RollingRocco

Since let's say it loud this blog platform is not so great and many of you have problems with opening it I have decided to create the Facebook website for all extra fotos and videos. Hope you will enjoy it!😃 I will continue writing blogs here as well so remember to pop in and read the news sometimes. https://www.facebook.com/rollingrocco

We failed! Albanian coast is not a place for wild camping but that's ok because we found Lake Ohrid!!!Our original plan was to go to Albanian Alps but since the weather forecast wasn't great and the road quite challenging we decided for the change of plan and the road took us to Lake Ohrid!  One of the oldest lakes in the world that has been around for 4 million years is situated close to the Macedonian border. A quiet corner after busy and hectic coast. We did wild camping on the first night and didn't understood why there was so much car movement where we've parked.Discovered day after that it's spawning season for fish called by Albanians cave and obviously it's forbidden to fish them. However the first fish literally jumped into Franco's hands and the second one was a gift for helping out, so don't judge us,we couldn't say no.It would cause a diplomatic incident. After that we stayed in this lovely campsite ( 13€ per night...

Few days ago we arrived in Albania, crossing from the Greek side in Sagiada, close to Igoumenitsa where we will come back to take the ferry home.We visited Albania 8 years ago in camper with our friends Liz and Touria and did a 3 week holiday on the coast. Well, we found it changed and not sure if in a good way so far.The whole coast seems a huge building site where anywhere possible hotels and new structures are being squeezed in.  We were unable to find a quiet spot that would seem suitable for wild camping cose whenever we would arrive there was a gate or so called private beach that you have to pay for. That wasn't the case in the past, and we clearly refuse to pay for nature. This opinion is obviously referred to our style of travelling. I am sure that if you would come to stay for a week in one of many seaside places the experience would be different. You definitely have to get use to the garbage lying all over and generally a poor respect towards envi...

Pindo National Park We've spent the last few days in Kipoi , the characteristic mountain village in Pindo National Park ( North of Greece, close to Albanian border).  The weather is not so great so we've only managed to have a lovely trekking yesterday.  The Stone bridges trail is an easy 10 km trail that passes XVIII hundred  bridges connecting the mountain villages of Zachoria region.  At some point walking along the river bed we've actually felt like at home in Val Trebbia. We've also spotted this little fellow on the way. Franco tried to find mushrooms but no luck. Now focused on learning few basic words in Albanian as we will cross the border soon.

Meteora from greek suspended in the air. There are 6 meteora left ( 24 initially)- Greek monasteries perched on the top of the rocky cliffs. You cannot not go to see them!  The breathtaking scenery crashes you with it's beauty! Makes you contemplate human persistence and greatness of the nature. Mystical is only one of the words. Obviously everyone wants to see them so there was a lot of tourists. The entrance fee to each monastery is 3€. We visited the oldest one The Great Meteoron.It is worth to read the whole history about it online, so do it!! From there we wanted to find a peaceful place for the night so we climbed to Techniti Limbo Aoou artificial lake situated on 1400m height plateau, surrounded by frosty hills. We weren't ready for the freezing temperatures though!! It was 5 degrees during the night!Now that's a drastic change to Crete and it's 28C. It's time for a winter pyjama again🤣

A bit shattered from sleeping on the bar sofa during the night but hey at least it wasn't the floor. Our ferry journey went well,the sea was calm.We arrived at Athens at 6.30 am and drove 200 km to our next destination. And it was so worth it!!! Look at yourself!! We're at Termopili where Spartan king Leonida  and his 300 soldiers defended the pass for 3 days to than being killed by the enemy, only because they were betrayed. As much as we love the history we're not here for that, we're here for thermal baths!🙂 And what a thermal baths!!! They free of charge, water temperature is 40°C and flows trough countless natural pools! Cannot recommend it enough. Now a little nap and another bath in the evening under the stars!!!

This was our last week on Crete. Tomorrow we're taking the ferry back to Piraeus( the port close to Athens) and from there we will continue our journey to the north of Greece. We were decided to go and see two of the most known and beautiful beaches of Crete: Elafonisos and Balos. However, we arrived at Elafonisos and straight away you could see this massive paid parking spots.So the vibe you get is the place for mass tourism.Because it was early and a windy there weren't many people around. We were on our way to the beach ( it's 15 min walk from the parking) but we stopped at the panoramic view point and......that was it for us. Decided that surely it's a beautiful place but it's not for us. On our trip we have seen so many spectacular beaches that this one was just to touristy for us. With Balos you have to pay the road fare to get there and then the parking spot. So unfortunately you have to Google them and see how breathtaking the nature can be! Instead we sta...