Elona Monastery

We took the day to have a look around our local area today. It was a showery forecast, with heavy rain arriving later, so not ideal for rock climbing (although there is plenty of dry rock in the big caves, if you’re into the steep stuff).

I was quite glad of the enforced rest day, as we drove up the valley towards the Elona Monastery. It’s an amazing place - half way up a big cliff!

After parking the car near the cliff top, we followed the steps down and around a ledge on the cliff to the building. Above us were amazing coloured ‘tufas’ and flowstone.

The Monastery itself was pretty ancient, but newer buildings (1500 - 1800AD, according to the markings above the doors) had also been built for accommodation.

The views from the site were far reaching and despite its proximity to Leonidio town, it felt very remote.

We watched the showers pass through, leaving some good rainbows in their wake.

Eventually, the rain caught up with us. At least it meant that the new Rab test jacket that I’d been given - The ‘Valiance’ Waterproof Down Jacket, got some usage!

We sheltered under the steep crags of Elona for a while, but decided not to get involved with any climbing!

Instead we wound our way back down hill to the pad. We almost stopped in a cafe in town, until we realised that it’s still legal to smoke indoors here. It’s remarkable that it is, or ever was ok! We moved on...

As it turned out, our apartment owner had presented us with a big cake, so it was a good job we were ready for a cafe session on our own private balcony when we got back!