At the borders we're already doing it like pros. Again admiring looks into the cargo area and Leo chatted so much with one customs officer that the others had to wave at us to get going.
And we're here! Greece, our first destination of the trip!!!
We wanted to spend the winter here, thinking it wouldn't be as freezing as in Czechia and there wouldn't be snow everywhere. We don't want to risk sliding around somewhere on serpentine roads in the hills. So we'll see.
We drove along the border with Turkey, where there were lots of soldiers guarding everywhere, and headed straight to Alexandroupoli to do laundry. That same day we left the city and looked for some beach to sleep on. Finally the weather got nice again after several days. We stayed in place for two days, walked along the beach, worked, photographed sunsets, and enjoyed a bit of that romance by the sea. We were there almost the whole time alone and we managed to swim every day. This sea is warmer than the Black Sea, so it was actually possible!
The next journey led through the Nestos Delta National Park, where we found a nice sleeping spot by the sea in the park4night app. They definitely recommended not driving into the sandy dunes unless you have the right vehicle. But us? We had to try it! And it backfired on us. At first it seemed like child's play, Iveco was trying hard and it was going. But then Leo drove onto a softer dune, which slowed him down and we suddenly started digging into the sand instead of going forward. We just got stuck. We tried to slowly dig ourselves out bit by bit. It kind of worked, but after a few centimeters we got stuck again. Fortunately, local fishermen were driving by and helped us. First they lectured us that we have the wrong car for dunes ("This car no, this car OK!"), pointing alternately at ours and their car, and then they showed us the way out. They tied us to a rope and pulled us, so we were out of the worst. Then Leo had to turn it around on wetter sand and drive back. The important thing was to get as much momentum going as possible and just blast through the worse sections. I'm glad I wasn't sitting in that van with him. Glasses or no glasses, he just went for it. But it paid off!
That night we slept in the parking lot next to that beautiful sandy beach. The sunset was extra cheesy again when we had our dinner and a glass of whisky on the beach. In the morning I even dragged myself out of bed just in time for sunrise! It was quite an experience. Standing like this in December in Greece on a beach without tourists around and watching the sun rise. Shivering a bit in the cold and praying that it won't hide right away and will warm you up at least a little. :D
On Sunday morning we enjoyed a walk through the center of the town of Kavala. In the afternoon we drove a bit further to the Paggaio mountain range. We found ourselves a spot there where trails into the mountains begin and where drinking water is piped from mountain streams. We just met two villagers there who were just collecting water, so we chatted a bit. They assured us the water was really drinkable! (With gestures, because they didn't speak English and we don't speak Greek either.)
The next day we were woken in the morning by the ringing of goat bells as they went by to pasture. And we set off in the same direction after a while - into the mountains. We wanted to take a little walk, climb one hill, look around a bit, and come back. Along the way we came across a dog. He greeted us right away and happily joined us. He accompanied us the whole way up and down, until we felt really bad about leaving him there. But our flea-ridden friend eventually joined his herd of goats and our worries about where to house all those fleas disappeared.
Near Paggaio is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Europe - Alistrati Cave. We stopped there and can only confirm it, just not with photos, because taking photos isn't allowed there. But it was really beautiful and we had the whole tour just for ourselves! We actually think we were the only ones there all day... you know, sometimes it pays off when you go somewhere outside the main season! :D
On the way west we couldn't skip the city of Thessaloniki - Salonika. Even though the traffic there was terrible and we only spent a few hours there, we walked through the center and stopped at one little shop for lunch. They gave us one of the best burgers and kebabs we've ever had! These Greeks really know their meat! And the owner chatted with us and said he'd been to Czechia several times, that he had "many years ago" a girlfriend from Czechia! It's a small world!
As a sort of farewell to northern Greece, we decided to drive to the Pozar thermal springs. Pozar is named after the Slavic word 'fire'. They weren't that hot actually, but good for an evening bath. But we were more captivated by the landscape around. This place is hidden in a gorge along one small river flowing from the mountains. Thermal springs emerge around it, on which baths are built there. There are also several caves accessible by various trails, or you can just walk against the river current and admire its rapids and waterfalls. You definitely won't be bored there. ;)
But now we're already a bit further south. It is cold here and it probably won't get much better, but at least there's no snow. Well, in the mountains there probably is, but in the lowlands it's without it. We have a hike through Mount Olympus National Park ahead of us. We won't go to the highest mountain, both of this range and of all Greece - Olympus, but even so the internet promises a great experience!