For centuries, believers of all religions have been pilgrimage to their holy sites. One such pilgrimage site for Eastern Orthodox Christians is Mount Athos, which has an autonomous status under Greek sovereignty, located on the eastern finger of the Chalkidiki peninsula in northeastern Greece. Even those of different faiths and atheists are drawn to this mystical place, whose history is closely tied to the debate over the true monastic life. Here, many things are different: pilgrims must adhere to the specific customs and rules that apply during their spiritual excursions. The author has visited Mount Athos 23 times over several decades - both as someone captivated by the spirituality, the allure of legends, the beauty of ancient icons, and the Orthodox imagery of Athos, as well as an organizer of hikes with friends through an interesting nature landscape that is not always welcoming due to unpredictable weather. His memories provide profound insights into the history of this Orthodox monastic republic and offer glimpses into the daily lives of the devout monks who live there.