that
survived through the Crusades
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and pirate attacks were
these large monasteries
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with these big defensive walls.
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The monks actually used
to defend themselves
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from all these pirate attacks.
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For the next 800 years,
the monks learned to
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negotiate an armistice
with their conquerors.
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And that's why they
survived these 1100 years.
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These monasteries have had to endure
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many difficult times over
the last 11 centuries.
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They've survived all types of crisis,
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from economic and political
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to the forces of nature and several wars.
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00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:02,720
Today, vast numbers of
pilgrims visit the monasteries
262
00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,160
in search of healing,
solace and meditation.
263
00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:07,360
Others simply want to get away
264
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,520
from the rat race and
collect their thoughts.
265
00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,280
But most come here to be surrounded
266
00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,440
by the beautifully adorned buildings
267
00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,040
and reboot their
spiritual journey in life.
268
00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,640
Making this your home
is a major commitment.
269
00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,800
Only eating twice a day,
praying for five hours
270
00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,160
in the morning, and having
no women on the island
271
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,200
would test even the most devout.
272
00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,880
I definitely wouldn't last long here.
273
00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,000
- [Father Gerasimos] The
work that has been done here
274
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,600
over the last three decades
has been remarkable.
275
00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,920
- And how many monks are in here now?
276
00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,000
- It's about 123.
277
00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:42,240
And together with those monks, there'd be
278
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,640
anywhere between 50
and 500 visitors daily.
279
00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,200
- And how many monks were
they back in the 80s and 90s?
280
00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:49,920
There weren't many, were there?
281
00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,360
- In the 80s, there
were about 10 monks left
282
00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,200
after a period of decline
during the 20th century.
283
00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,400
- [Peter] And now there's over 100 so,
284
00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:58,960
it's really shot up, hasn't it?
285
00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,680
- Since the 90s with the
coming of a new brotherhood,
286
00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:05,040
which had new life, and
I think the average age,
287
00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:06,840
even now he's about 35.
288
00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:07,680
- [Peter] That's impressive.
289
00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:09,280
It's something you wouldn't
expect here, is it?
290
00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,680
A lot of people think monks, you know,
291
00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:13,320
monasteries, everybody's old.
292
00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,240
But there's a lotta young people here.
293
00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:16,080
- [Father Gerasimos] There are,
294
00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:17,360
and they're actually quite educated,
295
00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:18,520
University trained.
296
00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,360
- [Peter] I mean, brother,
how old's your brother?
297
00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,840
- My brother is in his mid 30s.
298
00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:27,000
And he was University
trained himself in Australia.
299
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,960
And he came here almost a decade ago.
300
00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,880
- So they're all young people.
301
00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,280
It's something you wouldn't expect.
302
00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:35,320
It's an amazing thing.
303
00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,920
I'm dying to find out why
there's so many young guys
304
00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,240
coming here to give their life,
305
00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,320
to sacrifice everything
for the rest of their lives
306
00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,320
here in the monastery.
307
00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,240
Mind you, I'm dying to go into that place
308
00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:50,200
and have some food.
309
00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:51,120
Should we go?
310
00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,800
- Let's do that first.
- Let's go.
311
00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:55,960
The monks with by code that centres around
312
00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,200
the celebration of God,
313
00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,320
and a life of contemplation and sacrifice.
314
00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,800
Their daily life is a
product of this code.
315
00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,600
And an example of its
simplicity is their meals.
316
00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,160
The food is very raw.
317
00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,200
Generally some fruit, vegetables,
318
00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,240
lentils and fish once a week.
319
00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,000
I don't think I've ever been
in a dining hall this old.
320
00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,680
It's a thousand years old.
321
00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:20,040
Just these marble tops.
322
00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:24,680
They're 1500 years old
that were given to Vatopedi
323
00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,800
from a monastery in Constantinople
from the fourth century.
324
00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,800
The abbot sits down
there with the priests.
325
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,520
All the monks sit in this space here.
326
00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,120
The pilgrims sit back there.
327
00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,960
Moments from now,
everybody will be in here.
328
00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,160
It'll be full.
329
00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:43,760
I better grab a seat right now,
330
00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:44,720
'cause I'm starved.
331
00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,440
(delicate music)
332
00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,160
Ready to go.
333
00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,080
Kiwi fruit in Mount Athos.
334
00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,840
(delicate music)
335
00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,040
It felt a little awkward being served
336
00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,960
by a man of the cloth, but
that's the way it is here.
337
00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,800
Monks grow and collect the
vegetables from the field,
338
00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,160
they cook everything and then serve you.
339
00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,240
If you studied as an
accountant, lawyer or doctor
340
00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,080
and wanna take up life as a monk,
341
00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:14,440
then that's what you'll most probably
342
00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,640
be tasked with at the monastery.
343
00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,920
This place is a living breathing city
344
00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,280
that's almost totally self-sustained.
345
00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,800
They rely very little
on the outside world.
346
00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:25,760
The majority of the food is grown here.
347
00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,440
They make their own clothes,
348
00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,480
provide basic medical treatment,
349
00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:30,960
maintain their equipment,
350
00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,200
and have minimal influence from
beyond the monastery walls.
351
00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:35,920
You could easily see this limiting.
352
00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:37,440
But for those that live here,
353
00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:40,160
this minimalist life is liberating.
354
00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,520
And if there's one thing I
learned from this experience,
355
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,520
when you eat only twice a day,
356
00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,200
the food tastes that much better.
357
00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,960
(delicate music)
358
00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,640
(pleasant Greek music)
359
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,800
Life for a monk in the pilgrims in Athos
360
00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,120
is an early morning and a long day.
361
00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,040
The bell just went off at three o'clock
362
00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:17,760
and we don't even get snooze buttons.
363
00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,800
There's a guy, a monk, hitting
sticks every 10 minutes
364
00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,760
to make sure you wake up for prayer.
365
00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,720
Now, we're not gonna go to prayer.
366
00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,840
We're actually gonna go to the kitchen
367
00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,240
and see 'em cooking fish this morning.
368
00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,920
So, I don't know why I'm being
quiet, 'cause everybody's up.
369
00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,920
If the monk with the
sticks doesn't wake you,
370
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,360
the scent of frying fish certainly will.
371
00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,160
My nose led me to the kitchen.
372
00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,000
God only knows how they're praying
373
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,600
through this at the moment.
374
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,320
I for one was starving and
the food smelled amazing.
375
00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,360
There's about eight or
nine monks working in here
376
00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,280
and it's a well organised kitchen.
377
00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:55,760
I mean, I worked in a kitchen before,
378
00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,520
and you can see there's process happening,
379
00:16:58,520 --> 00:16:59,960
it's well organised, they know exactly
380
00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:01,200
what's gonna happen next.
381
00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,800
They're feeding 130 monks and probably
382
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,440
about 50 pilgrims this
morning for breakfast.
383
00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,960
And it's five o'clock in the morning so,
384
00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,880
we're not far away from brekkie.
385
00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:13,720
They're all in prayer at the moment.
386
00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:14,960
These guys missed prayer.
387
00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:15,960
They'll do it later.
388
00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,720
They're not only frying
grilled food for 200 people,
389
00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,840
the monks also catch and clean the fish
390
00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,040
from their own aquaculture farms.
391
00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:26,680
After having conducted the
same process for centuries,
392
00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,520
it's no wonder they've become
incredibly efficient at it.
393
00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,000
This has to be the longest running,
394
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,480
vertically integrated
business in the world.
395
00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,480
1100 years and they haven't gone broke.
396
00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,000
Maybe they should consider
listing on Wall Street.
397
00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:43,400
There's a real buzz.
398
00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:44,360
They're trying to ramp it up
399
00:17:44,360 --> 00:17:46,400
because they wanna make
the last hour of prayer,
400
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,200
the one hour of liturgy at eight o'clock.
401
00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,120
It's 20 past five.
402
00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:52,880
I'll tell you what, the aroma is awesome.
403
00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:53,720
I'm starved.
404
00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,960
I don't know if I can
wait for three hours.
405
00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,720
(chanting music)
406
00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,480
As day breaks, at a time
when most other people
407
00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,800
are still sound asleep, Mount Athos
408
00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:07,760
has already been awake for hours.
409
00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,200
The dramatic backdrop
leaves you breathless.
410
00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,080
However, this is just another day
411
00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:13,680
in the life of the monastery.
412
00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,520
The kitchen is running at full
steam preparing breakfast,
413
00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,560
while the rest of the monks are in prayer.
414
00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:20,080
They do this every morning.
415
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:21,280
It's their job.
416
00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,920
Praying from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.
417
00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:25,880
Only then will they eat.
418
00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,200
(Gregorian chant music)
419
00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,760
The pilgrims are invited to prayer.
420
00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,560
Here they will stand
with the monks for hours.
421
00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,200
It's part of their sacrifice,
422
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,000
and of giving up your normal routine
423
00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:44,640
for what you believe in.
424
00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,680
This is where you see
the monks true devotion.
425
00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:48,840
This is a life that's tough
426
00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:50,800
for the average person to understand.
427
00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,040
We have our possessions, our jobs,
428
00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,200
and most importantly, our families.
429
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,160
These things are hard to give up.
430
00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,360
And for the majority
of us, it's impossible.
431
00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:01,560
But the monks have
willingly left that life
432
00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,680
and the outside world behind them,
433
00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,120
for something they believe
is greater, the love of God.
434
00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:09,280
And this thought is
what gives them purpose
435
00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:10,720
and fulfils them.
436
00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,840
It was expressed beautifully
by all the monks I spoke with.
437
00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,840
However, none had a story more enthralling
438
00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:17,800
than the three Australian brothers I met,
439
00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:19,160
who had found their home here,
440
00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:20,760
all the way from the Gold Coast.
441
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,200
You are the one I'm most excited to meet.
442
00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,040
I have been thinking about your story
443
00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,080
for a year and I'm sorry
to make you all nervous,
444
00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:31,920
but it's a great story.
445
00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,560
When did you first come to Mount Ethos?
446
00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,680
- First came in 2006.
447
00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,280
After being here for a period of time,
448
00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:42,600
my brothers came to visit.
449
00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:44,320
- Together?
- Together.
450
00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:45,440
Two brothers came.
451
00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:48,360
One had an experience here.
452
00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:50,240
It was, he stayed.
453
00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,080
The other went back.
454
00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,880
And my other brother came
with my other brother.
455
00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,960
And he stayed and the other one left.
456
00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,520
So one sort of handed off the other.
457
00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:01,320
- Right.
458
00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,320
And so all three of you are now here?
459
00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:04,480
- Yeah.
460
00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,160
- How is life different
here with your brothers,
461
00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,920
the experience that you
have with your two brothers,
462
00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,480
compared to what it was like in Australia?
463
00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,800
- Our life here is more of a
spiritual connection we have.
464
00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:17,520
It's more spiritual than anything.
465
00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,040
Whereas in the world we had a connection,
466
00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:23,360
but it was more so worldly.
467
00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:26,760
Here we're on the same path as well as
468
00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,040
we share the same sort of goal together.
469
00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:30,680
- [Peter] And do you still
have that same connection
470
00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:31,520
that you had?
471
00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:32,520
Have you lost that or?
472
00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,800
- I think it's more, we're
closer and more so here.
473
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,240
- Wow.
- Because,
474
00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,320
it's the life in Christ that we live here.
475
00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,000
Which is the true life.
476
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,440
See, the worldly life has its
477
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,280
human weaknesses in between,
478
00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:52,840
but the spiritual life is, which is higher
479
00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,120
than the worldly life.
480
00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:56,680
- You're sacrificing your career,
481
00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,720
you're sacrificing your family.
482
00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,080
Even though we have some minimal contact
483
00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:02,800
with them obviously.
484
00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,480
We're sacrificing our own family
485
00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,840
that we could have had as well.
486
00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:08,040
All for Christ.
487
00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,000
And in essence we are fulfilling
the first commandment,
488
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,600
which is to love God
with your whole being;
489
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,520
your mind, your soul, your heart.
490
00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:17,320
This is the fulfilment
of the first commandment
491
00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:18,400
in absolution.
492
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,360
- I was 14 when I first got here.
493
00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:23,400
I stayed for two days,
forgot about that experience,
494
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,320
and then came back you when I was 22.
495
00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:26,600
- And you've never left since?
496
00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:27,400
- And from then I'm still here.
497
00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,080
- So how many years have you been here?
498
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:30,960
- Seven years now.
- Seven years.
499
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,000
And what did you do when
you were in Australia
500
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,080
before you came here?
501
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,360
- I studied music and philosophy.
502
00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:40,600
And I was concerned about thinking
503
00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,600
about certain things, but I was pretty
504
00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,760
stuck onto my music.
- Yep.
505
00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:46,280
- I started going out.
506
00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:47,840
I thought oh, my friend's
working in a bar,
507
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,840
I'll start working in a bar as well.
508
00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,880
I was a barman for a couple
of years, for a few years.
509
00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,240
And then I studied music,
I started playing music,
510
00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,080
started playing the music I enjoyed,
511
00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,080
and I was pretty much just living around
512
00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,640
that whole, getting as
much joy, fun, happiness
513
00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:05,480
out of life as I could.
514
00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,920
But in doing that, I started to realise
515
00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,000
that there was something
inside that was still empty.
516
00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,400
And I thought that it was probably
517
00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:13,920
just gonna get filled by getting married,
518
00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,240
having a family, having
that sort of thing.
519
00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,600
I mean, I tried girlfriends,
I'd seen sort of
520
00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:19,840
what might be like getting married,
521
00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,120
and I realised that
there's still something
522
00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:25,520
that's even deeper than
a person's emotions.
523
00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,680
There's something that exists
that's even more inside.
524
00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,360
That whatever happens, if a person
525
00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:32,880
doesn't have some spiritual connection,
526
00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,280
if a person doesn't touch on to God,
527
00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,320
then he could become 80 years old,
528
00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,520
and not ever really have
lived a second of his life.
529
00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:40,360
- Are there any regrets?
530
00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:43,120
I mean, are you happy to be here?
531
00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:45,400
Are there any teensy little
regrets of not being?
532
00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,000
- For me it was a matter
from the will of God.
533
00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,440
And once I found that, that was it for me.
534
00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,400
- It seems absolute, it's the same answer
535
00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:53,160
I get from all of you.
536
00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,240
It's like you're singing
from the same hymn sheet.
537
00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,240
- This is not something we've had,
538
00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,160
something God does for each one.
539
00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,360
- Even though I was
incredibly happy in the world,
540
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:06,640
I'd lived anything that
anyone could dream to live.
541
00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,240
Like, it wasn't all my
friends had the thought,
542
00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,720
had the question, "You were
the happiest guy we knew,
543
00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:14,160
"why would you chuck that stuff away?"
544
00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,480
And it seemed strange at
the time when I did it.
545
00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,680
But for me, it was the
most natural thing to do.
546
00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,440
- All that can happen without
547
00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,160
somebody having the monastic calling.
548
00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,240
It's something special,
which comes from above,
549
00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,520
and call someone to the monastic life.
550
00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:28,840
And not everyone gets that.
551
00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,800
So we have to respond to that calling.
552
00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,760
And we respond to that
with our whole heart.
553
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,400
And that's why we
sacrifice all those things
554
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:37,320
that we said before.
555
00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,480
- Talking about your brother,
were you happy to see him
556
00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,400
after not seeing him for five years?
557
00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:42,640
- Of course I was happy to see him.
558
00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:44,120
- Yeah.
559
00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:45,440
But he doesn't drink coffee.
560
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:46,920
You don't drink coffee
either as well, do you?
561
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,320
- Not really.
- Really?
562
00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:49,160
- I'm still young and strong,
563
00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:50,960
so I can last in the
services when it's dark.
564
00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,520
So, you can enforce yourself a bit.
565
00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,120
- I think, listen, we've got
very little time together
566
00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:57,720
as brothers and sisters,
so why don't we go
567
00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:58,560
and have a coffee with him.
568
00:23:58,560 --> 00:23:59,960
We will convince him
to have a coffee, yeah?
569
00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:01,280
- I might have a tea.
570
00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:02,880
- Okay, let's go.
571
00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,440
(subtle music)
572
00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:12,360
(pleasant Greek music)
573
00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:23,800
(bell chiming)
574
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:30,560
At the monastery of Vatopedi,
575
00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,480
the sound of a mallet tapping
rhythmically on a board
576
00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,600
is the centuries old
way of gathering monks
577
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,600
for prayer, food, or
to wake in the morning.
578
00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,280
With over 10,000 square
metres of floor space,
579
00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:43,200
you can understand why it
takes the monk of while
580
00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:44,640
to get around each time.
581
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,520
No doubt he's a fit guy too, racking up
582
00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,400
plenty of steps on his daily routine.
583
00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,080
At the moment, he's waking up everyone
584
00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:52,800
from their afternoon naps.
585
00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,000
And getting them to mass, which will last
586
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,440
another few hours before dinner.
587
00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,920
Again, this happens every day.
588
00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:01,560
Some monks still look
as though they could do
589
00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:02,920
with a little more sleep.
590
00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,720
But the work has to continue,
591
00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,040
regardless of how one feels.
592
00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,480
Tradition is important here.
593
00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:09,920
It dates back a millennia.
594
00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:12,560
So change is not overly welcome.
595
00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,360
The old guide maintains control
of how everything operates
596
00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:17,520
and educates, and mentors and new arrivals
597
00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:18,880
with this new way of thinking
598
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,600
and into embracing this
strict way of life.
599
00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,800
So in order for there to be
any variation in the processes,
600
00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,080
it would take somewhat of a revolution.
601
00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,280
Although, from what I see
with the younger generation,
602
00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:30,120
they're chipping away at it,
603
00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:32,000
albeit it very slowly.
604
00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,240
One thing they've modernised a little
605
00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:36,840
is their farming practises.
606
00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:39,080
In order to feed all the new arrivals
607
00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,880
and service their ever
growing export demands,
608
00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:43,440
the monks have embraced certain
609
00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,560
contemporary agricultural luxuries.
610
00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:50,240
You know, modern society
over the last 10 or 20 years
611
00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,080
has become sustainably conscious.
612
00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,880
But here at Vatopedi at Mount Athos,
613
00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,120
they've been doing it for
over a thousand years.
614
00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:01,840
And not only do they do it well,
615
00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,360
but they sell their
product to the outside.
616
00:26:04,360 --> 00:26:07,320
And they do it on the best real estate
617
00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,240
in the best climate on this earth.
618
00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:10,400
Have a look at this.
619
00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,560
Working the land for centuries,
620
00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:16,560
these monks have learned a
thing or two about agriculture,
621
00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:18,920
and to a greater extent, business.
622
00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:20,720
They export a number of products,
623
00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,840
ranging from skincare,
shampoo, herbal creams,
624
00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,000
and therapeutic soap, to
books and iconography.
625
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,640
It's a well oiled machine that
has lasted the test of time.
626
00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,280
As the world has developed the massive
627
00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,880
technology filled cities,
this monastic state
628
00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,800
has battled through the ages,
with little or no change
629
00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:40,480
to their communities' way of living.
630
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:42,480
It's a long movie on pause,
631
00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,760
and no one wants to press the play button.
632
00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,480
It's certainly got both ardent followers
633
00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,400
and others that want to pull
this male only institution
634
00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,080
into the 21st century.
635
00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,640
To be honest, I can understand both views.
636
00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:56,320
In the end, even though I couldn't share
637
00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,840
this experience with Helen, I must say,
638
00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:00,720
the small sacrifices I had to make,
639
00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,400
and spending a few days
away from my family
640
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:04,840
were well worth it.
641
00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:06,960
Well everything comes to an end,
642
00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,480
and my stay at Mount Athos
and Vatopedi finishes now.
643
00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,080
I've got to tell you, it was an experience
644
00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:14,640
that I'll never forget.
645
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,400
I was a bit underwhelmed coming here
646
00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:18,840
because I had to put the long sleeves
647
00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:20,480
and the long pants on and
648
00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,160
it was like I was being prepared.
649
00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:24,280
But I wasn't prepared.
650
00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,800
I wasn't prepared for
what was about to happen.
651
00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,240
My whole view of what a monk does
652
00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:30,440
and his life has changed.
653
00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:31,840
They're just like you and I.
654
00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,040
My whole view of Mount Athos has changed.
655
00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:39,880
It's been a spiritual enlightenment.
656
00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:40,720
I loved it.
657
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:41,920
The architecture, the food,
658
00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,200
the people, the sustainability.
659
00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:45,960
It's been absolutely awesome.
660
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,280
It's something I'll take
with me to the grave.
661
00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:51,960
Travelling to our next destination
662
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:53,640
gave me a chance to reflect on the
663
00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,680
unforgettable experience
that was Mount Athos.
664
00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:58,360
I felt grounded and tranquil,
665
00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:00,960
but also enlightened and wiser for it.
666
00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,200
Anyway, the island of Samothrace awaited.
667
00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,200
And while I was oblivious
and in some other dimension,
668
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,720
my crew were busy doing what they do best,
669
00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,320
running my beautiful boat, Mia Zoi.
670
00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,840
The team on the boat
are like my third arm.
671
00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,240
And they've become family.
672
00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:17,640
I love them dearly.
673
00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:19,680
They're passionate and hard working,
674
00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,640
and make life on the boat a lot of fun.
675
00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,360
- [Captain Yianni]
Everyone on the boat must
676
00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:28,200
know how to drive the
boat safely somewhere
677
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,120
in case that something happened to me.
678
00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,440
Of course, at the moment, Kyriakos think
679
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,760
that he drive the boat,
but it is on autopilot.
680
00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,160
(pleasant music)
681
00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:55,240
- Let's go.
682
00:28:58,760 --> 00:28:59,840
Hello girls.
683
00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:01,560
- [Girls] Hi.
684
00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,440
- How are we going?
685
00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:04,880
What's happening?
686
00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,360
So tell me, is it the glamour
job they all talk about?
687
00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:09,960
You guys look fantastic, mind you.
688
00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:11,800
It's like you put makeup on for this,
689
00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,280
but they haven't, they don't
know that we're coming down.
690
00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:16,680
What's this, is it the glamour
job that they talk about?
691
00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:17,680
- Of course, look what we're doing.
692
00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:18,600
- [Peter] Yeah?
693
00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,040
- Looks pretty glamorous to me.
694
00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:25,040
- [Peter] How can you guys stay so bright?
695
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,760
When in the morning,
when I wake up at 5.30,
696
00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:29,000
they give me a cup of coffee,
697
00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:30,800
and when I go to bed at night,
698
00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:31,880
when my guests are still up there,
699
00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:33,040
you guys are serving drinks.
700
00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:34,560
What's the story?
701
00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:35,480
How do you do it?
702
00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,040
- Good team.
- Yeah, definitely.
703
00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,720
- [Peter] Good team, yeah?
704
00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:40,280
Would you recommend the job that you do
705
00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,840
for other young people like
you in their early 20s?
706
00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:44,440
- A hundred percent.
- Definitely.
707
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:45,280
- Yeah?
708
00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:46,120
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
709
00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:47,440
Work hard, play hard.
710
00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:48,280
Get to save a lot of money.
711
00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:49,560
- I know you work hard, I
didn't know about the play hard.
712
00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:50,400
What's the story?
713
00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:51,240
Tell me what's the play hard.
714
00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:52,080
- Oh, well we don't get many days off,
715
00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:53,480
so we haven't played hard yet.
716
00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,040
(laughing)
717
00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,120
(gentle music)
718
00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,000
- Living the dream.
719
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,600
(gentle music)
720
00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,480
(pleasant Greek music)
721
00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,680
- [Peter] An overcast and grey morning
722
00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,400
wasn't enough to take the
shine off the excitement
723
00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,080
for the coming days.
724
00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:26,600
We were headed to Samothrace,
725
00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:30,480
an island big on adventure,
as well as relaxation.
726
00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,200
I'm always amazed that each Greek island
727
00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:33,560
has its own offering.
728
00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,400
Even this small landmass.
729
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:37,320
It's only 17 kilometres long
730
00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:40,520
and covered almost entirely
by the massive Mount Saos,
731
00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,560
the Aegean's highest peak.
732
00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,000
Legend has it that Poseidon
sat atop this mountain
733
00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:46,920
to watch the Trojan War.
734
00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:49,880
Samothrace or Samothraki
as the Greeks know it,
735
00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,160
is where they unearth the
famous winged goddess,
736
00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:53,560
statue of Nike.
737
00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,560
She has her own chamber in The Louvre.
738
00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:57,200
They named a shoe brand after her,
739
00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,080
and the emblem called
the Spirit of Ecstasy,
740
00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:03,360
which sits on the bonnet
of every Rolls Royce car
741
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:04,960
was inspired by her.
742
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,200
You'll learn more about that later.
743
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,000
Today, Samothrace is known
for its thermal screens,
744
00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:11,920
running waters, and adventure sports
745
00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,960
like mountaineering, hiking, diving,
746
00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,200
mountain biking, and canyoning.
747
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:18,880
It's a hub for tourists that like to get
748
00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,280
their heart rate up
and adrenaline pumping.
749
00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:22,960
But like I said earlier, it's also a place
750
00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:25,160
famed for soothing waters.
751
00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:26,400
So you can start the day with
752
00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:28,200
a bit of excitement and exercise
753
00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,000
and finish it off by
relieving your tired body
754
00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:32,320
in a natural spa.
755
00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:34,280
Add to this, the archaeological sites
756
00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,160
and you've got every base covered.
757
00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,640
I think this is gonna
be my kind of island.
758
00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:40,880
Don't need a bottle of water round here,
759
00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:42,440
I'll tell you that now.
760
00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:45,440
This is one of three
castles that were built
761
00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,160
by the Genoese in the 1400s.
762
00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:49,120
Beautiful structure.
763
00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:50,120
But I didn't come here for the structure,
764
00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:51,960
I came here for the view.
765
00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,560
(upbeat music)
766
00:31:57,560 --> 00:31:59,680
Pretty much every view worth checking out
767
00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:01,080
requires a bit of effort.
768
00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:03,920
In this case, the winding
path of numerous stairs,
769
00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:05,800
led to a fantastic reward.
770
00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,400
(upbeat music)
771
00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:14,680
Now, Chora is just such
a beautiful little town.
772
00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,360
These red roofs in this amphitheatre,
773
00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:18,880
it's just so picturesque and
774
00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,200
the red roofs with the rocks on them,
775
00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:22,800
the rocks holding down the clay tiles
776
00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,880
because the weather is
just so unpredictable here.
777
00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,120
There's a massive mountain
in the middle of the city.
778
00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,560
And the weather conditions
change all the time.
779
00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:31,840
You know, the other thing I like about it
780
00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,840
is that it reminds me
of Paleochra in Kythira,
781
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:35,920
and for that matter,
782
00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,240
many towns in the islands of Greece,
783
00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:39,840
the small islands of Greece,
784
00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,000
where they built in the
shelter of the mountains,
785
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:43,760
but they can still see the sea
786
00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,720
and they can see the pirates coming in.
787
00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:47,440
They're only five K's from the sea.
788
00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,520
(gentle music)
789
00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:56,000
From up here, you get a real appreciation
790
00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:57,960
of just how sparsely populated
791
00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:00,000
and undeveloped island is.
792
00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:01,960
There's around 3000 people living here,
793
00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,560
most of whom are in one of
the three major settlements,
794
00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:05,840
with the remainder scattered about
795
00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:07,200
in tiny mountain villages.
796
00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,040
The remote location makes it difficult
797
00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:11,160
for tourists to get here.
798
00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:12,960
And being so rugged, means there's only
799
00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:14,840
so much growth that can happen here.
800
00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:15,840
These things have combined to
801
00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,240
help keep the island more genuine.
802
00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,200
Samothrace provides an
authentic experience
803
00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,280
of rural Greek life in a
dramatic and beautiful setting
804
00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:25,960
that I hadn't come across
elsewhere in my travels.
805
00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:28,480
But as more people discover
this gem of a place,
806
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,120
the influence and impact
of the outside increases.
807
00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:37,440
What's great is that a lot of these houses
808
00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,280
that are abandoned, have
been turned into shops
809
00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,000
and all sorts of stuff.
810
00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,560
(subtle music)
811
00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:54,480
Today, the locals are embracing
a growth in tourism numbers,
812
00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:56,080
and are cautiously optimistic
813
00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:57,800
that it might mean few
of the younger people
814
00:33:57,800 --> 00:33:59,440
need to leave to find work.
815
00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:02,360
Shops are opening, hotels and
restaurants are being built,
816
00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:04,520
and there's a positive friendly atmosphere
817
00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:06,480
that openly welcomes outsiders.
818
00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,800
The one commodity that
Samothraki has a lot of
819
00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:13,200
that many of the Greek islands
820
00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:15,600
don't have enough of is water.
821
00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:17,640
And they've got lots of it because of that
822
00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,160
big mountain up there, Saos.
823
00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,680
And I reckon the water is pretty good
824
00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:24,960
because it's filtered
well through the rocks.
825
00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:26,000
I'm gonna try it out.
826
00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:31,040
Nice and clean.
827
00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,440
Nice to get it without
all that fluoride in it.
828
00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,400
Above it you can see the
insignia of the Kabeiroi,
829
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,000
which is thousands of years old
830
00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,440
from the sanctuary of the gods.
831
00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:42,480
And you can see the two headed bird
832
00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:44,920
which was from the empire
the Byzantine times.
833
00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:47,120
Anyway, I'm starved.
834
00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:48,800
I reckon the food here is awesome.
835
00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:52,560
All this walking has not
only worked up a thirst,
836
00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:54,360
but a very healthy appetite.
837
00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:56,520
I was warned that the
food here is incredible
838
00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:58,040
and the servings are big.
839
00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,120
So an empty stomach is required.
840
00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,800
(running water)
841
00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,240
Did I mention there's a lot of water?
842
00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:08,960
Mate, there's so much water here.
843
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:10,560
The last tavern got washed away.
844
00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:12,360
I'm going to the only one that's left.
845
00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:16,120
Every Island in Greece
likes to think that they're
846
00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,200
the culinary hotspot, that their meals
847
00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:20,080
are the best in the Mediterranean.
848
00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,760
Well, some places are certainly
much better than others.
849
00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:26,400
In the case of Samothrace,
the food is sensational.
850
00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:27,480
And they're specifically known
851
00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:28,800
for the quality of their goat,
852
00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:30,480
and the many ways that they prepared it.
853
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:32,560
A testament to just how great the food was
854
00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:35,360
at this gorgeous tavern,
is how fast we ate it all.
855
00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:36,800
It took a matter of seconds,
856
00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:38,360
from being placed on the table
857
00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,000
to going down the hatch.
858
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:41,880
There wasn't even enough
time for the cameramen
859
00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,400
to get a decent shot of the dishes
860
00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:46,120
before we decimated them.
861
00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:49,040
Mealtimes are always a
favourite part of my travels.
862
00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:50,680
Sitting with friends and family,
863
00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:52,840
gorging ourselves on amazing food,
864
00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:55,680
and gazing at scenery
that leaves you in awe,
865
00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:57,600
all the while, there's plenty of laughs
866
00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,560
and banter about what we all got up to
867
00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:00,960
during our days.
868
00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:03,440
Communal eating isn't
limited to the Greeks.
869
00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,720
However, it's something
that is disappearing
870
00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:07,200
from a lot of cultures.
871
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,520
As the pace of life increases and
872
00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,240
free time becomes a rarity,
873
00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:13,360
things like sitting for
a meal with your family
874
00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:14,760
fall by the wayside.
875
00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:17,440
It's something I'm doing
my best not to let occur.
876
00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:19,680
Despite how chaotic life can get,
877
00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:21,240
you always have to make time to share
878
00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:22,640
the journey with loved ones.
879
00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:25,760
I've said it before,
and I'll say it again;
880
00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:27,560
there's two sides to Samothrace.
881
00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,560
Not just experientially,
but geographically.
882
00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,480
I know, obviously, right?
883
00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:34,320
But it's quite apparent just how different
884
00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:35,960
the opposing shores are here.
885
00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:37,120
On the leeward side,
886
00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,760
you've got a more dry
and barren landscape,
887
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:41,880
but head around the
northwest of the island
888
00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:43,720
and the mood changes.
889
00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:45,200
This part is where the prevailing winds
890
00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:47,080
crash into the coast, bringing with them
891
00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:49,560
the moisture that builds up on Mount Saos.
892
00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:52,320
Eventually, falling of soaking rains.
893
00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,480
For your average tourist,
it looks cold, bleak,
894
00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:57,240
and not terribly inviting.
895
00:36:57,240 --> 00:37:00,280
But for the adventurous, this is paradise.
896
00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,280
There also happens to
be all sorts of ruins
897
00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,600
dotted all on the coastal road.
898
00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:05,800
Even though this was the rugged
899
00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:07,880
and less popular side of Samothrace,
900
00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:09,800
there were still small settlements,
901
00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:11,680
and it required forts and towers
902
00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:14,520
to keep a watchful eye
of a potential invaders.
903
00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:17,480
Mind you, they'd probably wreck
on the rocky shores anyway.
904
00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,680
(pleasant Greek music)
905
00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:35,640
I might not be an adventure
seeker or adrenaline junkie,
906
00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:37,360
but I do appreciate the occasional
907
00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,160
bit of outdoor fun beyond a simple hike.
908
00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,120
So I met up with Clio and Dan
909
00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:45,200
to see a more extreme angle of Samothrace.
910
00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:46,560
They're experience canyoners that
911
00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:48,800
regularly take groups
on week long adventures
912
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:50,080
into the mountains.
913
00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:52,080
I was lucky enough to
spend a few hours with them
914
00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:53,880
on a short walk to one of the watercourses
915
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:55,360
that the island is known for.
916
00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:57,560
So Clio, you're a nuclear engineer.
917
00:37:57,560 --> 00:37:58,400
- Yeah.
918
00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:01,040
- And Dan is, you know, in astronomy.
919
00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:03,480
What brings you to caving and canyoning?
920
00:38:03,480 --> 00:38:05,560
Why do you do this?
921
00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:08,280
- Well, before being engineers,
922
00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:10,960
we was mountain lovers, let's say.
923
00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:12,000
- Yip.
- So...
924
00:38:13,240 --> 00:38:14,320
Should we cross here?
925
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,120
- Yeah, let's cross here, man.
926
00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:21,120
- So, after graduating and
beginning real engineers
927
00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:25,080
we didn't forgot about
our hobbies, you know?
928
00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:25,920
- Yeah.
929
00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:32,160
As you can see, I'm not
quite as nimble as these two,
930
00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:35,360
Even on relatively smooth
ground, I battled to keep up.
931
00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:40,760
So, how long have you been
coming to Samothraki now?
932
00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:42,560
- This is the eighth.
933
00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:43,400
- Eighth year?
934
00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:44,240
Wow.
935
00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:46,680
- Usually, I'm coming
here only once a year,
936
00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:48,480
but in the last three years,
937
00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:50,280
I came twice a year.
938
00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:51,520
- Ah, that's good.
939
00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:53,560
We've only got so much time left,
940
00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,360
you know, we must abuse it.
941
00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:56,360
Hit it hard.
942
00:38:57,280 --> 00:38:59,920
(gentle music)
943
00:38:59,920 --> 00:39:02,600
(river water flowing)
944
00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:04,520
The extreme height of Mount Saos,
945
00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:06,520
and the small size of this island,
946
00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:09,080
have created several
different micro climates,
947
00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:11,440
which are extreme during
the winter months.
948
00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:13,600
The heightened volume of falling water
949
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:15,000
over the centuries has created
950
00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,320
these magnificent canyons and waterways
951
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:20,480
that weave their way to all
parts of the island's coastline.
952
00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:23,920
Many, like the waterfall we
hiked to, are easily accessible.
953
00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:26,000
Climbing them though,
I suggest you're guided
954
00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:27,600
by someone like Clio.
955
00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:28,800
This is not the kind of place
956
00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:30,200
you want to have an accident.
957
00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,000
The slightest of wrong
steps can mean disaster.
958
00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:34,840
And being in the middle of nowhere,
959
00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:37,920
it'll be a long time before
anyone could come to your aid.
960
00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:38,760
If at all.
961
00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:41,920
Clio, I really loved coming up here.
962
00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:43,600
It was a beautiful walk.
963
00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,160
Even that last ascent was exciting.
964
00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:48,120
I get up here now, I've gotta tell you,
965
00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:49,840
I didn't sweat coming up, but I'm sweating
966
00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:51,120
just looking at this, it's just too mu--
967
00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:52,400
And you're gonna go down that.
968
00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:53,680
You're gonna repel down that now.
969
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:54,520
- Yes, of course.
970
00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:55,480
That's the purpose of our trip.
971
00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:56,920
- Are you sure everything's there?
972
00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:58,760
- Well, yes.
973
00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:00,800
Being afraid is not a shame here.
974
00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:02,240
- Right.
- And I'm afraid
975
00:40:02,240 --> 00:40:05,680
when I'm making the first
step on the waterfall.
976
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:09,720
But after that, the feeling
of being one with the nature,
977
00:40:09,720 --> 00:40:11,480
it's great, it's just gorgeous.
978
00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:12,800
- I'm getting a little bit of it.
979
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:14,680
Obviously, I wanted to come with you,
980
00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:16,520
but I forgot my helmet
and gear down there.
981
00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:18,080
So otherwise I would have come with you.
982
00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,160
- Yeah, that's for sure.
- I forgot the gear, you know?
983
00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:22,960
So tell, me what is gonna happen now?
984
00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:23,920
What are you gonna do now?
985
00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:25,640
Explain to me what's gonna happen now.
986
00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:26,640
- Well, for the beginning,
987
00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:28,280
we are going to the path.
988
00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:31,040
It's a very exposed path.
989
00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:34,920
We shall reach that point
where the waterfall starts.
990
00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:38,760
We shall find, hopefully,
we shall find the anchors,
991
00:40:38,760 --> 00:40:40,920
make the riggings, and descend,
992
00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:44,480
in a spatial technique called
the repelling in Canyon.
993
00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:45,480
- [Peter] Right, okay.
994
00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:48,200
Tell me, if I was to learn how to do this,
995
00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:50,440
how long before I could do that?
996
00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:52,200
- Well...
997
00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:53,280
One day.
998
00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:54,440
- No way!
999
00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,160
No chance in the world!
1000
00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:57,880
I was thinking maybe one year.
1001
00:40:57,880 --> 00:40:59,040
- No, not that--
1002
00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:01,120
No, because there is a first level,
1003
00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:03,200
let's say ground zero in canyoning,
1004
00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,520
is discovering canyon.
- Yeah.
1005
00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:09,880
- And you will be able,
after one day of practising ,
1006
00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:12,880
to descend on such a waterfall,
1007
00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:15,600
safely of course, and comfortable as well.
1008
00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,560
But under my supervision, yip.
1009
00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:20,040
- Well listen...
1010
00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:22,800
Can you do me one favour
before you go up there?
1011
00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:24,280
Help me get down outta here.
1012
00:41:24,280 --> 00:41:26,040
I've gotta get down now.
1013
00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:27,720
I think it's gonna be worse
getting down than going up.
1014
00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:29,240
Look at that, look at that!
1015
00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:31,680
- [Clio] Okay, go inside my backpack.
1016
00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:32,960
- [Peter] All right, well good luck, mate.
1017
00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:34,480
- Thank you.
- Good luck, good luck.
1018
00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:35,800
I hope to see you on the other side.
1019
00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:36,640
- Okay.
1020
00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:38,560
- I'm not worried about
you, I'm worried about me.
1021
00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:39,400
Okay.
1022
00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:40,480
- I will come and help you down.
1023
00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:41,840
- Thank you, mate.
- Bye.
1024
00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:42,880
- Thank you.
1025
00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:44,000
I think he's nuts.
1026
00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:46,680
I think all these guys are nuts.
1027
00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,080
(gentle music)
1028
00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:58,640
You know how they say the
camera adds 10 pounds?
1029
00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:00,960
Well, it also makes everything less steep.
1030
00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:03,560
Why do I do this stuff?
1031
00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:07,640
I prefer the taverns and
the beaches, you know?
1032
00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:09,720
And the archaeology and the history.
1033
00:42:09,720 --> 00:42:10,560
That's all better.
1034
00:42:10,560 --> 00:42:11,400
This is crazy.
1035
00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:16,680
Don't be fooled by the camera angle.
1036
00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:19,000
This is almost a vertical descent.
1037
00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:21,080
And taking 100 kilos down
1038
00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,560
is not easy for a gentle
giant like myself.
1039
00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:25,520
It's not the most flattering look.
1040
00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:27,200
Maybe I should consider a body double
1041
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:28,440
like Bear Grylls for the next time
1042
00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:30,480
I do something as ludicrous as this.
1043
00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:38,560
That looks like Clio coming
down first, it's a double rope.
1044
00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:40,120
Dan is at the top.
1045
00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:41,840
It's a double rope because
their shackles are up there.
1046
00:42:41,840 --> 00:42:42,680
They leave the shackles in there
1047
00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:44,600
and they just bring the rope back down.
1048
00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:47,080
So they can use it again
for the next the descend.
1049
00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:51,400
I'm scared right now just
looking at it these guys.
1050
00:42:52,240 --> 00:42:54,920
(water flowing)
1051
00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:57,000
(gentle music)
1052
00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:00,120
So canyoning is only one
sport that they do here.
1053
00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:01,960
There's some nice dive spots,
1054
00:43:01,960 --> 00:43:04,480
some beautiful sea creatures to see.
1055
00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:07,680
There's a whole lot of
other sports that they do.
1056
00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:10,360
Mountaineering, they climb to the top of
1057
00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:14,080
that 1700 metre Mount Saos.
1058
00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:17,600
All these sports, none
of them I'm gonna do.
1059
00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:18,440
None.
1060
00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:19,280
I'm not doing any of them.
1061
00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:23,440
It's bad enough that I came up here.
1062
00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,120
Here he goes, he's a
nut, have a look at this.
1063
00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:25,920
Check it out.
1064
00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:29,640
It just goes to show
that you're never too old
1065
00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:31,720
for a bit of adventure.
1066
00:43:31,720 --> 00:43:34,840
I have to admit, that as
much as I say I won't abseil,
1067
00:43:34,840 --> 00:43:36,880
watching these guys, I started to think,
1068
00:43:36,880 --> 00:43:38,840
I might just give it a go.
1069
00:43:38,840 --> 00:43:42,200
Although maybe on
something a bit more tame.
1070
00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:44,320
Yeah, what though, I might be scared,
1071
00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:48,880
but what they're doing looks
absolutely spectacular.
1072
00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:51,040
I can understand what
Clio means when he says
1073
00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:53,920
he's one with the earth, with nature.
1074
00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:55,200
The feeling he's getting right now.
1075
00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:56,280
Check him out right now.
1076
00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:57,840
He's nuts man.
1077
00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:00,440
(gentle music)
1078
00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:09,200
(distant cheering)
1079
00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:11,120
This episode might have come to a an end,
1080
00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:14,480
but my exploration of
Samothrace sure hasn't.
1081
00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:16,520
In the next instalment
of My Greek Odyssey,
1082
00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:18,240
I'm delving deeper into the history
1083
00:44:18,240 --> 00:44:20,160
and culture of this tiny island.
1084
00:44:20,160 --> 00:44:22,760
And showing you why it
punches well above its way.
1085
00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:25,000
Apart from exploring ancient ruins
1086
00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:26,560
and archaeological wonders,
1087
00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:28,480
also be lacing up the hiking boots
1088
00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:30,200
and heading to the heart of the island.
1089
00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:32,160
Plus, I'm gonna visit the spas
1090
00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:34,760
and thermal springs
Samothrace is famous for.
1091
00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:36,320
And of course, I'll be giving you a taste
1092
00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:37,480
of a few of the island's delicacies,
1093
00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:40,760
including the most delicious
goat I've ever had.
1094
00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:42,240
But before any of that happened,
1095
00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:43,960
I had to terrifying hike back
1096
00:44:43,960 --> 00:44:45,360
to the bottom of the mountain.
1097
00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:48,120
Let's just say it took
a lot longer to get down
1098
00:44:48,120 --> 00:44:49,640
than it did to climb up.
1099
00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:50,560
And there was no way I would let
1100
00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:52,600
the cameras roll on that ordeal.
1101
00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,840
(pleasant Greek music)
83519
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