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Border Albania Greece
Long que and the officials are not in a hurry. We entered into Greece from Albania. It took a couple of hours on the border, but finally we were let into the country. We looked forward to come into an EU country again!. First we drove to Monika on the coast north of Lefkada. We parked outside the restaurant and had a short walk on the beach before dinner. The meal did not deserve any stars from us. Next morning we drove to Lefkada and went into an camping a short bike tour from the center. We had a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant and a evening tour of Lefkada. Next morning we set off in direction of Thessanoliki. So far we had just a feeling that something was wrong but could not pinpoint it apart from a complete lack of maintenance of buildings roads and all surroundings. The people we spoke too told us the gowernment package really took a lot of their strength. Increased taxes, increased vat. Less public support. They also noticed the gowernment on Cypern took people money from the bank. The people are now trying to avoid banks.. All in all resulting in an increased black market. Its difficult to pay with a credit card,
its hard to get an receipt. We passed road project with big signs telling about work starting 2006 and finished by 2013. They were closed down at the stage they were when they ran out of money... All in all Greece needs a lot more than an rich uncle in Germany or any of the other EU countries. Meteora we passed throught and visited the monastery it was an amasing view. How they managed to build and live in the houses on top of the mountains. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/455
But religion doesnt seem to have any problems as long as you get as close to heaven as possble. When we came closer to Thessanoliki the roads got better, but still we could see a lot of closed shops, factories, petrolstations etc. In Thessaloniki we arrived at Zampetas camperstop, a camperdealer who opened his facilityes for campervan travellers. W even got a full guiding of where to go and what to see.
Thessaloniki are the second biggest town of Greece, and there are found remains from 5000 BC. Probaly the oldest town we have been to. A rountrip with guided bus a walk in the city lunch, and we where ready
for the next day. south east of Thessaloniki there are three fingers going out in the sea. The first one we went partly around until we found a nice fishing village Nea Fokaia and could park by the nearby Manos restaurant. They served us a nice meal from the sea. Cathrine even spent the hole evening with a party of 13 young greece people and learned a lot of Greece. The hospitality were great.
Next day we drove to the southernmost point on the second finger and parked in th fishing harbour port Fouro. The nearest restaurant hijacked us and we put the car in their garden wifi and electric hookup. Nice surroundings food and hospitality.
The third finger is a monastery, and only men can get permission to enter!
We went back to Thessaloniki, and Cathrine prepared for departure to Oslo the next day. When she arrived in Oslo and got to the hospital, they found 5 broken ribs, fracture in one toe and a small piece of bone was off her elbow. It all happened a couple of weeks ago when she tried to walk around in the car while I was driving. Lesson to
learn, never move around in the car while its moving.
I then went on the road to Macedonia, Skopje. Parking was found at the Museum of modern art. The bus drivers said no problem to stay there. The location is within walking distance to the city and the American as well as the Türkish embassy are neigbours. I put the tv on and my automatic satelitte antenne found BBC. CNN and SKY news. After a short while the police knocked on my door and told me I could not spy on the embassy with my antenna!! I explained it was purely for watching news, but closed it immidiately down. No more telly in Macedonia. Next day a bus sightseeing in Skopje followed up with museums, Holocaust and Mother theresa but a lot more. An very interresting city and wortwhile visiting. The shortest road back to Croatia I calculated would be throught Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and on to Croatia. So on the road again. Entering Kosovo turned out that my green insurance card did not cover so I had to buy insurance. The roads in Kosovo, the driving culture gave me an clear indication of going as passive as possbly.
I passed Pristina, Mitrovice and direction Serbian border. Approx 50 km before the border there was a military controlpost and I recogniced that all cars where without reistration plates. On entering the Kosovo/Serbian border I was told that there was missing a stamp in my passport and I was not allowed by the Serbs to enter Serbia. I had to make a detour approx 100 km and entering directly into Montenegro via bordercrossing at Kula at heigth at approx 1800 m with snow. I arrived approx 2100 at the border drove another 50 km th Rozanje parked at the first hotel, had a dinner and fell asleep before I hit the bed. I drove slowly down throught the mountains of Montenegro. After been driving throught most of the Balkans if was nice to be in Montenegro, clean and nice roads. Compared with Albania, Greece, Macedonia, and Kosovo it difinitely seems to be the best organiced country.
All in all Balcan has been an interrsting experience. Nice people nice countries. Traveiilng with a campervan in Balcan can sometimes be more difficult than rest of europe especially when its close to nine meter long. The countries are not prepared for this
Market along the road.
Direct from the producer kind of travelling. So you have to compromise and park more or less where you can. Camping which I normally not like are in Balcan many places to small and the entry road often makes it unaccessible.
Then onto the road travelled quite quick throught Croatia and into Slovenia. I stopped in Celje a nice city approx 80 km north east of Ljublana. I will stop for the moment and leave the car for service in Germany while I travel to Norway. See you later when the travel continue to more interresting places.
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