…and last night I couldn’t sleep…
Callum and Chris slept on the beach here on Serifos last night cos it was so hot in the tent, even with both doors open, and I slept in the hot tent cos it was so windy down on the beach!! Callum slept until 8.30 even whilst wild sandstorms raged about him. The elements are certainly challenging, and makes us think yet more about climate change and the urgent need to act quickly to avoid yet more wild windy heat that makes cultivation impossible.
We ate a wonderful meal last night up in the old Hora, built on an incredibly precipitous hill to avoid attacks by pirates, a truly beautiful and atmospheric place and a wonderful cafe to match.
So tomorrow we leave Serifos to Kimilos for a couple of days before we get the night boat back to Pireus, and then the train to Thessaloniki and up into Bulgaria and Romania.
But we haven’t yet been able to make reservations for the overnight train from Thessaloniki. Crris tried at the station in Athens, but was told that booking wasn’t open yet. I tried the next day in Athens at the booking office and a very helpful woman told me “Come back tomorrow, or Friday”. We couldn’t afford and didn’t want to spend another couple of days in Athens and when I asked her if we could make the reservation by phone or internet she smiled politely and said “No”. I asked if she thought it would be OK to get it on the day and she said “Probably” and smiled. Of course she can’t guarantee it, and I think her probably is good enough for me. It’ll have to be!
But it also highlights that travelling this way isn’t easy or stress free. We’re booked on train from Budapest to Paris and have booked hostels in Brasov and Budapest, so let’s hope we can get there!
Why oh why has our government pledged to keep cheap flights (i.e harmful to the environment) within reach of ordinary people, but isn’t doing anything to make train travel cheaper and easier?
Great to get your news so quickly. Hope your trains work out. We had to cancel our holiday as Gordon is not too well but nothing serious. He didn’t feel like driving.
Love from us both.
Sorry to hear that, hope he’s better soon. Will give you vicarious travellers’ tales when we get back. Love, Chris
G: I’m a good bit better today but still quite thankful that we’re at home, especially as the weather hasn’t been great. Lots of things to be done in garden and house. Have watered your house plants. Glad you are all enjoying the Greek islands and hope your train journeys work out O.K.
105 degrees here for the last few days!!! but no sandstorms thank god. There are precious clouds in the sky today, I feasted my eyes on them, and willed them to cover the blasting sun.
Well, if you get stuck my brother and I would be more than happy to have you crash in our parent-free flat! I’m glad you’re loving the landscape…xj
Thanks Jo. We’re back in Athens for a few hours, and have now been told we can make the reservation easily in Thessaliniki, and they only have 3 beds left to sell here which they can’t reserve for us poor interrailers, but there will more from Romanian railways? so heading North at 2.51 this afternoon and hopefully onwards and upwards! Exciting!!
Janex