Wow, what a tour. Six hours through mountains, along coastal strips, past bays, over passes, up and higher. I kissed the clouds. I had such an incredibly beautiful time today with Fränki. And now I've arrived. And I think this is going to be the longest photo series ever. So far. I mean for a trip. Just gigantic. I already thought Croatia and the mountains and the coast and then Bosnia, the mountains and the Black Sea and the entry in the north of Greece. That can be topped. And I'm sharing this enhancement with you today. Picture-wise. Be prepared. And have fun. Because it's pretty funny. Just how this route came about. Because when I was standing at the traffic light and was supposed to turn onto the European road, I just kept going straight. Then actually had no more internet. And wound my way through the mountains. Arrived in a mountain village where Fränki and I just barely fit through. Really. With compasses. Touching the right wing mirror a bit, while the left one went along the house wall with a finger's width. The whole thing somehow paired with funny tourists bundled up in long pants and windbreakers. While I sat in Fränki bare-chested in shorts. Since I also had to turn on the heat now and then, as the temperature was around 100 degrees on the respective climbs. The longest climb was 14 kilometers. In total. Of course I also took a little picture of the navigation system for you, when it came back, so you have roughly an impression of what a funny zigzagging it was today. Damn. We really did well. Fränki and I. And yes, if I had taken the normal route and paid a toll, it would only have been, I think, 180 kilometers. As it was, it was, I think, I have no idea, 250, 300 and instead of three and a half hours, almost six hours, 20 minutes. Innyhausen. It was great. It was really, really beautiful. And where I'm standing now is also beautiful. I'll tell you this much. It's not Agios Andreas, there are several of those, but Agios Andrea. And I'm standing near the Akropolis Athena. That means, if I can stay here a bit, then I'll actually look around here a bit more. Already met the first people. A Greek who studied in Karlsruhe and his buddy, with whom he goes surfing, who among other things travels around for German companies as a designer for aluminum elements. Funny, one speaks pretty good German and the other speaks damn good English. And it's fun because the guys are really cool. Surfers, what can I tell you? The rest of the story, why I left today, even though I met Dimitris, no Kostas, this morning, who invited me to stay longer. I'll tell you that. It has to do with a German couple. Once again. That means, maybe the other story from the day before yesterday will come along too. No, longer ago. Was last week. Or? I'll have to check. Anyway, I'm happy to be able to share this with you. And since today is Friday, one or the other might also feel like looking at all the pictures. In this sense, stay tuned. This is going to take a while, because the internet here isn't exactly stellar. Ha! What a surprise. So, I wish you what you wish for yourselves, in any case plus one. Beyond that, one more smile and peaceful, joyful moments. See you then.
The original route went along the coast...sure, also uphill and downhill...
there's actually an old fishing boat lying in the bay...
...and then I was standing at the crossroads where my route planner wanted to send me left onto a toll road...185km, reach the destination in just under 3 hours or, as I finally decided in that moment, just straight ahead...
...it went almost 14km just uphill...at 30km/h, in 2nd gear...I even overtook a tractor 😁
...and when I thought, okay, that's enough, it really got going 😂
...took a photo of the route before my internet died...
...and then it really "really" got going...
quick look back at the road "traveled" so far, in the middle of the mountain...totally crazy...
...and it intensified...after every valley, after every bay...
...today was really a continuous UP and DOWN...
...like in my "real" life 😊
...drove through 7 mountain ranges, saw 7 bays...
...and in one of them there's actually a grounded tanker...😳
...and of course that wasn't the "end of the line" yet 🤣🙈
...no, there was of course the 8th bay, where there were large "fish hotel facilities", whereby their occupants then probably meet up with the human tourists in the evening...there are meeting points here called taverns..."frozen" is usually written behind the respective "occupants"...
The first image of the 3 is a high plateau where prickly pears abound...
...and in the 9th bay is where Frankie and I are now...Agios Andrea or Paralia it says on the map...and I have 200m to walk to the Acropolis of Anthene...
View from the front, the way I'll set up my bed this evening 🥰...
View from the door and thus tomorrow's view during my toilet visit 🤣...
Yep, that's a "classic" torpedo...and in the tubes where they were stuck before they were flooded...CUT...
...and while refueling I met Hrist, a 78-year-old Greek who worked in construction near Frankfurt from 1964 to 1968, now runs the gas station, while one of his 3 sons has the workshop and spare parts business next door. I met Dimitris here at the harbor, who's actually from Athens but lives here in a small house with his girlfriend in summer and is a kite and windsurfer. Super relaxed, nice guy who studied mechanical engineering at the "KIT" when it was still called "Karlsruhe University of Technology". The local police were already here too, but not because of Frankie and me, but because Dimitris and his surf buddy (also from the village) just zoomed in here via the harbor entrance...which apparently you're not supposed to do...and the other stories will come, or not, once I've conjured up something to eat. Those are the stories of the two German couples, the story about the bakery in the middle of the mountains and maybe a few others from those that have happened in the last few days. Have to see how far my "desire" to share them with you will keep me awake tonight...and until then...have a wonderful end to your work week, one more smile and looking foooorward to the weekend 😉
Spoken Note
I've suppressed the call so often, with empty appointments day after day. But when it gets quiet, it comes back and hits exactly what remains in me. I give the pull no name, but I know it belongs to me. I don't want to just function anymore, I want a life that touches me. Something in me gets louder, even when no word sounds. I feel how this longing brings me closer to myself. I hear the call in me, it becomes clearer to me day by day. There is more in this life than everything that was before. I hear the call in me and I'm finally listening now. There is more in this life and I feel that I am meant. I look at my life and tell myself honestly, the way it's been so far doesn't feel right anymore. I've functioned too long, suppressed the call too long. Now I listen when something deep pushes me toward a different life. No noise covers it up anymore, no everyday routine makes it small. There is more and I hear it, there is more. I've felt it for a while, there is more and I'm not going to pass it by anymore. I hear the call in me, it is now clear, strong and distinct. There is more in this life than everything that was before. I hear the call in me and I'm finally listening now. There is more in this life and I feel that I am meant. I hear the call in me, I hear the call in me. The answer isn't clear to me yet, but the call is there and this time I'm listening. I love the universe. I think it's magnificent. Thanks Björn for your first complete release at this point and for all the rest of you. This is one of the songs that has accompanied me in recent days. And massively so. And yes, I'm still awake. Yay! And I love the random generator. Because I'm sitting in Fränki and just thinking about whether I should write the story down for you. And then the song comes. Yay! Enjoy the evening. Big hugs going out to you.
