Start your morning here with a cup of hot strong Greek coffee.
Listen to the birds sing in the several aviaries.
Say Kalimera! -- good day! -- to the monk in black.
Yes, believe it or not, it's a lovely little cafe in the courtyard of an ancient Greek Orthodox Monastery.
Watch your head when you enter through the squat gate.
In fact, I think it might be the only entrance to the Monastery of the Holy Cross.
Today the fascinating place is well within Jerusalem but when it was first built, its location--the Valley of the Cross--was far from civilization and in dangerous territory; hence the thick walls and fortress-like construction.
See more about it in my previous posts.
UPDATE: A nice article about the "not a cafe, but a holy place" is in the Jerusalem Post.
and
http://allaboutjerusalem.com/tour/monastery-cross has a 2-minute guided tour on video.
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(A post for Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.)
A kafenion elleniki in Jerusalem, with real greek coffee, glyko for me please, sweet??? Anytime!
ReplyDeletewhat an interesting surprise! I've never had Greek coffee, now I'm curious.
ReplyDeleteRob and Norma, I just added two links for you. One talks about the coffee scene.
ReplyDeleteUnlikely and absolutely lovely!
ReplyDeleteShalom Dina. Thanks for the info and the links. That was a treat. And I'm going to bookmark that "About Jerusalem" link for future reference to see what else I can see.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. This would be my favorite spot to have a cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place and I see a precious grandson in this photo.
ReplyDeleteDelightful!
ReplyDeleteI would really like to have a cup of coffee here. Lovely place:-)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing find! I've never tried Greek coffee, do you like it?
ReplyDeleteAnd WOW are those ever thick walls :)
Friends, sorry, I was too busy exploring the old monastery and did not sit in the "cafe" and try the Greek coffee. Guess I'll have to go back and try it, to get you an answer.
ReplyDeletePetrea, but I doubt they have WiFi inside the thick walls. :)
This is a nice little oasis.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I'll have to read an actual book.
ReplyDelete