DAY 9
9) WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 1977: 370KMS. - METEORA
I woke up almost at 10.00 am., we tried a new alcohol burner bought from SKOPJE. It works effectively. Our old burner using kerosene pump didn’t work well because of the high flame making cooking pot black and dirty. Once we started boiling water, a young guy came to have a look at what we were doing. His home might be close to our parking area. We invited him for coffee, we could rarely talk but using sign language in inviting him. After a cup of coffee, he took out 10 Dinars and extended to us but we did not accept it anyway. The young guy went back and we began to clean dishes, sweep and vacuum inside our campervan. We had no sooner finished cleaning than the boy was back again with an armful of nearly 10 tomatoes, evidently from his farmland beside the road.
To this point, I have felt admiring Yugoslavs that they are so kind and friendly, really thoughtful considerate, and fun-loving people. They always smile all the time like Thai people. ... Goodbye my friendly Yugoslavs.
Leaving our overnight parking, we headed towards PRILEP, BITOLA, to the Greek border town NIKI.
Not far from the border, we drove passing a large field of sunflowers on both sides of the road. Adjacent to sunflower field, there were rectangular wooden boxes on the ground periodically to collect bee honey. This is not a bad idea to gain both benefits from sunflower planting for sunflower seeds (used in making oil and margarine) as well as to collect honey in the meantime. In fact, we should do the same in my country* because the weather in Europe during this month is as hot as (or hotter than) in Thailand. We arrived the border about 3.00 pm. No problem for customs and papers checking at the border, we could pass through GREECE easily.
(* Note: 36
years ago- in 1977, farming or planting of sunflowers in Thailand did not
exsist like today).
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| Photo : ucanr.edu / Google images search |
From the border, some changes of sceneries
of sunflower fields to harvested wheat fields. We saw light brown stubbles, some
were burned in black, It looks the same as when farmers burn their fields in my
homeland. Mountains are rarely covered with trees. There are, however , small bushes in distant areas. I wondered if
people could take benefit of the soil for agriculture in this bald mountainous
areas. Otherwise, there was not a single
house to be seen but looking so peaceful.
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| Photo : worldpress / Bing images search |
On the way down to the south to KOZANI, we came to a stream, so we parked near the bank to take a bath and shampooing. Since the water in the stream was at a low level, we had to use a plastic bowl taking water from the stream and poured it on to our bodies, just like taking a bath Thai way. Feeling refreshed after a Thai bath, we went on to KOZANI, GREVENA and KALAMBAKA.
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| Bathing "Thai" way |
We arrived KALAMBAKA about 8.30 pm.Yugoslavian time but by the new adjusted
time in Greece , which is faster 2
hours, it was about 10.30 pm. Dinner time
for this evening, it was very tasty and affordable. We had grilled goat meat (like Thai pork
skewers) 5 skewers for each with a
bottle of red wine. It costed us only 92.- Drachmen (1 DM = 13.- Drachmen / Drachmas).
Greek is known as the best in preparing of the most delicious grilled goat meat. They must have special way or secret tips on how to marinate or cook meat - a little bit lean meat with aromatic spices (probably origano and fennel) and the smell of grilled meat on it. I thought that both goat meat and mutton were consumed widely in this area.
Greek is known as the best in preparing of the most delicious grilled goat meat. They must have special way or secret tips on how to marinate or cook meat - a little bit lean meat with aromatic spices (probably origano and fennel) and the smell of grilled meat on it. I thought that both goat meat and mutton were consumed widely in this area.
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| Photo : Bing images search |
And there is also tasty feta cheese,
made from goat milk as well. It looks like white curd and has rather strong odor.
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| Feta cheese - Photo : Bing images search |
The
further we are away from Germany, the cheaper everything costs. Oil is
not so expensive, a liter diesel as a station before KOZANI costed
approximately 48 Pfennig only.
After we were filled with our grilled meat dinner, we went for a walk around. I noticed there were not many people coming out for a walk together, like in those cities of Yugoslavia. On the contrary, people sat in a restaurant opened until late at night like in my country Thailand. Then we drove away and stopped overnight in METEORA
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| Photo : Jurek D. (Flickr) / Bing images search |
From the
border, I observed that on both sides of the road, especially at some curves and
intersections, there were small shrines, looking like spirit houses in Thailand.
Some are totally in glass like tiny greenhouses and some have little lamps or
lightings as well as a figure/photo of Mary or Jesus inside.Some shrines are
beautiful and the sizes are quite big...
I have also seen usage of donkeys for transportation and for loading things on the roads we passed today. I have heard for the first time, strange sound like someone coughing. Try to do it yourself and listen if it sounds like brays of donkeys !
Hack, hack, hack ...... that's the sound !
There were herds of goats walking with their goatherds, assisted in tending the herds by dogs. These dogs are trained to help controlling and herding the goats.
Interesting landscape with a lone tree, on the way in northern Greece.
The wind here was very strong. I saw some monks of the Greek Orthordox church, also known as the Rabbi with long beard on their faces, wearing a long coat or robe to the length of ankles, walking in the area.
(Some Greek words I've learnt :
Efgaristo = danke, thank you
Palagalo = bitte, please
Gala = milch, milk)
I have also seen usage of donkeys for transportation and for loading things on the roads we passed today. I have heard for the first time, strange sound like someone coughing. Try to do it yourself and listen if it sounds like brays of donkeys !
Hack, hack, hack ...... that's the sound !
There were herds of goats walking with their goatherds, assisted in tending the herds by dogs. These dogs are trained to help controlling and herding the goats.
Interesting landscape with a lone tree, on the way in northern Greece.
The wind here was very strong. I saw some monks of the Greek Orthordox church, also known as the Rabbi with long beard on their faces, wearing a long coat or robe to the length of ankles, walking in the area.
(Some Greek words I've learnt :
Efgaristo = danke, thank you
Palagalo = bitte, please
Gala = milch, milk)
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