18th-19th April 2015

Alexandroupoli was a nice city to spend the night however the great part of the motel being right in the city centre also turned out to be the worst thing about it as well.  The noise of the city combined with noisy neighbours and some nerves about crossing the border made for a restless night sleep for both of us.

Greece to Turkey route

The border crossing turned out to be easy and only took about 1/2 an hour.  That included 1 Greek passport check and 4 Turkish passport/Visa/ insurance/rego/green card checks.  It also included having to do a u-turn in the middle of no-man's-land to retrieve one of Maurice's gloves.

The weather changed a fair bit today as well especially once we got across the border it became very windy.

Once we arrived into Eceabat we were surrounded by Australians who are on the cruise ships, there are thousands of them and no that isn't an exaggeration.  

Some photo's from the permanent display/memorial they have near the ferry terminal in Eceabat.

  

Today (19th) we went on our Gallipoli tour.  A half day tour of the ANZAC sites.  The place is absolutely packed and apparently today was a quiet day compared to what it has been over the past week or so.  Preparations for ANZAC day are in full swing.  The tour itself was great and only spoilt by the freezing weather.

Brighton Beach, where we were suppose to land.

ANZAC Cove now and then.

  North beach, where the main ANZAC day service is held.

 Lone Pine.

Turkish Memorial 

  The Truce statue.

 Chunuck Bair

and finally to prove that we were there..

16th-17th April

Nea Peramos to Alexandroupoli

Yesterday we had a very relaxing day starting with a long walk past the ruins of a Byzantine Castle, and what appeared to be an empty (apart from the armed guards on the gate) military resort camp and onto an almost deserted beach where we both dipped our feet into the Aegean Sea.

Today we rode to Alexandroupoli with a stop off in Kavala to try and buy a new camera without any luck. Of course we had to stop off for a coffee on the way.

Coffee time!

Yummy late lunch.  I think I might start serving meals like this, saves on washing up :)

 click here for a map of today's ride 

13th - 15 April

Kalambaka-Asprovalta-Nea Permous

Click here for the map of our route from Kalambaka to Asprovalta

After a relaxing couple of days enjoying the hospitality of the Koka Roka family we got back on the road today.  Arthur (the owner of Koka Roka) gave us a few tourist tips so on the way to Asprovalta we stopped at Vergina and the tomb of Phillip II (father of Alexander the Great).  The tombs and the artefacts they found in them are amazing.  Even Maurice who isn't known to get excited about "old stuff" found it interesting.

Phillip II tomb.  It also contained the bones of one of his wife's. 

The golden crown of his wife.

The silverware buried with them so they could enjoy wine within the after life.

Some of the intricate work on the silver jugs.

Unfortunately when we got ready to leave the tombs we left my little camera sitting on one of the panniers so someone ended up with a nice Easter present.  Luckily I only lost a days worth of photo's.

We continued on to Asprovalta and while we were looking for somewhere to stay a guy hopped out of his car and asked us if we were looking for a room.  We followed him back to his motel which was in a great spot looking out over the beach.  A short walk down to the promenade and a great pizza place.

Pension  Delfini

Yum seafood pizza

Yesterday (14th) we enjoyed a nice ride back down the coast and a couple of beach side villages. 

Click here to see our ride today

So that brings us to today and our short ride from Asprovalta to Nea Peramos, another seaside town.

Click here for todays short ride.

The view from our room at Mira Mare.

The bar/cafe/restaurant in downstairs from the room. 

Nea Peramos

Waiting patiently for his Gyros.

Happy Greek Easter 

9th April to 12th April

Athens to Kalambaka, Greece

The day after our last post the weather turned and we had a wet, windy and cold day for our hop-on hop-off bus trip around Athens including our visit to the Acropolis.  It was still an amazing experience and after a warming  cappuccino, at a nearby Cafe, we went to the new Acropolis museum which is excellent.

I did say it was cold.

After we had warmed from a long day in the cold weather we went to one of the many bars close to the hotel and enjoyed a few drinks, including some Ouzo, and some live traditional music. 

The next day the weather was a little better and we spent the morning walking around and stopping for coffee.  We also took another ride on the bus getting off to have a leisurely lunch in at a nice little cafe while enjoying the sunshine.

  We left Athens on the 11th and made our way North to Kalambaka (Metorea, known for it's cliff top Monastries)

 click this link see our ride for the day.

When we arrived at our motel, Koka Roka, it was suggested to us that we might like to go for a walk to the closest Monasteries.  Well you might be able to see it from the hotel but that doesn't necessarily mean it is a short walk given that it is straight up goodness knows how many meters.  Anyway after much complaining from me we finally made it to the top only to find out that it was going to shut in 5 minutes.  So it was the quickest visit anyone has probably made to the place because there was no way I was going to do that walk again the next day:)

Maurice takes in the surroundings while he waits for me to catch up.

Almost there!

Yeah we made it!

Today is the Greek Orthodox Easter and every one in town cooks Lamb on the spit and shares with their families. 

We had a pretty lazy day with a walk down to the town for coffee being the most active thing we did all day.

Koka Roka, our acommodation for the past couple of nights. 

Kalispera (Good evening)  from Athens.

5th April - 8th April 2015 

Well we finally made it to Athens and we are nearly over the Jet Lag (well no not really but I am trying to be positive).  Maurice has out done  himself with his pick of motels right in the thick of things.  We have just come back to our room from having a beer and wine on the roof top of our motel where this is the view you get.

Well what else are you going to do at 10 am 

The flight over was long but flying Emirates was pretty good. We are still the only people we know that have never had an upgrade! Not to worry maybe on the way home.

I think Maurice wants to visit Dubai now he has seen all the camels at the airport.

Changing of the Guard.

We have almost worked out how to get a coffee the way we like it and have checked off a couple of things to see & do.  Slowly working on the things to eat & taste and yes there will be plenty of food pictures in future posts. 

Changing of the guard

Then Central market is amazing.

Maurice picked up the Motorcycle today and by all accounts it went smoothly and he managed to get back to the motel in one piece despite all the crazy drivers & riders. 

Follow this link to see Maurice's little ride from the shipping port to Athens

Tomorrow is set aside for the hop on hop off bus and all the cultural sites so the next post should have even more photo's.  


Thanks for getting us to the Adelaide Airport Barry & Ros, your the best.