Travel review GREECE 
Going to Samarkand 2005 - Part 1 and 9
Kavala, Igoumenitsa
  
Going to Samarkand 2005 - Part 1 and 9
After visiting all over Europe in long and wide, last winter we join a group to go to Libya, we were very happy and delighted in this country with its deserts, salt lakes, towns and villages, we already visited Morocco in Africa, but the Libyans with their kindness and hospitality we have conquered.
This preamble to explain our thirst for adventure beyond the borders of Europe, in countries as yet untouched by mass tourism.
Through the Internet I started looking for other campers on a trip to these countries unknown, among the first I found a group that went to Iran in the spring, after the first contacts we have ruled it was too close to the previous trip to Libya and plus it was very expensive as an agency-organized by the newspaper industry camper, then through the Caravan Club Trajan in Benevento I heard of a group that last year after visiting Iran, would like to extend the trip to Samarkand in Uzbekistan, contacted the group leader, I announced the itinerary of the maximum cost to the organization, including visas, guides for various countries, the parking lots at the various hotels in electrical connection and supply of electricity ( Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), estimated at € 1850.00 per crew, he decides to meet in Porto Recanati by the campsite Bellamare June 2, meanwhile sending a confirmation with 50% of the total.
MEETING: camping Bellamare is very nice and welcoming, we arrived the previous day, the crew of Aosta came before us and make friends right away. On departure a welcome surprise, a stay at the camp has been offered by the crew of Osimo.
CREWS: We are 12 campers from 9 different regions, the average age is 64 years old, the oldest crew is already known: both have 76 years, Piedmont has two crews who were with us in Libya, the last crew was added although over a predetermined number (10 +1), as are doctors, very useful for the group.
Logistical problem: The group leader lists the various problems: logistics, border, water supplies and fuel.
DOCUMENTS: lists the various documents required to obtain visas: passports, passport-size photo 8 (women will do 3 pictures with the headscarf) compilation of various forms and a photocopy of the vehicle registration with the full list accessories (radio-stereo-CB-PC), brand and number of tire sizes, number of the engine. Everything is quite complicated because not all embassies in Italy: for Iran to Rome to Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan to Paris and Vienna.
Carnets de passage en Douane: Each crew will have to request a bank guarantee for the double or triple the market value at the age of the second half and through the ACI be releasing the document that will serve to pass the Iranian border, my half has been evaluated in an amicable manner, € 10.000,00, half the figure has doubled since 6 years, the acute and I paid € 180.00 to the bank (Friuladria) € 60.00 to € 359.01 for spending longer fixes the guarantee of one year (interest all1.80%), presenting the documents to the return duly signed by the various customs incoming and outgoing will be returned to me the months not used.
LICENSE: In these countries, an international driving license is required, for having an agency I paid € 50.00.
SPARE PARTS: The group leader advises us to equip various parts, filters, various belts, oil filling, as well as wheel-mounted spare, inner tubes and a gas can in addition, I have also in possession of a motor ZIP revision (€ 120.00)
MEDICINES: The two doctors are sending us a list of medications that we can be helpful, they endeavor to procure drugs for extreme cases that will be available to all.
CLOTHING: Women in addition to foul in the lead, must wear long dresses with long sleeves and wide, to cover the forms, Tina, my wife has procured two Moroccan clothes at a shop in Udine, men can not wear shorts courts, the head group advised to wear long-sleeved shirts, I saw that on TV instead wear shirts and polo shirts with short sleeves. All this only for Iran, the other two countries, we dress as we want.
Maps and guides: through the internet I found the Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com)
Guide to Iran € 23.50
Guide to 'Central Asia to € 28.00
and maps of Freytag & Berndt (www.freytagberndt.com)
- Central Asia Scale 1:1 750 000 to € 9.80
- Iran and neighboring countries scale 1:2 000 000 to € 9.80
bought everything in a library of Udine.
FERRY: Company VENTOURIS Line, all campers will be accepted as 5 to 7 mt. (Some, including mine, are over 7 mt.) for € 156 (Bari-Igoumenitsa-trip) Boarding September 4 at 20.00. Be paid immediately to the company by 30% for booking. The group leader takes charge of a single payment, pay that amount with the balance of the share trip in July.
CATS: Cats are our problem, we have two, have always been with us on all trips, are now old men: Sketch has 14 years and 18 princess, we do not feel for him to do a similar trip, we plan to put in a boarding house in a neighboring country, we will cost about € 800.00, but you can not help it, plus we are warned that they could refuse border animals without reason, and this convinces us completely.
MEETING: The starting point is Benevento, for various reasons we can not be there, we will embark in Bari
Tell us that two teams, for different reasons, forego the trip, I am sorry for them, but in this long journey is better to be in a limited number
0/276 – Lido degli Estensi – seaside parking
In the morning shot in the bank for the withdrawal of pensions, then delivery of the cats to board with our great regret. Ss to Portogruaro, Highway to Venice, then the Romea.
532/1561 – Kavala (Greece) – seaside parking
Arrival and landing immediately at 9 march to Turkey with the E90 still under construction, some sections completed by the other end in future years, so the alternate route is from Highway 2 or 3 lanes on roads with many tight turns. On leaving the port is wrong road and go to town and not on the highway, then turn left instead Joanina before the village crosses the city center in the narrow streets and crowded, misinterpreting a sign prohibiting entry means over 35 q.li not do the last bit of motorway by the old road. Now we're in a nice car park by the sea, unfortunately, tomorrow morning we can enjoy the beach and the sea because we'll get up early to take us to the customs of Turkey, hoping not to lose much time.
517/2078 – E80 Highway – Autogrill
On leaving the car park by mistake you go in the opposite direction to the highway. The border greek no problem, turkish that it took three hours different practices and expectations much, fortunately there was not much traffic in August, who knows!! CONTINUE ON "Going to Samarkand 2005" PART TWO
628/12263 – Kirikkale (Turkey) – Service Station
Continued from "Going to Samarkand, 2005" Part Eight After refueling at the 7:20 part is all good road, there are still some stretches of dirt road but not as deep leg holes. The No. 4 occasionally stops to take pictures, but we're only three and does not disturb too much A Kirikkale always in the direction of Ankara we stopped for the night in a small gas station and after filling parked in a corner of the square, while I'm in the shower, we hear a knock is the operator which takes us on a tray cups of tea with boiling water, marveled at the taste, so kindly thank you and everyone in the company. Early to bed, tomorrow we do a lot 'of km.
683/12946 – Tekirdag – along the seaside
Departure at 7.00 again on the highway, there are no yards, there is still the old road with asphalt to be placed with dips and cracks, however you travel, shipped, the ring of Istanbul is fluid, not the peak time we found that leg, you pay three points for a total of TL 6,500,000. By the ring road to Istanbul I realize that is not made during the first leg, then the dreaded inner ring road that absolutely did not have to do: We did it!! ... .... The No. 1 hit again. In the last stretch of the highway exit at No. 2 wrong, it will end the country where it was decided to stop. Now we stopped for the night in a cape with the muzzles of campers turned to the sea, is a splendid sight. Tomorrow is a 120 km border Ipsala turkish / greek
676/13622 – ??? – On the road
We are in a nice village 20 km from Trikala parked near the mountains of freshly picked cotton. The road today was good, stretches of highway and normal streets, even today, the toll charges for a total of € 8.00. Today, after lunch, we left on 2 and 4, and we continued on their own, they wanted to see the Halkidiki, we intend to arrive soon to embark in Igoumenitsa, the thought of our cat dying makes us suffer, those who do not animals can not understand it.
270/13892 – Igoumenista – navigating
The road today was a whole bends, walking on the highway, the tunnel is being built with so many. Igoumenista to reach the harbor and see the ship docking Siren, the same that brought us the first leg, we inform you tell us who is leaving at 19 today instead of tomorrow at 24, for moving the reservation we paid € 38.00. Unfortunately we can not greet the rest of the company, there will be another opportunity. You start with 45 minutes delay. On the ship we reviewed the crew No. 5, detached from the group because he was tired of traveling, the initial program was over and stop to visit Greece was unnecessary. Night at sea.
277/14875 – At home
We woke up at 6.00, the traffic did not make us sleep a lot, we share is much fog, I prefer to stop the next staging area, there is no need to risk it, wait for the light and the decline of the mist, waiting for me my wife and we'll see the photos downloaded to the computer, still need to also review the wrong place but made us remember the good times and forget the bad times. We agree with the lady of the board picking up the cats before they get home, even if it is Sunday, closing day, come early, at last we revise our cats: Princess as soon as I pick her up she started to purr, Sketch it did the offense out of the cage is gone on the road without looking. Home at last, the first thing I notice: they are the weeds grew everywhere, the grass, also was cut once by our neighbor, has the tall grass, the roses are stretched beyond measure, throughout the period of our absence has operated the automatic watering so as not to dry everything. Now I have much to do ... ... ... ... but before I rest.
Conclusion
It 'been a very tiring and exhausting journey, many incidents have happened to me in particular but also to others, without exception: 1) water pump, 2) clutch, 3) roll - clutch pedal - Brakes, 4) tube brakes, 5) nutrition, 7) sump, 8) motor homes with new furniture that fell off, 9) starter motor - door closed, 10) power, all problems solved by the goodwill and assistance of the group also found in the most remote countries, thanks to our guides who are always ready at their best and to go through a heart, mine in particular. Now that it's over we can sum up: at No. 1 we note that if there was give him this trip would not have done but at least we should thank him for this, of course you could program it in another way: do it not in 42 days but in 60 (we were all retired people without back problems, I had noted the first draft of the long stages: I was assured that there would be changes that then I have not seen), to have more rest days, do less miles a day, not to travel at night (if it was day, my accident would not have happened), leave before the morning and arrive earlier in the evening, any decision on changing the program would be discussed by all and not only from a few , though we knew the route before leaving and so we accepted it, I hope that if you were planning another trip, you should capitalize on these mistakes and we behave in this respect. Dress Code: contrary to what we were told at a gathering in Porto Recanati, we found that women do not need special clothes, but just the headscarf, a long shirt and trousers are not members, men should not take shorts. What to bring: All leading wine and spirits, salami and sliced, and the customs of Iran has not tested ... ... .... Who knows in the future !!!!! I've been loyal to the delivery, I was without wine and without salami. Who had been in Iran last year could advise better. Police: in the three countries, the checkpoints are frequent, but the controls were more than all of the agents out of curiosity and not intrusive. Gas: The two cylinders have been more than sufficient, bearing in mind that almost all the overnight stops were connected to electricity and the stove has been lit a few times. Despite everything, the toil, the misunderstandings and accidents, the journey we liked, we want to forget the bad days and remember those beautiful, magnificent country we visited, the people we met and why not also the drivers of Tehran. The Trajan Camper Club in the person of President Michele Orange issued to all participants of this wonderful journey a plaque, which is very impressive on the wall of our living room. In memory and proof that you can take these trips with our means. TOTAL COST OF TRIP Guides, maps and passport photo 110 Duties, stamp passport 417 Visas, parking hotels, guides and bus 1850 Dresses (Tina) 134 Highway 210 Gas oil - gas - gasoline for the generator 1330 Camping 34 Ferry 230 Travel Extra 531 Carnet de passage en Douanne 340 Medicine (Stock) 115 Entries various sites and tips 111 Restaurants 159 Caravan Repairs 55 Souvenir 155 Food 391 Subtotal € 6172 Pension cats 754 Repair Workshop Iveco 1020 Bodywork repair 1430 TOTAL € 9376 Unfortunately, despite being insured for Kasco, the bill does not apply in Turkmenistan, so I've had to pay all damages. Tipps: before leaving to make sure all the damage in the countries you visit
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