Steve Ludlow

SUKSEL

Steve Ludlow

It's not just going on holiday it's the planning that's important too!



Europe » Bulgaria » Blagoevgrad Province » Bansko August 13th 2014

10th August Very peaceful nights sleep in the hotel in Xanthi. 4 of us made breakfast before 10 and were still eating when it closed at 10.30. Then we drove into and through Kavala and found a lovely beach - no wind today so the sea is unbelievably flat. Hot though - 30 something so the sea is refreshingly cool. Filled up with petrol before getting to the beach and the guy filling the tank graduated from Southampton the same year as Christopher. Nice beach, lovely warm sea, massive jellyfish :) just the one. Hopefully got some good pictures with the underwater camera. Should have brought the GoPro though as that takes good pictures underwater I believe. Next stop a bite to eat in a cool Taverna? We got back in the car and travelled a ... read more
Model
Kavala Beach
Back

Europe » Greece » Thrace August 9th 2014

Chillaxing is good - but I can only chillax for a while before I need to do something. Kids emerged from their caves eventually and Eleanor and I went down to the pool. Water was lovely, sky was clear and it was another beautiful day in Greece. We spent a long time around the pool and I caught up on my blog and processed lots of pictures, though I still have video to take from the Go Pro and the snorkelling head cam. I've also sussed linking my iPad to the GoPro wirelessly so we can use it under water and see what the kids see. We had a little bit of Tsaziki and chips (which came as crisps) around the pool and a sneaky beer. Looks like we've been in the sun a bit am ... read more
Sleepy
Zizi
Mystery Island

Europe » Greece » Thrace » Alexandroupoli August 6th 2014

Second day/night at Ismaros hotel It was even hotter when we got up today. Catherine sat outside on the porch where we had played cards before everyone else was up and by the time she came in she was baked! Our first breakfast here and we managed 4 out of 5 which isn't bad. Pancakes were great the coffee ok and the rest pretty mediocre - but that was as expected. We were almost the last in breakfast - and by the time we had finished they were packing away. We had seen lots of brown signs indicating sites of interest before we arrived at the hotel so we went out to look at some of them. The first was an ancient amphitheatre which had been destroyed in 1906 when they used the stone for a ... read more
Ampitheatre
Family
Ampitheatre

Europe » Greece August 3rd 2014

2nd August Now that was a storm. I think I got a bit on the GoPro - but massive sheet lightning and torrential rain. Knocked the power out a couple of times - but only for seconds. Internet went completely though and as of writing this hasn't come back yet. Went down for breakfast and it was at least dry - now started drizzling again but the sun is trying to break through. We are going to the archaeological museum today in Thassos and the ancient Agora. It's close enough to walk so we head through town - as we go it starts to warm-up. Saturday must be changeover day as the ferry was really busy. We walked through the Main Street to the old town and went into the Museum. 2 Euros each - absolute ... read more
After effects
Main street
Museum

Europe » Greece » North Aegean » Thasos August 1st 2014

So it's off to Thassos. Got up at a reasonable time - 8 ish and went for a swim as I knew what was coming for Breakfast! Lovely swim as hopefully you can tell from the pictures. I was suitably exercised and hungry by the time we were all ready for breakfast. Again a stunning breakfast - fruit, hot stuff, Matthew managed an omelette which was very impressive. Massive home made coffees. Packed after breakfast and we were on the road by just after 11 with the car perfectly packed. Drove towards Kavala - past Phillipi and then hung a left on our first Greek motorway towards the ferry port. It was estimated at about a 90 minute journey but took us about 70 and we weren't really travelling. From Bansko to Thassos would be perfectly ... read more
View
Ferry
Ferry

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Philippi July 30th 2014

Were on the road to Phillipi Ok so it's early and light and someone is moving around - ah that will be Catherine then. We woke the kids up at about 9 as Jennifer Hotel provides breakfast and what a breakfast! As you can see from the picture absolutely gorgeous... We eat and they kept bringing plates of this and that to try. Tomorrow I'm going swimming before breakfast so I can be hungry enough to eat it all. Fresh coffee, freshly squeezed Oranges, did we want bacon and eggs? One more wafer thin mint sir... It was a bit like that. After we'd eaten it was warming up nicely - oh I forgot to mention we had breakfast outside in the very pleasant 30 degrees! We packed up what we were going to take with ... read more
Uncle Bulgaria at Phillipi
Old
Not so Old

Europe » Greece » Thrace July 29th 2014

Bansko to Drama today. Got up tidied up the apartment and watched with much amusement the work on the block across. Looks like some Bulgarian had dragged a massive piece of equipment over half of Bulgaria only to find once they arrived it didn't work. One of them then tried to get it working and when that failed called his Mate who seemed quite handy with a hammer. By the time we left they still hadn't started it and it was almost worthwhile waiting around to see what they did next... So once everything was in the car we headed off via Dobrinshte and the E19 towards the Greek border. Very reasonable road all the way so we made good time. Needed passports at both the Bulgarian and Greek borders - but no one asked about ... read more
Drama park
Waterways with fish
Fish reflection

Europe » Bulgaria » Blagoevgrad Province » Dobrinishte July 28th 2014

Up early - well we were. Everyone else strolled out of bed after 10, 11 etc. Phoned Anton and he arranged to drop of the key at 11.30 and true to his word the key arrived. I had already nipped out and got some fresh bananas and bread. We were on our way out when Anton gave us the key so we just popped down to check the key worked and we could get into the Gym. Looks very nice, nice boxing bag fixed to the roof, table tennis table with bats and balls, cycle, weight machine and cross trainer. Changing rooms have been provided as well and I think I can see where the Sauna will go. Then we drove over to Dobrinishte and uptowards Bezbog hut where we are going to get the cable ... read more
Hotel at Gotse Delchev
Uncle Bulgaria on tour
Waving

Europe » Bulgaria » Blagoevgrad Province » Bansko July 27th 2014

27thJuly 2014 Today we are going to see the bears at the Dancing Bear Sanctuary near to Belitsa. Got up at a reasonable time and while the kids slept Catherine and I headed down to the local supermarket where we picked up a few fresh supplies – including a very interesting bread with cheese in it…. Looked a bit like Lardy bread… The kids woke in turns and struggled out of bed – showers for everyone – 2 bathrooms is great Paul. Both working fine. Then we headed out of Bansko on the Razlog road and stopped at Lidl for a few supplies. The local beer is 40p a litre – and when it’s cold it’s not bad. Picked up ham, after sun, cakes all sorts of stuff. We’ll be leaving some stuff behind in the ... read more
Prespa
Prespa
Uncle Bulgaria and Bears

Europe » Bulgaria » Blagoevgrad Province » Bansko July 26th 2014

As Catherine un-folded it from her carry on bag! Uneventful trip to Heathrow Terminal 5 - taxi was 10 minutes early and as Mathew was still in the shower we left at 6.00 am. on the dot. Nice big van this time with space for all of us and our luggage - with the schools broken up traffic was very light until we reached the M25 - but we were still at Terminal 5 by about 6.30. We had checked in so dropped the bags and went through South security which was very straightforward. Wandered around for a bit as Terminal 5 does not have a priority pass lounge then sat at A6 while waiting for the gate to be called. A6 was called while we were waiting and was for Leeds Bradford... I mean really? ... read more
Road to Virhen hut
Flowers
Stones




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