Every time I visit Greece, it feels like I’ve come home. The extraordinary ancient cities, stunning Mediterranean coast, glorious sunsets, and easy-going people captivate me with each visit.
From Greece to Turkey
From Slovenia to Greece
June 7, 2020
From Georgia to Russia
June 21, 2020PART 2
Journey to the unknown
From Athens and its amazing historical Acropolis to archaeological sites as Olympia, Corinth, Thessaloniki, and the coasts of Pylos, Limni, Volos, and many more…
I always stop for a more extended period than I’ve planned.
Evia Island is one of the closest to Athens and yet one of the least known places, highly recommended by a friend. Here, I have met a marvelous doctor, Mrs. Hella, and Mr. Armin, who drove all the way from Germany in their customized 4×4 truck. Man.
While enjoying the exquisite German humor, I have accidentally picked up some German words, not knowing I am gonna need them in future years when attending the emergency rescue seminar in Kassel held by these first-class adventure doctors.
Among other essential German words, I have learned the whole sentence… „kirchdithmoldisch-chinesische Kirschbaum-Schnitzereien griechischer Art“
Translation: Who knows… I made people laugh- mission accomplished!
The small fishermen’s city of Limni, located in the northwestern part of the Euboea island, convinced me to set up my camp for the second time.
With no expectations of meeting family on the coast, my Gelandewagen encountered his older cousin for the first time, which was a delightful surprise. It was evident that they shared similar genetic traits and a proud Austrian spirit that has continued to impress me to this day. (1996/2013)
I will never forget the day when I was cooking a macaroni sauce on my small electric stove and suddenly got distracted by a family of dolphins nearby. That day, I learned an important lesson. You can’t be in two locations at once. But if you want to defy physics as I did, I can reassure you, it is a lose-lose situation: blurry photos and burned dinner.
As lucky as I am, life introduced me to Mr. Theo, a local man who knew how to ‘serve the plate’ and helped me with my cooking.
Mr. Theo is an English professor who originally comes from Australia and I’ve visited him in Athens in the next few years to improve my English skills and pick up a few Greek words as Galaktoboureko and other significant ones you need to know if you wanna survive in Greece lands, or at least satisfy the hungry appetite.
Finally discharged from daily routines, the Greek atmosphere acted as a purifier for my mind anddy for the journ soul. I was reaey and the new stories to come.
Not long after a great experience in Limni, my journey continued to Volos, where I entered another local story. This time, I was already skilled and fully prepared to enjoy life in “Greek mode.” I met an excellent history professor, Mr. Dimos, with his family and friends. It felt as if we had known each other for years.
I said to myself, one day, when I’m not on such a tight schedule, I will return. What do you think? Did I? Of course I did, and this time I brought my German doctors with me. Boy, we had fun!
As an magician, Mr Dimos brought us to ‘the gypsy state’. The state I entered in Bosnia is already there and is only achievable if you’re surrounded by beautiful people and a nice atmosphere. There was plenty of both.
“Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
-Anais Nin
Driving through the Turkish city of Istanbul was the story of its own. I felt like a kamikaze waiting to be hit from any direction whatsoever.
I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in the car on a city parking lot because of the loud music playing in the cars of locals, competing with each other’s sound systems all night long.
Apart from that, this beautiful ancient city, with its enormous, colorful mosques featuring modern architecture, excellent craftsmanship, endless spice markets, and delicious food, was just what I was expecting – even more, much more.
In fact, Istanbul impressed me so much that I returned after two years, this time with my dear friend Mr. Troy Ziel, with whom I’ve shared great memories since our adventurous travels in Cambodia.
We enjoyed Istanbul so much that we are seriously considering offering a storytelling photo workshop in the future. Want to join? I’ll see what I can do, but now let’s return to our off-road adventure, shall we?
Cappadocia was one of the places I had to visit, and it was clearly pinpointed on my map. Why?
You see, my friends, I have traveled extensively by airplane since the days when I was discovering the beautiful archaeological and cultural aspects of Southeast Asia, but I have never flown in a balloon.
Since the region is known for its balloon aircraft skills, this was the place I wanted to do it – experience the balloon ride. And I did!
I was flying in a colorful balloon above the fairy chimneys, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, and ascending over the magnificent Cappadocian landscape.
What an extraordinary experience, as if time would stop for a brief moment. The landscape looked like I was going to lend it on the moon.
I couldn’t help but extend my stay. I made the deal with the Kaya Konak Cave Hotel located in Göreme and took photos for them while they let me stay in one of their beautiful cave rooms.
While I was shooting for the hotel, a TV crew from Slovenia, specifically from Planet TV, approached me for an interview. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea, as I felt tired and unprepared. However, I decided to give it a chance as a way to try something new and to ‘break the ice’ with public speaking. Ultimately, I didn’t enjoy the experience and wouldn’t want to repeat it. Not everything is suitable for everyone.
Everything till Cappadocia went according to the plan, but then the journey took its turn. Yes, it started in Turkey already.
Exhausted from a long drive headed towards Ankara, it was time for a glass of wine and some rest.
I found myself stopped in the middle of nowhere when suddenly my mobile home became a threat to someone, and soon after, I was facing the weapons of the Turkish police.
I must admit it was hard to communicate. I did not speak Turkish, and neither did they speak English. Everything sounded as a big mishmash. I had no choice but to fallow them to the station where I had to wait till the next day but without a glass of wine. What a mess!
The next day, the police realized I was only a traveler, so I was given permission to continue my journey.
In the next few days, I reached Van Lake and the mountain Ararat, eating melons and drinking tea with the nicest local man
Not knowing I set the campground next to the military base. Thankfully, this time everything ended up well.
“If someone called you crazy for doing it, you are on the right track!”
After driving such a long distance, I made a stop in Şanlıurfa, where I had to face another extreme. The temperature reached +42 degrees Celsius, making me feel like I was going to melt in my car seat.
The reason for stopping so close to the Sirian border was to see the megalithic structures of Göbekli Tepe, which were built 5,000 years before the Egyptian pyramids and predate Stonehenge by 6,000 years.
The 200 pillars, each reaching a height of up to 6 m and weighing as much as 10 tons, left me so amazed that I nearly forgot to breathe.
While calculating known historical facts, something didn’t feel right. This unease began while I was discovering the Underground City. I started to question my real ancestors and the history that I had been taught.
From dry and unforgettable Turkey, I soon entered a completely different story—green wetlands of Georgia, or as I called it, the lands of Shire. I guess I accidentally entered Mr. J. R. R. Tolkien‘s story, except the hobbits were missing.
We’ve had enough travel for today. We had quite a ride. Thank you for the company, and I must admit it was a pleasure traveling with you!
Infotech:
Equipment:
Canon, GoPro, Fuji instax, portable printer, Macintosh;
Mercedesbenz 👉Graz- Austria, Dream team car 👉Martigues- France, ORC 👉Stuttgart- Germany, Mixi caravaning👉Šentjur- Slovenia, 4×4 servis 👉Maribor- Slovenia
How did you enjoy the journey so far?
Next stop: Georgia 🇬🇪
Destination: Mongolia 🇲🇳