Greece - Aggelochori fishing harbour

After the somewhat noisy free Camperstop of the previous night we made sure that the exercise would not be repeated if we could help it. We aimed for the coast south of Thessaloniki airport and came across the small fishing harbour of Aggelochori. There was a good sized level concrete parking area near the boats and the area had many lampposts which meant good lighting after dark.
We prefer a lit area to a dark one because it means you can see what goes on around you. There's no hard and fast rule on security but in built up areas lighting is better than no lighting. In outlying beach areas and more rural environments the lighting is not a must .... appraisal and judgement guides us when we do free camping.

The overnight stop was both pleasant and quiet with fishermen coming and going, some fishing from the harbour wall at sunset and some preparing (05:00 the next morning) to go out in their boats at first light. Lovely sounds as boat engines started up and then chugged their way out of the harbour. Of course some boats had been out all night and started returning by the time dawn broke. I had a walk around and took some pictures to commemorate this free overnight stop. Ah, and then the smell of a fishing harbour, like a fish shop, you know where you are and it's wonderful.

The following is a four picture pictorial of our surroundings at Aggelochori fishing harbour.

View from our door at sunset



A scuppered dredger inside the outer breakwater 



Returning fishing boat early morning

Fifi the motorhome on the quay beyond where we spent the night

 And so the adventure continues ....

Greece - Macedonia

We left Alexandropoulis and the Thraki region of Greece, and headed west to the Macedonia region, avoiding the motorway and crossing over the former Via Egnatia Roman road to Kavala. This was the right move as it was devoid of traffic and quite scenic. See the full story further down.

Sunrise at Alexandropoulis municipal campsite on our last morning

The Macedonia region of northern Greece comes across as somewhat unloved. It seems less developed, it seems somehow uncared for as if the Athens government thinks it to be not quite part of Greece. We did not visit Thessaloniki (Salonica) so cannot give an opinion on Greece's second city which is within Macedonia, perhaps that is where the money goes, it is certainly not going to rural Macedonia.
Macedonia only became part of the Greek state in 1923 after being surrendered by the Turks in 1913 from the then Balkan Wars, so perhaps in a way there lies the answer for its unloved appearance. In some areas it is plain dirty with garbage all over the place, household waste, piles of plastic bags, plastic bottles, cans, overflowing waste containers - and stray dogs.

Stray dogs, mainly large dogs, are a common problem all over the place, cats too although less seen. The stray dogs, sometimes in packs of 5, is certainly a disaster waiting to happen. Where do they come from, have they been turned out of their former homes by owners not wanting them anymore - the costs of caring and feeding? What is clear is that local authorities and inhabitants are doing nothing about the problem of both garbage and stray dogs! Is this a society turning a blind eye to the mess around them?

Via Egnatia - A Roman Road

It is marked by information boards as you go along giving some history and explanation. It was a major trade and military route of the ancient world which connected Rome with its territories further east during the time of the Roman Empire. It remained a major road for some 2,000 years since completion in 120BC.

Fifi eyeballing the information board

The Via Egnatia Roman road from Albania in the west, going all across northern Greece, to Turkey in the east. The boxed area is what goes through Macedonia in Greece, we travelled between the two crosses from Alexandropoulis in the east to Kavala in the west.

We stopped at Lake Vistonida which had abundant aquatic bird life and saw Coots, Flamingo's, Pelicans and Storks in quite large numbers in the water which we presumed to contain sulphur, if smell was anything to go by. A truly grand sight unexpectedly come by, wildlife in their natural surroundings in Macedonia!

Coots

Flamingo's

Pelicans

Storks

 

A short stint of motorway followed and we decided to overnight just outside Kavala at a free Camperstop next to a motorway service station. A tad noisy it turned out when a refrigerator truck pulled in near us with its generator going all night .... the joys of free stops!

After breakfast we continued west towards Thessaloniki and passed some impressive vineyards near Amfipoli. The vines carried large grapes nearing what must surely be harvest time and because of their size looked like table grapes - as opposed to wine making grapes which are much smaller. The tops of the vines were also covered in plastic sheeting to give protection against the elements and all fields were ringed by sturdy fencing.

Mid afternoon saw us coming across the Lion of Amfipolis standing more than 15ft (5m) tall. It dates back to the 4th century BC and represents what was once a sacred symbol of Macedonia. The story is long and involved and is a right mixture of Greek mythlogy, history and intrigue, power play and influence by the Athenians, the upper class power elite of Athens in ancient times, but for those interested click on the links.

"According to historians and archaeologists, the face of the Lion, which has always been a sacred symbol of Macedonians, was looking towards the city, thus expressing the importance and glory of it". Reference.

A lovely varied day of travelling it was, having no definitive destination, simply travelling and seeing what you see as you go along. If you like it you stop and take a look and if not you carry on. We often travel in this way with no schedule, program or timetable. After all, we don't have to be anywhere at any specific time.
 

Greece - Alexandropoulis (2)

We enjoyed the five nights spent at the municipal campsite of this town. It had very good Wi-Fi connectivity to the extent that even the i-Pad could get signal from inside the motorhome! We had a good view and a level pitch with hook up and water next to Fifi. The sea was 100 yards away with a white sand / pebble beach and could be walked barefoot if you wanted to. The reception was friendly and efficient and could give good directions to various sights in town. Grocery shopping was easy with a well stocked Lidl's 10 minutes down the road and we even found a supermarket in town selling lamb for casserole purposes - a rarity when travelling on the continent. Why is it that the continentals eat no lamb? Decent beef mince is tricky too and forget about even half-decent steak. It's like being on an aircraft .... chicken or pork .... chicken or pork ....

The objet 'd art below was seen in a town park and had us guessing as to what does it mean, what must the viewer understand about it?

Hmm .... ?

 

The beach promenade is good value with many tavernas and ouzeries to choose from, although this is low season many were still open for business. Pavement cafes are well appointed and some quite posh.

Promenade cafe

 

Town lighthouse

Beach adjacent to the campsite

 

I said so in my previous post, but for the record, when you enter Greece from the north via Bulgaria or from the east via Turkey, this town is a good stop.

 

And those sunsets

 

Next up our travels through the Macedonia region of northern Greece.

Greece - Alexandropoulis sunsets

Being camped out, or motorhoming, on the shores of the Aegean Sea presents to the photographer many opportunities to do sunsets. I went out to the beach in anticipation of what promised to be a good sunset and started to photograph the many moods that this can present. All pictures were taken on Sunday 6 October 2013.

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Island of Samothraki at 18:26

An Aegean vista at 18:33

Contrails and a setting sun at 18:35 

About to disappear at 18:49

Greece - Alexandropoulis (1)

GREECE

Alexandropoulis harbour wall

So far so good, we have been pleasantly surprised by our first stopover in Greece and wasted no time on having a look around on the first full day in Alexandropoulis. You read and hear about the economic problems and so on, but you find that people go about their daily lives as people do all over the world. It's early days yet I know, but first impressions count.
Alexandropoulis is on the Aegean in the far northeast of Greece near the Turkish border, a small city of 73,000 inhabitants including the surrounding municipalities. We opted by recommendation for the municipal campsite on the beach, just on the outskirts but easy 20 minute walk into town.

View from Fifi

A beach, the Aegean Sea and an Aegean sky.

The port is a natural place to start as the beach road kind of takes you there. The usual yacht facilities, ferry terminal, fishing activities and coastguard vessel can all be found.

All manner and means of ....

.... recreational use

SAOS ferries commute to various Aegean destinations such as Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, and islands in the Aegean.

Shimmering in the afternoon sun

The Greeks are proud of their contributions to civilisation as can be readily seen by the name board of the main thoroughfare in Alexandropoulis. The word 'democracy' (Gr. demos kratos) meaning 'people and power' goes back to 5BC with its origins in Athens.

Main street, Democracy Avenue.

From the campsite beach there is no mistaking the usual fishing activities around all coastal communities the world over.

Some do it leisurely

Some do it hell-for-leather

Some do it more 'naturally'

A wonderful microcosm of life around a campsite in northeastern Greece, all pictures were taken within a 45 minute walk of where Fifi the motorhome is parked in the municipal campsite of Alexandropoulis.

And then sometimes you see a view which is simple but inspiring, it speaks of silence and the beauty of nature .... in this case Samothraki, some 26 miles off the coast of Alexandropoulis. The highest peak comes at 1,600m, population just under 3,000 and 69sq mi in size.

The island monolith of Samothraki

A Greek welcome

Bulgaria - Good Bye / Ciao

All good things come to an end .... we came we saw and now the journey continues .... one door closes and another one opens .... after the coming winter a summer will follow .... it is known as LIFE.

For Those Who Live It, Life Has A Flavour The Sheltered Will Never Know (Anon)

To Nick and Nicky Kinson, our gratitude and appreciation for having given us the opportunity to spend time being involved at their lovely campsite in central Bulgaria. The memories will stay with us for a long long time.

It was enjoyable, it had funny moments, we often had a chuckle, not once did we regret coming and we experienced (again) the wondrous world of the travelling public, with all its idiosyncrasies and quirks. Joan and I both spent some years in the Travel Industry and we know it - and then some!

As a final goodbye and to once again share and enjoy in mutually good company, we went for a meal at a restaurant, a lovely place with good food, good service and an evening to be remembered.

Nicky - Nick - Joan - Marius

Camping Veliko Tarnovo

A Fond Farewell

Bulgaria - Camping VT (5)

The end of the summer season is fast nearing and so too our sojourn here at Camping Veliko Tarnovo as Camp Wardens. The 5 months spent on-site has been great, a hugely positive experience proving the dictum that you are never too old to do something different. No need to sit at home and do the same old routine day after day, month in month out. Get yourself a motorhome, take your passport, refresh your sense of adventure and follow the road of the traveller. The road of the traveller - yes wherever it goes. Have a broad plan and an open mind. Travelling in Europe is not strenuous and we have found it to be safe and very rewarding.

The swimming pool has been half emptied in preparation for winter, to be fully emptied and filled again May 2014. Maintenance projects have started whilst the weather is still good and more will follow before the summer season of 2014.
In the next few days we will be preparing Fifi for the journey south to the Greek border, perhaps spend one more night in Bulgaria and cross into Greece early October heading for the coastal city of Alexandroupoli on the northern shores of the Aegean Sea.
We are spending our last days taking things easy, normal chores are still done but the pace has slowed markedly. We have started walking on the edges of the fields surrounding the campsite, watching the sunflowers ripen and bow their heads, ripening the seeds before the harvest.

Sunflowers ripening

Walking the fields

Campsite from the nearby farm track

We have also sat back and admired the last splashes of colour in the four 'firebox beds' which Joan so painstakingly cleared of weeds and made them look presentable. To her be the credit!

From this ....

.... to being cleared of weeds ....

.... to natural splashes of colour.

There is no ignoring the approach of winter. We've seen and watched the trundling lorries carrying loads of fire wood around the area, providing homes and households with piles of it. Most lorries are of a blue/grey colour and resemble old Russian supplied ex-army vehicles. They have a steady quite melodious growl as they come trundling past.

Delivering wood in the local village

Usually on our way to and from the local village shop, we take a detour through the farmers fields surrounding the campsite. Joan has pointed all sorts of interesting vegetation like these Rose hips , something I have not seen before. It is a berry like fruit which can be used in the making of jellies, jams, marmalade and much more. Joan had the giggles all the way back to camp because I'd not seen (maybe unknowingly) Rose hips before.

Rose hips

We also came across Sloe berries used in the distillation of some Gin's, now that I had known .... funny how you know about some uses of some berries.

Sloe berries

Next week its off to GREECE. A whole new part, of the New Adventure, as we head once more for the Mediterranean.

Watch this space .... !