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Blogs from Epirus, Greece, Europe
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May 26th 2013
Missing my daily gelato and it looks like the Greeks don't have the same passion for it like the Italians and their close relations.Still we will keep our eyes open as we continue our tour of Greece. Time zones are odd occurrences but a necessity as the local time must change at some point on the globe every so often. We probably didn't travel more than 100km directly east as the crow flies from Albania into Greece yesterday but we had to put our clocks forward an hour as the two countries have different time zones.So now,for a while, we will see the sun later in the morning but have it around for longer at night. We had had a long chat with the owner of the place we stayed at last night and got an ... read more
May 25th 2013
For the second morning in a row our hosts brought us tiny cups of strong coffee as we were preparing ourselves for breakfast and the day ahead. One thing we can say with the utmost surety is that the Albanian people we have met in our accommodations, in the markets, cafés and shops and on the streets have all been welcoming and so friendly that at times it can be a bit overwhelming. They are certainly out to please visitors and can appreciate that tourism will be a way this country does develop as fast as its emerging infrastructure will allow. We had two choices to cross from Albania into Greece and we decided on the new crossing at Qote Bof close to the coast rather than the principal crossing further inland. We chose this for ... read more
January 17th 2012
We have just spent a glorious day hiking in the mountains in the snow in a place called Vikos Gorge. We walked up a 500 year old path that goes between one 16th century village and another. On the way home we stopped at one of the many old stone bridges and enjoyed our cup of tea (well it looked like a cup of tea but was actually gin and lemon which stays icy cold in the car) to take in the sights. We were once again entertained by a local version of Pooh Sticks, where people throw rocks from the bridge to the ice below to see if they can break the ice. At present we are staying in a renovated 500 year old house in one of the 46 villages that make up the ... read more
Chapter 4-DAY13 - Tirana to Ioannina (Greece)
Published: September 21st 2011Europe » Greece » Epirus » Ioannina
September 19th 2011
ESCAPING ALBANIA! Today was just a travel day from Tirana Albania to Ioannina in Greece – but oh what a day. We left Tirana and headed south for the Greek border. On the way out of the capital there was a stretch on road about a Km long which had 6 service stations. Our guide told us that people who have made their fortunes illegally laundered money through the service stations that is why there are so many in the city. We had a toilet stop which proved interesting, there was just a hole in the ground – although it was surrounded by a ceramic floor, the bad news for Jeanette (and the other women) was that the ladies toilets were the same. One of many things that are hard to get used to is that ... read more
Day 15 - Day 18, Greece and Sailing
Published: September 29th 2011Europe » Greece » Epirus » Igoumenitsa
August 28th 2011
Day 15 today we were catching the ferry from ancona to igounmisa, it took half the day on the bus then it was an overnight ferry, nothing too exciting except for a new guy on tour (nemo) missed the bus from rome and then only just made it to the ferry before we borded, needless to say he automatically got topdick before he even knew what it was (a game we play on the bus where someone has dome something stupid and the winner has to wear a ridiculous lanyard and add something to it till the next bus/travel day). Day 16 after a good nights sleep on the ferry we then disembarked and drove on the bus to Platira where we starting our sailing. We were quite lucky as we only had 4-5 people to ... read more
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July 31st 2011
So fortuitous to have good friends that book their holidays along our route! Just a few days before they flew out Cally (one of my oldest friends) emailed to see if we were going to be anywhere near. A quick divert in the itinerary and we were off to Parga. Its a lovely old fishing village, a harbour with shops and houses set against the hillside. The next bay is a lovely beach, Voltas where we found a campsite, and surprise surprise we were right next to Cally and her partner Chris’s hotel. We spent a lovely few days being totally spoilt. We explored Parga using a little ferry boat service from one bay to the other, stopping frequently for sustenance and ice creams, culminating in a lovely meal overlooking Parga harbour. Cally is rather partial ... read more
April 23rd 2011
Friday 15th April 2011 Up and off to Ancona to catch the ferry ( 2 days late ) to Igoumenitsa, Northern Greece. Arrived in plenty of time and collected tickets however there were no cabins available and it looks at this stage as though we are going to spend an uncomfortable night in airline style seats. Our departure is delayed due to passengers being diverted from Venice where their sailing has been cancelled. As a result the ship is full to bursting and hope of a cabin diminishes. Max ( god bless ) waits patiently in reception for 2 hours as cabins are allocated to passengers that have been diverted from Venice. Finally the only spare cabin available is offered to us – an outside junior suite sleeping 3 – we take it, the boys can ... read more
April 6th 2011
So today we left the Dovitel Hotel, and took a tour of the Perama Caves. I would write about it, because it was very beautiful, but the whole day was overshadowed by a very bad incident. Something that has altered my entire outlook of my time spent here, something that has hurt me deeply. We have been dealing with dirty looks from old men, and sleazy looks from young men. We have had rude people, and people who have made it clear they only deal with us so they can have our money. I was overlooking that, ignoring it for the most part, because there is a cultural difference, and two lone women, traveling so far is probably so far from the relm of life for them, it becomes a bit scary. Also because we have ... read more
April 5th 2011
Today we drove to Ioannia (YAH-nen-nah), a 4.5 hour drive. Around noon we stopped in a little town, don't even know the name. Had some coffee, took a walk. Then we drove on, oh-ing and ah-ing over the pretty cliffs... We stopped in a little village (Nea Moussiotitsa, Agios Dimitrios) while still in the mountains, it was a little place right off the road. The BEST coffee I have had in... forever... and this yummy dish called Tyropita me filo kroustas (τυρóπιτα). Basically Cheese Pie with phylo crust. It was so good. Talking to the guy who seated/served us, his mom made it. And that, two coffees and two espressos, less than 10 euros. Nice! So now we are at Dovitel in Perama. The hotel is very pretty, a bit warm though. I tried to get ... read more
