TravelStream™ news feed for member yoniyahav on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/yoniyahav en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:23:53 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213176120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213176120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213176120/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:23:53 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Fier, Albania

soon.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213089600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213089600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213089600/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:22:06 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Gjirokaster, Albania

The next morning I wasn't able to find the right bike tubes and hoping for the best I planned to continue on the coast towards Dhermi. As I was leaving the city I began to put together a picture of the road through my frequent questioning of by passers along the way. It seemed like the road, about 60 Km worth, was now being torn up and was basically a rough gravel path. People nodded with disapproval when they looked at the bike and when I tolled them where I was heading. Seeing no other alternative, picturing myself pushing my "flatted" bike along the way I continued towards Dhermi. Luckily, at one of the Gas stations, while asking for direction I met a Check couple who have just came from that road. Their cooling system was shot, torn up by the rough rode and they advised me not to head in that direction. I stayed with them in order to help translate from the Italian speaking Albanian mechanic into English. I was advised to head inland towards Gjirokaster where they were headed as well. Since I had no more spare tubes left and had only my puncture kit which would not be ideal for road-side fixing, I decided to change my route and head towards Gjirokaster. The ride was not too long but it did include a relatively long climb as I passed trough the coastal hills towards the inland plateau. Stopping for some shelter from the rain in a broken down house along the way, I met two Albanian guys who spoke just a bit of English and a bit of Italian. They were very glad to meet a tourist on the way and one of them explained to me how he made a living off smuggling Armani perfumes from Greece into Albania. As the rain died down, now smelling of Armani perfume (proud of his work the guy swore it was original) I continued up the hills. On my next stop I was given a few handfuls of locally grown cherries (they were amazingly good!) and I continued towards Gjirockaster.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213003140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213003140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1213003140/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:20:01 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sarande, Albania

The next day I continued towards Saranda. On my way I stopped at the marshland surrounded city of Butrinit: An amazingly preserved archeological site which has been a central city throughout the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods. Finally reaching some asphalt roads which led all the way to the city. Saranda is turning into a relatively large Albanian beach resort, catering also to some tourist arriving form the neighboring popular island of Corfu. I didn't like the city that much but I was compelled to stay hoping that I would be able to find some spare tubes for my tires, in light of road situation in Albania and since I was down to my last tube. That evening I received a free "bike wash" in one of the city's many car washing stands and the owner later led me to a relatively cheap hotel.  In the evening I went out to look for a local diner to get something to eat. At the diner I was able to order, using my English-Albanian dictionary, a bowl of soup and some bread. Eyed by the surrounding diners I tired to relive the awkward silence by asking one of the people how I should pronounce the Albanian vowels written n my dictionary. As the young guy tried his best to explain the difference between "ci" and Cthi", the waiter shot out of the restaurant pulling in and old disheveled looking man and announced with great pride "Professor! Professor!".  The old man sat beside me at the table and asked in calm, well pronounced and refined English what the question might be. Following his explanation regarding pronunciation while going trough some etymological similarities between different languages, I learned he was a self-taught language enthusiast who also knew much about world history and was probably well educated in many other fields as well. He was, though, very modest and did not feel comfortable showing off his knowledge. Although fluent in Russian, Italian and English and generally well educated he has been doing odd jobs all of his life, working as a simple, hard-labor worker in various places. He seemed quite proud of it too. He then stormed out as I offered him to join me for a drink "No! No drink! I must go now!" stern yet smiling he walked away, excusing the waiter's bad joke about his small handbag being a bomb with the words: "these are merely the means I use for my work". The man left me with some queer philosophical statements, such as "it is difficult to be with in your own self while being with others", using examples form the Jewish Diaspora.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212916200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212916200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212916200/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:14:12 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Konispol, Albania

A dramatic setting for the border crossing that day: a dark cloud loomed in the northern mountains just ahead of me. It seemed as though Albania was now masked off by a wall of thunder and lightening. This problematic weather situation forced me to find shelter in one of the small village taverns on the road. I found a nice, shaded Taverna, ordered some coffee and watched as the dark mesh of clouds and flashing lighting drew near. It took about two-three hours for the storm to pass, during which I had the opportunity to meet some local farmers and a passing Orthodox priest, all stopping by for their mid-day drink and some shelter from the rain. One of the farmers, immediately ordered a beer for me and we all sat under the shaded veranda watching the rain, hail and lighting hit the hills and fields across of us.   After things quieted down a little I began pedaling again, squeezing in between passing thunder storms, I was able to reach the border relatively dry. The way to the border was suspiciously quite and there was barely any traffic. I had to stop a passing motorcycle for direction (he later turned out to be a steel-frame worker at the border). The Greece-Albanian border turned out to be a few shacks strewn across a muddy river which was now overflowing. Crossing over towards the Albanian side of the border, I had my first genuine Albanian laugh. It was so funny I couldn't help it: People struggling to cross the muddy gushes of water, a tractor going back and forth moving piles of rubble around, and some border police hopping across the stream. Reaching the other end of the river, I handed my passport to the policemen holding the hand-maneuvered gate. He took a quick look at me and my bike smiled and without even looking at my passport or visa pulled the gate up and let me through. That's when I had my second laugh. As I began riding away from the border I started sizing up the situation. I was in Albania now and there were no Asphalt roads to be seen, just muddy gravel routs going up and down through the hilly terrain. As I pedaled through these roads the crossing drivers, mostly taxis, probably accustomed to these conditions, were smiling, waiving and honking their horn at me. As it began to rain again, riding trough the muddy, puddle filled road, I had another laugh. This was definitely more then what I had expected. I passed through a few villages before getting my first puncture. I stopped in one of the villages and found an English speaking young student who gave me directions to the nearest hotel. I was also able to find a dry spot to replace the punctured tube, watched over by the student and a few of his friends. After I finished fixing the puncture the young high school student told me: "I think you go now, because start raining" he also asked me to return to his village in three or four years so that I could meet with him again when we were both a bit older. I agreed.     In my haste I forgot to check for the source of the puncture, leading to my second puncture, just five Km later. I pushed my bike this time, trying to reach the village before the rain got much stronger and the road would become too muddy to ride. I was able to push it up the hill and find another dry spot, beside a local grocery store, to fix the second puncture. At the grocery store, when I asked for direction, I was told there was no hotel in the area and received a few, presumably friendly laughs from a couple of old ladies dressed in black. This was another one of those humorous Albanian moments; never seen anything like it, the old lady popped her head up and down, moved her eyebrows in the same direction and let out a "heee..heee..heee.." kind of laugh I've only seen in the movies. They all watched me as I left the store, smiling and laughing. I fixed my second puncture (a sharp stone penetrated the tire) while surrounded by kids who helped me balance my bike and watched over the whole situation with great interest. After asking for directions again (meaning, waiving and saying: "hotel, hotel") I was able to find small hotel, just beside an even smaller restaurant and mini market.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212829740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212829740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212829740/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:13:48 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Igoumenitsa, Epirus, Greece

The ride from Riza to Igominitza was a farely easy ride. I arrived in Igominitza at around 2PM after about 5 hours of riding though coast line and inland routs with very few climbs mainly towards Igominitza. When I arrived in Igominitza I found a shaded bench in the city center, unfolded my lunch and began to cut up a fresh tomato I had picked up on one of the roadside farmer stands on the way. As I was doing this a young fellow who was passing by welcomed me in Italian and asked what I was doing in Igominitza. Luckily, the guy turned out to be Albaninan, originally from Saranda. After going through a few of his family photos on his cell phone he explained to me that it is now possible to cross the border just 30 Km north of Igominitza through Konispol. With this information in hand, which I later checked with a local travel agency, I was no ready to make my departure from Greece and move on to Albania. After looking around for a near by camp ground with no luck, I found a deserted camping ground just beside the entrance to the port. At the camp I also met two British travelers who have been riding around the world with their Land Rover and were now returning back home to the UK from their trip in Africa. That evening we had a few drinks together and the next morning I left for the Konispol border crossing.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212656760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212656760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212656760/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:07:57 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Riza, Greece

Lefkada was a beautiful little island but seemed to be already surrounded by yachting tourist from around Europe. I drove across the island, crossing over to the east coast and then contung along the sea towards the mainland proper. I reached the sea crossing, which was essentially a boat carrying a road atop of it and then crossed over through the marshlands to Preveza. At preveza I had to be transported trough the underwater tunnel after the controller at the entrance explained that I will have to stay over 40 to enter. Instead I was transported with a pickup truch though the tunnel to the other side. From Preveza it was about 30Km to Riza beach where I planned to camp. All together it was about a 100Km ride from Vasiliky to Riza.   At Riza I found a nice camping ground, very quite and run by a local family (as many of these small campsites are). The camping site also provided free internet so I decided to use the opportunity to catch up on my work and do my laundry. Hence, I decided to spend a peaceful day on the beachside camping ground just bellow the towering, green and rocky hills of the Ionian coast. I met a nice couple form Germany who invited me for coffee in the morning. They were very experienced motorists so that they had a lot of good advice and very good maps of the region to go over with me. As the conversation developed I learned that they were both Jehova witnesses and that they were trying to learn Russian over their vacation for the sake of speaking to new Russian immigrants in their community. I spent my time doing laundry, reading on the beach and doing some work. The next morning I parted from my German friends over a cup of coffee and with I bag of dried fruit they had provided me with for the journey I head out towards Igominitza.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212570180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212570180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212570180/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:05:29 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Fiskardo, Greece

I left Argostoly that morning and head towards the north tipof the island were I was planning to take the ferry to Lefkadas, a semi-island,connected by a floating bridge to the mainland. It was drizzling and the skieswere somewhat gray but it beat climbing the mountainous coastline in thescorching heat! I did have to battle the strong winds though. Some of thedescents were much slower then the ascents with the wind usually in the inversedirection of the road's topography. I reached the port at around 14:00 or so(it was about 50-60 Km from Argostoly) and remained there until the eveningferry arrived at 18:15 that evening. At vasiliky, the port town on Lefkadas, Ifound a nice camping ground and stayed there for the night.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212397260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212397260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212397260/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:02:07 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Argostoli, Greece

As I reached Argostoli I phoned Josline who I met on the ferry from Italy to Greece. She offered to find me a place to stay that night and we met after their work hours at the main square. Argostoli was the only city on the island where you could see local young people; and there was a unique sense of liveliness that I did not see in any other of the local villages. The market and the port were bustling with activity. I stayed with to of Joslin's friends, Dana and Allie, in a roof top apartment right off the sea. I then met a few of the students over dinner and drinks in their own apartments. Doesn't seem like they had much to complain about, they were however immersed in their final presentation which was due at the end of the week. In short, the group was working on reconstructing a local village which was destroyed by the earthquake back in the fifties, and was never rebuilt. The village was supposed to be run on sustainable, clean and green energy with different sources of income such as an oil co-op and so on. The good intentions were definitely there, it didn't seem like the locals were planning on taking it much farther though. The presentation to the community on Saturday would probably be a good indication as to what the real chances of this plan to materialize were.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212310680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212310680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212310680/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:59:08 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Argostolion, Ionian Islands, Greece

I took the long route to Argolstoli, the island's capitalcity, trough the coast. First I rode inland towards Poros, about a 500 meterclime and then continued along the south and then the west coast to Argosotli.The inland area of the island was the most rural and least touristy area on theisland. The west coast however was completely transformed by the recent surgein tourism (since the Captain Corelli movie came out) and was being seriallychopped up by sets of modern styled wooden houses, many of them populated byeither German or English folk, and the ugliest hotels still in construction.The ride was beautiful though. Trying to ignore the sad parts of the touristspurred growth I was being repeatedly 'blown away' by the views that awaited meat the next curve.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212224160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212224160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yoniyahav/1/1212224160/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:57:43 -0400 Biking through Europe

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sami, Greece

The next day, I spent I lazy day in Sami. I planned to worka little but I met a nice German girl named Elsa in the campground and we spentmost of the day wandering about the island. In the evening we took a ridetogether on the bike (she probably weighed less then my panniers) along thebeautiful, clear blue coastline up to the neighboring village. As it turns out Elsawas born and raised in a Bavarian farm (to which she traces back hervegetarianism) and was now working in some kind of musical, artistic, touristoriented production organization in Patras, Greece. Cephalonia's east coast was truly amazing: the coastlineviews, clear blue beaches surrounded by white rock formations (and not abathing human in sight), the wild olive groves and the Mediterranean vegetationthat covered the hills and of course the small villages - somewhat touristy yetamazingly still true farming towns - with small huts, gardens and grape vinecovered porches.
]]>