Day 82
Kalambaka
Hotel Astoria
After waking up late...and eating breakfast of turkey and cheese sandwiches that we got from the local supermarket just up the road from our hotel....we took it easy...which we needed to do, after our exhausting last few days.
When we found the bus to Meteora where the huge rock pinnacles with the monasteries are, we were told they had finished for the day! It was 11am!
So we had to use our lateral thinking brains and work out what to do. Catch the local bus to Kastraki, 2km's away from here in Kambalaka....and then walk to the monasteries from there. Afterall, we're fit!
And that's what we did. Kastraki is a beautiful little town. We asked prices at some of the accomodation there and they said it was 35 Euro for the night, which we thought was pretty reasonable. We saw a hotel called, "Sydney" too. It had a map of Australia on it...with Perth and Geraldton on there as well!
Anyway...we headed up to the monasteries which were perched on top of the ominous and huge mountainous rock pinnacles...honestly they really loomed. So imposing. Greg was so impressed he overloaded the camera. Must be a man thing I reckon..being so impressed by all these towering natural structures! It was impressive though...so i shouldn't mock!
We trekked our way up, talked to some british people about the directions (none) and basically just followed the erect rock towers looming at us! We tried to stay off the main roads as they were high up, winding, and the buses going up there made me feel a bit scared to say the least.
We climbed up to 6 of the monasteries and entered two. The first one being St Nicholas which was something very different to anything i've ever seen. Amazing. I'm still in wonderment at how these monks lived there. They are genuinely the hardest (and had to be) places to enter. Hidden monasteries. I could just imagine them secretly praying in there. We were allowed in but i had to put on a skirt as part of the law. (it said on a notice) I'm glad they had sarongs for those of us women wearing pants. The second monastery was St Catherines that was perched on top of a tall rectangular mountain.
We spent a lot of time reflecting at the top of these rocks. Imagining the lives of these monks. We saw the Nunnery where current day nuns still live as well. That is a new building, but they still go to pray at the old monasteries.
We headed back on a track that was just that..a track. On a little known road. I was thinking, i'm glad mum knows where we are in case a search party needs to look for us! It was so peaceful though. Caves, tortoises crawling around, snakes, frogs.....and fantasic views of Kastraki below. We enjoyed the walk.
Two hours later, after also walking around Old Kastraki with the cobblestone streets and old colourful greek buildings with the imposing mountainus backdrop we were sitting at a resturant in Kastraki drinking local greek wine and eating grilled chicken, homemade patatas and greek salad. Followed by ouzo, the greek drink we were first introduced to by George and Robyn and eating icecream.
We laughed hysterically as we recalled our conversation from the night before...when we were discussing having a 'holiday' from travelling!!!!
No kidding. We are finding some parts of travelling very challenging. And it can be quite exhaustive. But we want to see as much as we can for the time period we have..and we are planning to be in the UK by the beginning of June! And we still have Turkey to see! (where Grandpop was in WW2).
The stress of it!! Hahahahaha!
So...we were thinking...we need to stay put for a week or two somewhere, where we can just relax, eat and sleep! A ship cruise? Back to a place we've been? Somewhere we haven't been?...Back home to Australia? haha!
But for now...here we are...in a greek internet cafe, along with about 15 teenagers playing their internet computer games, blogging and plotting! Or...really, we are 'blotting' because Greg's missing bits out of what he's plotted for us to do, and i'm missing bits out of the blogs because the keyboard i'm using is absolutely impossible and this is taking me twice as long to type! Oh, Greg said he just saw the U Tube clip you sent Marguerite..and he loves the message and is happy you thought of us :-)
You know, there might be little reflections of travelling being tiring..(we've all heard the adage, 'need to go home to have a holiday' after we've been away) but then, we think of how much we have already accomplished, the most fantastic places we've seen and been to already, a quarter of the way through our journey. And how compatible we are and how we are living in the 'now' and living our dream...and we realise just how blessed we both are.
Athens next!
PS Thanks CWDazzla, for the email! Miss you heaps xx
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
GREECE!!!
Day 81
Our ferry ride to Greece was something out of some kind of movie...we left at 5pm and arrived at 7am, tired, sore and wishing we hadn't had two nights in a row travelling...with broken sleep, no showers, and grazing on biscuits and water!
And to really to it off, the ferry to Igoumenitsa which was an industrial truck carrier! Whwn we bought our ticket she did say the loading gate was a bit of a distance from the terminal. So we headed off, along with two girls travelling from Canada who latched themselves to us, fearing the unknown...
The trucks got loaded, a Contiki bus loaded with travellers got loaded, then we walked up the ramp to get loaded. Couldn't fit in the lift, so walked up 5 flights with our packs to find out where our 'deck space' where we were to sleep was positioned.
We were thankful there was actually a large room, with seats, that we could spend the night on! Contiki travellers had cabins we found out later, how did they get so lucky?? And, they spent the night drinking in the 'lounge' so we dreamed of popping into those bunks and squatting there!
And...there was dinner in the dining area too. So we had spaghetti and greek salad. And kept to our 'no drinking when travelling' plan and had frizzante water.
Back to our chairs. We really couldn't sleep, too much spitting and chucking of some of the drinkers for me. And farting and snoring. It was horrible.
Arriving in the port of Corfu, where the Contiki mob got off, was spectacular though. The scenery from the deck at 6am was just beautiful. Righ there, in the Adriatic Sea. I had to pinch myself to realise we had arrived at one of the Greek Islands.
Then to the place where we were headed. Igoumenitsa. On the border of Albania and Greece.
Once we arrived we messaged George. His homeland. It felt special.
We then walked into town to catch the bus to Ioaninna. Arrived at 10am. Our plan was to stay the night in Meteora, the mountainous town where the 24 monasteries were built on top of large mountains by christians escaping their persecutors in the 16th Century. And where there are now 6 monasteries.
So, we caught the bus from Ioaninna and passed the beautiful lakes and mountains and headed for Kambalaka via another bus stop and bus change.
Meteora is 6km's away.
And tomorrow we head there!
Our ferry ride to Greece was something out of some kind of movie...we left at 5pm and arrived at 7am, tired, sore and wishing we hadn't had two nights in a row travelling...with broken sleep, no showers, and grazing on biscuits and water!
And to really to it off, the ferry to Igoumenitsa which was an industrial truck carrier! Whwn we bought our ticket she did say the loading gate was a bit of a distance from the terminal. So we headed off, along with two girls travelling from Canada who latched themselves to us, fearing the unknown...
The trucks got loaded, a Contiki bus loaded with travellers got loaded, then we walked up the ramp to get loaded. Couldn't fit in the lift, so walked up 5 flights with our packs to find out where our 'deck space' where we were to sleep was positioned.
We were thankful there was actually a large room, with seats, that we could spend the night on! Contiki travellers had cabins we found out later, how did they get so lucky?? And, they spent the night drinking in the 'lounge' so we dreamed of popping into those bunks and squatting there!
And...there was dinner in the dining area too. So we had spaghetti and greek salad. And kept to our 'no drinking when travelling' plan and had frizzante water.
Back to our chairs. We really couldn't sleep, too much spitting and chucking of some of the drinkers for me. And farting and snoring. It was horrible.
Arriving in the port of Corfu, where the Contiki mob got off, was spectacular though. The scenery from the deck at 6am was just beautiful. Righ there, in the Adriatic Sea. I had to pinch myself to realise we had arrived at one of the Greek Islands.
Then to the place where we were headed. Igoumenitsa. On the border of Albania and Greece.
Once we arrived we messaged George. His homeland. It felt special.
We then walked into town to catch the bus to Ioaninna. Arrived at 10am. Our plan was to stay the night in Meteora, the mountainous town where the 24 monasteries were built on top of large mountains by christians escaping their persecutors in the 16th Century. And where there are now 6 monasteries.
So, we caught the bus from Ioaninna and passed the beautiful lakes and mountains and headed for Kambalaka via another bus stop and bus change.
Meteora is 6km's away.
And tomorrow we head there!
TRAVEL-TRAVEL-TRAVEL!
Day 79-80
Saturday Night
Our itineray from Catania was a nightmare!
We envisaged leaving Catania via train but found out it was retardo..then cancelled till Monday! There were police everywhere. We counted 30 and decided there was some kind of blitz on and we were glad we weren't one of the ones who had already bought a ticket, only to lose it when it was cancelled, as others tearfully did.
We didn't want to stay in Catania any longer, especially at 90 Euro a night so enquired about bussing it to Bari (where we wanted to catch the ferry to Patras.
So! We bussed it.
To Messina at 17.30pm. Then Messina at 11.55pm to Napoli 6.20am in a sleeper cabin. Napoli Sunday 6.55am to Caserta 7.35am. Then Caserta 9.20am to Bari 12.23pm.
Once in Bari (another friendly Sicillian town!) we found the ferry we wanted to catch at 8pm had been cancelled. Drats. It didn't go again until the following night Tuesday).
All this travelling for naught!
What to do?
We decided to forfeit our Eurail trip to Patras (which was free) and catch an overnight ferry to Igoumrnitsa for 43 Euro.
And that's what we did!
Another night with no sleep........
But at least we'd be in Greece by the morning!
Saturday Night
Our itineray from Catania was a nightmare!
We envisaged leaving Catania via train but found out it was retardo..then cancelled till Monday! There were police everywhere. We counted 30 and decided there was some kind of blitz on and we were glad we weren't one of the ones who had already bought a ticket, only to lose it when it was cancelled, as others tearfully did.
We didn't want to stay in Catania any longer, especially at 90 Euro a night so enquired about bussing it to Bari (where we wanted to catch the ferry to Patras.
So! We bussed it.
To Messina at 17.30pm. Then Messina at 11.55pm to Napoli 6.20am in a sleeper cabin. Napoli Sunday 6.55am to Caserta 7.35am. Then Caserta 9.20am to Bari 12.23pm.
Once in Bari (another friendly Sicillian town!) we found the ferry we wanted to catch at 8pm had been cancelled. Drats. It didn't go again until the following night Tuesday).
All this travelling for naught!
What to do?
We decided to forfeit our Eurail trip to Patras (which was free) and catch an overnight ferry to Igoumrnitsa for 43 Euro.
And that's what we did!
Another night with no sleep........
But at least we'd be in Greece by the morning!
CATANIA- MOUNT ETNA
Day 79
Catania, Sicilly
Hotel Savona
We left gorgeous Capo D'Orlando to head off to Catania to see Mt Etna...
First our train was 'retardo' at the station by about 40 minutes...so we waited and messaged and then caught our train to Palermo...we spent time there on one of those whizbang hop on hop off buses that enable you to see the whole place in 2 hours. I love the audios on these...and found out Palermo is named after a port. We went to the port after that to check it all out..
We debated whether to stay there the night, or to continue onto Catania....and Catania won out. We caught a bus there...because the trains were on strike (again!)
Not a good idea.
Arriving at midnight....with no accomodation was a nightmare. We scoured the streets for somewhere to stay...and all the places close to the bus station were full! As we went up and down lanes we heard rats, saw washing appear flapping in front of us..and generally just felt scared!
Finally we came across a few people hanging out at a ristorante and asked them...and understood trying hard to understand italian (or more like, Sicillian dialect) and finally headed off where they motioned. Still no luck. We asked people at a place that was full, Kings Hotel, and they directed us to Hotel Savona after ringing to confirm they had space. At 90 Euros a night. 20 metres away.
We searched high and low for this place, asking taxi drivers who said it's just over there. We looked and thought we must have been either pathetically tired or just naive or just plain blind. Finally a group of guys tried to direct us...and as we looked up there it was, in front of us. Musthave been 5km's from Kings. Some 20 metres! (We've realised that distance means nothing in Italy!)
WHat a night. At least everyone tried to help. Sicilians are just so helpful, happy lovely people. Of anywhere we've been, it's definately here that is most hospitable. From the extra's they serve at dinner at no charge, to just looking at you and saying bonjourno or bonasera. Friendly, gorgeous people.
And we really saw this at the Savona.
We enquried about going to Mt Etna..at almost 1am in the morning, and he organised a landrover to pick us up first thing in the morning!
Hotel was great, definatly 4 star and a lovely night sleep...and had great brioche and fruit for breakfast!
We headed out to Mt Etna after breakfast. First to Taomina, 2 hours from Catania, to pick up some other people (and met a great lady of 77 called Lilly, from Manchester UK who gave us her number, and told us to visit her when we're there!) Mt Etna was spectacular. We went into one of the old craters, adorned with hard hat and mini headlights...and saw all the once lava flows....Afterwards when we got to the freezing top we were so glad we made the effort to see this volcano..
The vegetation in the area is so rich. Anywhere kissed by lava takes 400 years to revegetate but when it does..its amazingly green and lush. The view was incredible.
We ate lunch there..Sicillian dishes...rice stuffed with fetta and tomato..pacareno, aronchinni..yum.
Travelling home in the landrover....we ate honey lollies and nut caramel from a place that had bee hives, and where we stopped on the way back...took pics for Pa here!
Also heard Dockers lost to the Cats! But...were consoled (thanks Bob) when we heard the Eagles lost to them last week too!!!!
It's goodbye to Sicilly. A place we've loved. And goodbye to Italy.
We'll be back one day..
Catania, Sicilly
Hotel Savona
We left gorgeous Capo D'Orlando to head off to Catania to see Mt Etna...
First our train was 'retardo' at the station by about 40 minutes...so we waited and messaged and then caught our train to Palermo...we spent time there on one of those whizbang hop on hop off buses that enable you to see the whole place in 2 hours. I love the audios on these...and found out Palermo is named after a port. We went to the port after that to check it all out..
We debated whether to stay there the night, or to continue onto Catania....and Catania won out. We caught a bus there...because the trains were on strike (again!)
Not a good idea.
Arriving at midnight....with no accomodation was a nightmare. We scoured the streets for somewhere to stay...and all the places close to the bus station were full! As we went up and down lanes we heard rats, saw washing appear flapping in front of us..and generally just felt scared!
Finally we came across a few people hanging out at a ristorante and asked them...and understood trying hard to understand italian (or more like, Sicillian dialect) and finally headed off where they motioned. Still no luck. We asked people at a place that was full, Kings Hotel, and they directed us to Hotel Savona after ringing to confirm they had space. At 90 Euros a night. 20 metres away.
We searched high and low for this place, asking taxi drivers who said it's just over there. We looked and thought we must have been either pathetically tired or just naive or just plain blind. Finally a group of guys tried to direct us...and as we looked up there it was, in front of us. Musthave been 5km's from Kings. Some 20 metres! (We've realised that distance means nothing in Italy!)
WHat a night. At least everyone tried to help. Sicilians are just so helpful, happy lovely people. Of anywhere we've been, it's definately here that is most hospitable. From the extra's they serve at dinner at no charge, to just looking at you and saying bonjourno or bonasera. Friendly, gorgeous people.
And we really saw this at the Savona.
We enquried about going to Mt Etna..at almost 1am in the morning, and he organised a landrover to pick us up first thing in the morning!
Hotel was great, definatly 4 star and a lovely night sleep...and had great brioche and fruit for breakfast!
We headed out to Mt Etna after breakfast. First to Taomina, 2 hours from Catania, to pick up some other people (and met a great lady of 77 called Lilly, from Manchester UK who gave us her number, and told us to visit her when we're there!) Mt Etna was spectacular. We went into one of the old craters, adorned with hard hat and mini headlights...and saw all the once lava flows....Afterwards when we got to the freezing top we were so glad we made the effort to see this volcano..
The vegetation in the area is so rich. Anywhere kissed by lava takes 400 years to revegetate but when it does..its amazingly green and lush. The view was incredible.
We ate lunch there..Sicillian dishes...rice stuffed with fetta and tomato..pacareno, aronchinni..yum.
Travelling home in the landrover....we ate honey lollies and nut caramel from a place that had bee hives, and where we stopped on the way back...took pics for Pa here!
Also heard Dockers lost to the Cats! But...were consoled (thanks Bob) when we heard the Eagles lost to them last week too!!!!
It's goodbye to Sicilly. A place we've loved. And goodbye to Italy.
We'll be back one day..
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