gölübac & rumania

 l 

after an early breakfast we went to gölübac on the danube to have a look at the fortress ; they were progressing well with the restoration and the new info-center was just 1 week open.

then we went to ram to try to cross the danube with an adventurous ferry, but the next ferry was too late (14:30) so we went back towards smederevo, where we crossed the danube by bridge and then went in the direction of rumenia.

close to timişoara we saw the sun go down as a beautiful red ball, and after check-in in our pensiunea owned by a lady that didnt know any foreign language, we had a walk in the center of timişoara ( timesvar ) and had diner there.

serbia 2

we awake in a snowy niş and after a nice breakfast we go to the museum called the skull tower; here the heads of soldiers killed  in the war of 1809  are shown.

then we drive to smederevo, a city on the danube, and on our way the weather cleares, the snow disappears and the sun starts shining. we followed a part of the famous autoput, a road that all cars traveling between turkey an europe, have to use. 

in smederevo we visit the fortress and have a good walk in all corners and on the top of the towers, with a great view of the danube.

serbia 1

after a nice breakfast we left skopje in the rain but already after half an hour the rain stopped as we went to the next border.

quickly we past the border control as they saw the green passports of our ladies;  ohh diplomats, OK you may go ...

yesterday we went along the river vardar, today along the river (reka) morava.; serbia is again an hour earlier, it is now the same time as in holland, but that means. light around 6:30 and dark around 16:00.

we went to our hotel in niş and had a look around. museums are closed as it is monday so we had a walk in the center; it is getting colder here! then we had a wonderful diner in our hotel ( regent club right in the center), for not much money as everything is very cheap in serbia.

selanik & makadonia

first along the coast then quicker on the highway, we went to thessaloniki (selanik in turkish) to visit the birthplace of atatürk and have a look at thessaloniki.

well we did have a look at the complete city of thessaloniki because we followed the signes MAKADONIA when we left the city center, which took us to MAKADONIA airport on the other site of thessaloniki, nowhere a sign to the country, so we tuned back and after 30km when we saw the first sign with SKOPJE we were sure we were on the good road.

skopje at night a city filled with statues, bridges and lights in the center.

greece

our second day on the road was a nice trip along country roads,
first starting in turkey along the dardanel and aegean coast

then after the turkish-greek border along a greek/turkish area.
we saw more moscs then churches f.i.
we saw alexandropolis, komotini, bought famous  cookies of that area

and
ended in the lovely coastal harbour town of kavala.

25-11-2016

first day on the road and my birthday.

beautiful weather and a smooth ride to eceabat.

another hotel then forseen (this is the ejder hotel) 

because the crowded house is closed.

but everything ok, same price, nice and in the center near the harbour.

now we go and have a nice fish meal to celebrate my birthday!

PREPARATIONS - NEARLY READY !!!

    nearly everything is ready now

our passports, visa, driver licences, insurances etc etc are bought and tested

our definite trip plan is noted down and organised 

 only the finishing touch, the hair dresser, the final packing of the car ...    

remains for next week