Back into Europe and some down time

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As we awake after a good nights sleep after the Turkish Border crossing it's difficult to understand why we both feel more calm, for sure the nights sleep has helped no dogs barking all night, no call to prayer (loved it, just not at 5am) but it's more than that?!? I think travel (and I again reiterate "we wouldn't change it") for the last 4 month's our countries of travel have had their own unique challenges definitely highs but also some lows! When you holiday for two weeks you are somewhat protected from the day to day issues or they are novel but your also not there long enough for them to get you down. Travelling in a Motorhome brings its own challenges, where to go, and park/sleep and it is life, just on the road. We are also very fortunate in Northern Europe that we have a plan for rubbish and stray dogs, not perfect, but seeing this for such a lot of the trip has been heart-breaking. Bulgaria and Turkey may have schemes to help but like always the most needy are missed and I cried myself to sleep on numerous occasions, just feeling so bloody awful that we couldn't help in a more practical way.

Walking back on a beach with out those distractions in your face just immediately gives us back the urge to continue to travel which quite frankly had sadly diminished. Turkey and the last few countries have been incredible and we don't regret the whole 7,500 miles to create these memories but being back in a less challenging environment is a blessing.

We make our way along the northern Greek coast, we were here before so know exactly the spot's we will be using for our overnight park ups and we have three exciting stops to make before we get to our Airbnb in Southern Greece for the month of February. First we make our way to the KEP office to register for the Covid Booster which Greece are willingly giving to visitor's and which will make our onward travel easier! The visit late afternoon is easy and when we return to Lidl for a bit of shopping we recognise the UK couple we waived to as we went off to the KEP. We take them to the beach park up and as they are on their way to Turkey we hand over our phone SIM and travel book with some advice and a have a good chat over tea. We leave them the following morning to head East.

We are off to Vergina and the site of ancient Aigai, the first capital of Macedonia, where in 336 BC Philip II was assassinated and Alexander the Great was proclaimed king. You enter the underground museum below the oval earthworks above which were amazingly only discovered in 1976. They unearthed this sacred city of the Macedonian kingdom and found a royal palace and the royal tombs, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. Incredibly it hadn't been robbed, which means that you can now admire his personal armory, his golden larnax (coffin) and golden grave crown. Even the remains of his funerary pyre are on display! We were particularly fascinating with the exquisitely fine ivory decorations which adourned his royal couch, the Silverware and all the beautiful gold jewellery. To get this close to the world of the king's of this period was truly unique and unforgettable stop.

Our next stop is at Meteora, the word Meteora means literally 'hovering in the air' and as we spot these strange rock structures in the distance long before we actually arrive at their base. Our nights park up is a view of two of the hilltop monasteries. The area of Meteora was originally settled by monks who lived in caves within the rocks during the 11th Century. But as the times became more unsure and during an age of Turkish occupation, they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until they were living on the inaccessible peaks where they were able to build by bringing material and people up with ladders and baskets and build the first monasteries. This was also how the monasteries were reached until the nineteen twenties now there are roads, pathways and steps to the top. There are still examples of these baskets which are used for bringing up provisions. Back in the days when these baskets were the only way to get to the monasteries a nervous pilgrim asked his monk host if they ever replace the rope. "Of course we do" he replied “Whenever it breaks", which I am sure put him at ease! Luckily for us there is a pathway which now connects them and although it's a grey day we have an enjoyable, somewhat challenging walk to the top and a great vantage point to view the other four monasteries. Those almost inaccessible monasteries now have an airborne carriage for a visit that would save you the walk up the many steps to reach the top. The following morning the sun is shining so before leaving we drive up by the road to again take in this spectacular area.

Our evenings park up is just off the road by a fallen down bridge but being Riverside gives us an opportunity to clean the van. It's a cold night and in the morning the Sat Nav says to continue up the road to join the main carriage, but there's still snow, now Ice, on the road and just some 200m from the top we lose traction and have to descend tentatively to the bottom and start again!! Back on track our final stop is to the ancient city of Delphi. Delphi is famous for one thing in particular: it was home to the world-famous Oracle of Delphi. "Pythia was the name of the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. She specifically served as its oracle and was known as the Oracle of Delphi. Her title was also historically glossed in English as the Pythoness. The name Pythia is derived from Pytho, which in myth was the original name of Delphi" Took me some time to understand The oracle and this site but significantly pilgrims would flock here to receive the prophecies of the ancient Greek God Apollo and would make no major decisions until they had heard the advice. The oppulence that would have met you as you made your way to the Temple of Apollo is still there to imagine and the views from its hill top position, magnificent and a prelude to what else awaits us in Greece.

And so that brings you up to date with our time here now some five weeks. Four spent in the apartment near Nafpaktos which has allowed us to recharge, spring clean the van and importantly get our boosters, which we had yesterday. We have enjoyed the lovely town and it's position along the Gulf of Patras. Poppy has enjoyed the swimming and the big garden, although I think she is confused as to why we have stopped for so long?!? It has also given us the time to review our options. What seems right for us is to make our way home in the allowable Schengen time to be back in the UK around the 9th of April probably around six weeks earlier than our planned 9 month trip, but that's okay with us. So stay with us as we enter the final leg of this 'Epic' Adventure and see what we find on our way.

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Comments

[Pierre Delahunty]

Thank you once again for including us in your great adventure. And to have your poppy with you
Oh! Karen and Graeme how we admire the courage that you both have. It must be wonderful to have seen all these treasures. But now you are back in Europe stay safe. We seem to be starting another war!!! We shall be thinking about you both and wishing you God speed. Pierre and Jean xx