Mount Athos is a secluded mountainous region encompassing a series of Monasteries and Sketes inhabited by Orthodox monks. Lying in the northern reaches of Greece, Mount Athos is known for its silence and solitude. Our journey to the mount began once we arrived in Athens, though our time there was short lived as we soon boarded a second flight to the city of Thessaloniki. Here was a brief time exploration of ancient ruins and Mediterranean cuisine before waking up in the wee hours of the following day to board a bus to the village of Ouranoupoli. Also known as the sky city, it is the main gateway to Mount Athos. The village houses the Pilgrims Office, where you can pick up your Diamonitirion, or general permit, to be granted access to the mount via a ferry. Our plans were thrown into the wind when we disembarked our bus and headed to the pilgrims' office to find that all ferries to and from the peninsula had been cancelled due to the pouring rains. Stranded in the small village, we took up shelter in a small seaside café with other visitors who were stranded. The café was a small refuge from the cold rain and strong winds. After some time, we braved the weather to find a small guest house to stay for the night and hopefully catch the ferry the following morning. With a full day ahead of us and the weather starting to clear, we decided to explore the village and its surroundings. Down by the beach, we found The Byzantine Tower, a structure dating back to the 13th century, that was used as the last stopover for visitors before heading up to the mount. Throughout the village are stores selling clothes, candles, and icons, some of which were made by the local monks. After our time of exploring, we headed back to our guesthouse to prepare for our last leg of the trip. As the sun was rising the following day, we headed back to the pilgrims' office to see a slew of visitors looking to get their Diamonitirion and ferry tickets. We found ourselves at the end of each line as we scrambled to make the ferry. Making just in time, we headed on our way! Just as we thought the adventure ended, it was just getting started. Look for our follow up story about the history of Mount Athos and our time on the Peninsula!