Border bungles

Quick stop for one night in Sofia, capitol of Bulgaria. Big city and the historic clash of cultures evident by intermingling of Greek Orthodox churches with minarets of many mosques against the skyline. We traipsed city looking for a favoured restaurant of Steven's however despite successfully navigating winding streets it was closed so it was Italian in Bulgaria. 

Off to Turkey to be on Con Brio in 2 days however sticking with the pattern of getting lost - it is good to be consistent - road works caused us to detour and miss the city exit so we went god knows where before finding the road to border.

The Turkish border. Anyone wanting to travel through eastern Europe by car, be prepared as you need tolerance and patience - both of which are understandably dwindling in my fine chauffeur after 8 borders in 3 days however while most are no biggy,Turkey is enough to test the patience of a saint.  I don't know how trucking companies get any loads delivered on time as they are forever lined up at each border for miles waiting to be processed, but Turkey not being part of the EU is unbelievable - I think they are vying with Greece for the inefficiency and incomprehensible lack of process award except without the pleasant easy attitude of the Greeks.

Swift exit stuff for Bulgaria then 20m on passport into Turkey and the frustration begins. First Purchase of Turkey specific car insurance and then sent back and forth between 3 different buildings over car however no one feels the need to tell us why. Second my entry visa however no indication of where to purchase so to the 3rd passport check only to be sent to another building however by then car has others lined behind it. Complete stuff up for everyone so back but not one person at any office desk- a cleaner told me they were all out on rest. Finally with visa in hand back to the man holding my passport only to have to wait again and so it goes - arghhhhhhh..... Steven has just returned to say we have to go back cos of something to do with the car but doesn't know why, thinks its cos he overstayed car visa last year but paid the fine so shouldnt be an issue... Famous last words, we never did get into Turkey.

After much persistence we extracted a guy from his lunch to actually check the computer to find the car must be out of Turkey for 185 days and it was only 167 - if only they could have told us that in the beginning. Word to car travellers especially those with a propensity for ignoring visa requirements - do your homework first! 

Four hours and 9 passport checks later we found ourselves back in Bulgaria so exhausted and a bit shell shocked - it is not everyday you get refused entry to a country and took refuge in a nearby Greek country town which was far preferable to nearby Bulgarian town. This was not at all travel brochure Greece however still entertaining to sit in a local town where every cafe with a TV was jammed with vocal locals watching some soccor match.

Given our cruising timetable just went out the window as we now have to kill 18 days we headed west to Porto Largos where UK friends, Trevor and Lesley, were launching their yacht Hippocampus. An itty place with one hotel, two tavernas & where the boatyard only holds about 6 boats. Walking between hotel and quay I was attacked by three feral dogs - absolutely the most frightening experience (wonder screams weren't heard at home) and was extremely lucky a motorbike came round the corner and they went him instead.

Needless to say we moved on and I am now fearful of wandering dogs of which there are plenty in every greek town. 

Headed west past stork nests up high on electricty poles through lush countryside - the breadbasket of Greece as it is very productive - via port of Kavala 

where you need a total disdain for any road or parking rules to survive - honestly cars just double parked everywhere blocking buses and causing chaos but no one appears stressed by it. A roman aqueduct stretches across the middle of town still in incredibly good nick.

After a good gyros for lunch, onto the Chalkidiki region and down the Sithonia peninsula below Thessaloniki.

 Interesting drive seeing us yet again vary from the planned route however I really must say in our defence it is very hard to pick the right road when the map is in english alphabet and signs in Greek (funnily enough) and we are in windy country roads. 

Turned up in Sarti, a small beach town where studios are extremely cheap as off season and hardly a visitor here so well stay for a week and explore. We stayed top left corner and only visitors in that wholesection of town. The main village is about a km along the beach.