A Bongo Adventure to Greece
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:50 am
Hi
We're looking at a wee adventure next year...Greece!
This year, we were all raring to go, but I had health problems, and we also have had the builder here for a year, so with one thing and another, it's next year!
We haven't got dates yet, but thought that a few other Bongonauts might care to join in, and as the Russian Club didn't meet this year, ...a few "Bongo Fury" members were keen, but timing was the problem.
Well...Greece...lovely place...and I've been to this site before...rather nice, except the loos and showers...but, hey, I'm not fussy, and the campsite is very clean....It's a few years since we have been, so I'll get some updates from them.
The owners were nice, they opened up for us in winter, and we went in February....Fan blinking tastic...a lovely view of distant mountains across the bay, and we parked Bongo and caravan 50-60 yards from the Aegean ...walk that distance, step off a small kerb, and you're ankle deep in the oggin....gorgeous...even in February!!!!...
Now...WHERE?...halfway down on the right ...a place called Stylida...and my reason for going....Thermopylae is just up the road, and I LOVE Greek history...and I've had a thing about seeing one of the most important places for over 50 years...We didn't have time to stop, before, but it HAS to bee seen
Look it up:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae
Out of interest, the Clipper Thermopylae is one of my favourite ships of yesteryear, along with Cutty Sark :- http://www.aberdeenships.com/single.asp?index=99403
Anyway...it's a trip we'll be doing, BUT....depending on interest, I know another site in a wee village south of Thessaloniki...primitive, but I think it's been modernised, and it's a drive along the beach to the campsite....Had we had time to stay, I'd have spent ages there...HUGE beach...again in February, and all the locals were long-line fishing (or whatever it's called) , with whacking great fishing rods, and I'm sure this one's been updated...bit of a shame, as it was gorgeously rustic, and the owner opened it up for us...I expect the site bar/ restaurant is all posh now, but it was wonderfully tatty and like an old fisherman's delight years ago...clean inside, but rustic, nice grub, and a grand bit o' local plonk.....
There are 2 ways of getting there...we opted to take the ferry from Bari to Patras...and the Greek ferries are VERY nice...and you can have the dogs in the cabin....and the cabins are surgically clean!....We had time for a nice kip!
So Route 1/. England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece...or miss out Switzerland
Route 2/. France, Germany, Austria , Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece.
You can go for one route here, and the other home...
Perhaps The Russian Bongo members might like to meet us there?...
I'm happy to organise routes, plan stops for people, write to the campsites, find things to do, and so on...It will give me something to do when we get snowed in this year / early next...(Hopefully not too much snow )....
Anyway...what do folks think....????....It really is something you'll talk about for years!
Cheers
Helen
We're looking at a wee adventure next year...Greece!
This year, we were all raring to go, but I had health problems, and we also have had the builder here for a year, so with one thing and another, it's next year!
We haven't got dates yet, but thought that a few other Bongonauts might care to join in, and as the Russian Club didn't meet this year, ...a few "Bongo Fury" members were keen, but timing was the problem.
Well...Greece...lovely place...and I've been to this site before...rather nice, except the loos and showers...but, hey, I'm not fussy, and the campsite is very clean....It's a few years since we have been, so I'll get some updates from them.
The owners were nice, they opened up for us in winter, and we went in February....Fan blinking tastic...a lovely view of distant mountains across the bay, and we parked Bongo and caravan 50-60 yards from the Aegean ...walk that distance, step off a small kerb, and you're ankle deep in the oggin....gorgeous...even in February!!!!...
Now...WHERE?...halfway down on the right ...a place called Stylida...and my reason for going....Thermopylae is just up the road, and I LOVE Greek history...and I've had a thing about seeing one of the most important places for over 50 years...We didn't have time to stop, before, but it HAS to bee seen
Look it up:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae
Out of interest, the Clipper Thermopylae is one of my favourite ships of yesteryear, along with Cutty Sark :- http://www.aberdeenships.com/single.asp?index=99403
Anyway...it's a trip we'll be doing, BUT....depending on interest, I know another site in a wee village south of Thessaloniki...primitive, but I think it's been modernised, and it's a drive along the beach to the campsite....Had we had time to stay, I'd have spent ages there...HUGE beach...again in February, and all the locals were long-line fishing (or whatever it's called) , with whacking great fishing rods, and I'm sure this one's been updated...bit of a shame, as it was gorgeously rustic, and the owner opened it up for us...I expect the site bar/ restaurant is all posh now, but it was wonderfully tatty and like an old fisherman's delight years ago...clean inside, but rustic, nice grub, and a grand bit o' local plonk.....
There are 2 ways of getting there...we opted to take the ferry from Bari to Patras...and the Greek ferries are VERY nice...and you can have the dogs in the cabin....and the cabins are surgically clean!....We had time for a nice kip!
So Route 1/. England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece...or miss out Switzerland
Route 2/. France, Germany, Austria , Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece.
You can go for one route here, and the other home...
Perhaps The Russian Bongo members might like to meet us there?...
I'm happy to organise routes, plan stops for people, write to the campsites, find things to do, and so on...It will give me something to do when we get snowed in this year / early next...(Hopefully not too much snow )....
Anyway...what do folks think....????....It really is something you'll talk about for years!
Cheers
Helen