We arrived in the port of Igoumenitsa at 8pm and were met by Kathy & Tolis who had driven up from Athens to meet us. Kathy took some photos as well as some videos of the ride (some of which I have used in this report, thanks Kathy)
After refuelling we set off for Ioanna for a quick coffee & the best chocolate cake I have ever eaten on mainly empty roads with some interesting wet hairpins covered in gravel. We arrived at the only hotel that had rooms available that night at around midnight and as a last resort hotel it wasn’t too shabby! It was the first time that I had ever seen electric blinds in the bathroom and I was gutted that I didn’t have any room in my bags to fit the freebie white slippers into!
The next day, refreshed ad fed we set off for Athens via the amazing monastries at Meteore
As I pulled into a fuel station at a place called Domokos, Tolis noticed that my rear tyre was flat but hey no problem, I had a spare tube & Luke my son a fully qualified motorcycle technician with me.
It turned out that the valve had rotted away from the tube
We finally arrived in Gyfada at 1am & checked into the hotel & I slept like a baby. Now I must explain something very important… I am English and a planner. I clock watch, what is the time now? What time will I get there? How many hours sleep will I get? What time is breakfast and so on. Well it doesn’t work in Greece, as Thanassis told me, “We are on Greek time now, you don’t need a watchâ€. Meet at 10.30 means 11.00 0r 12.00, Lunch is 3 or 4pm, Dinner is Midnight & every where is open 24/7.
And as for the driving, think Fast & furious. I saw the best wheelie ever outside our hotel room; a GSX 1000 nearly vertical from one traffic light junction to the next!
Friday was a chilled out day, went to change my rear tyre & fit a new tube & visited the local KTM & Ducati dealer and then on for lunch at Sounion. In the evening Luke went off with Kathy to a local Dance school & then on to a club… He is now taking bookings to teach the moves he has learn’t.
Thanassis and I went out for a drive and he showed me his unfinished apartment block that he has been working on!... It turned out to be the Acropolis… and I believed him!!. He said that he had run out of funds & that he had not been able to put windows in yet!!
Saturday 25th April
Got up early & walked across to the beach for a smoke and watched an old man who obviously lived on the beach, remove litter from his little area and hang out his washing to dry. Further along I watch the fisherman come in & set up stalls to sell their catch… sometimes in life, the simple things are always the best and when you are always rushing about, you can miss them. This is why I love travelling so much.
Thanassis picked us both up in his car and we went to the ancient Epidaurus Theatre near Korinthos which was started at the beginning of the 3rd centurt BC! And then on for coffee & cakes by the sea (Yes I do have a sweet tooth and in Greece I was in heaven)
In the evening we went into Athens for dinner & a tour of the sights by night
Sunday 26th April
I slept for 8 hours, Yipee! Sorry Thanassis, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks and I like my watch!
We all rode into Athens to have more coffee and buy goodies at the flee market and then rode up to the Acropolis for a photo shoot.
Dined on the best Crepes in Athens in the evening & luke went off to a Bazzuki night (sorry if my spelling is not right but it’s all Greek to me!)
I walked back to the Hotel as it started to rain and packed my gear ready for the ride up to Thessaloniki in the morning
Monday 27th April
We all met at the Boom Café in down town Gyfada which Thanassis informed me is a bit of a tradition for all of his bike trips & set off for Thessaloniki:
We rode through the pass that the famous 300 Spartans defended, which is now a motorway! & on to the square in Thessalonki for more coffee & cake, checked into our hotel & then went for our last meal as the 3 amigos and what a meal! Followed by a walk along the seafront and passed the statue of Alexanda the Great.
The following morning after breakfast we set off for the last time with Thanassis who kindly guided Luke & I to the right road for Bulgaria and as we waved & hooted goodbye, my heart became heavy for now 3 would become 2 and I was already missing my friends company…… to be continued in part 3 the Eastern block
