Tax refund

Taxes on goods purchased can be claimed back - most don't bother.  Not a lot of money involved but hey it is there to be claimed.

Europe has the "Retail Export Scheme' which entitles overseas visitors exporting goods from the European Community to claim back their Goods Services Tax  (Value Added Tax).  The process is that you must produce the goods purchased when you leave the European Community zone.

Well I presented my claim and receipts for the European taxes I paid which is levied at the rate of 20% in UK and different rates elsewhere.  The Greek Customs officer, I presented the papers to, looked at the documents and waved me away and said it was a Police matter?????

Several minutes earlier I had a lengthy conversation with a Police Sergeant so I went back to him.  He understood the process of claiming back the tax and confirmed that it was a matter for customs so I went back into the queue and waited my turn for a second time.  I got the same Customs official who waved me away again somewhat more abruptly this time.

Once again it is not a lot of money but Australians don't take kindly to being ripped off.

So back to my friend, the Police Sergeant, who took my paperwork and went to some place unknown before returning with someone who appeared to be the boss cocky.  Few words in the ears of the Customs officials and the process of reclaiming European taxes all of a sudden became very clear to all.

Funny how the service performance improves after your arse has been kicked.

So for an hours perseverance I am $162.00 better off.   Budget Hotel rooms in Turkey are about $20 per night so that got the next week sorted.

Border Crossing - Europe into Asia.

First leg of the trip done.  Our aim was to cross Europe as quick as possible and start the leg two in Asia at a more leisurely pace.

Today we crossed from Europe into Asia (Greece into Turkey)

Don't know what it is about Jim and border crossings but officials have picked on him twice now.
All his paperwork was correct but for some reason the officials wanted more.  He purchased extra third party insurance for his bike and that seemed to appease them.  As far as I am aware it wasn't because of any corruption or kickbacks but rather a language and communication thing.  It cost another $60 which hurt.

Unlike my experience in Central and South America criminal gangs don't prey on travellers.  Everything so far has been very professional and courteous.  So may it continue.

Greek and Turkey border posts

 



 

Had to wait for Jim outside the border post while he got his bike insurance and registration details sorted.  found myself a shady spot so it wasn't a problem.  He was very patient while I did battle with Customs trying to get a tax refund.

 

Kavala - Greece.

The northern regions of Greece were once part of the Ottoman Empire and the domain of Suleiman the Magnificent.  Apparently this Suleiman was very benevolent and smart.  His legacy lives on in the port city of Kavala.  It is overlooked by an ancient fortress and an aqua duct six and a half kilometres long.

The Greeks have seen fit to leave a huge statue to honour Suleiman in place along with a mosque albeit inactive.

Bike repair

Jim waiting to get his bike repaired.

It took us most of the morning to find the dealership - well that's not true.  In the end we stopped and paid a taxi driver to pilot us there.  Hindsight we should have done that first thing this morning.
We are a few hours behind schedule now.

The screws I needed for my bike have to be ordered in so I am going without.  Took the exhaust heat shield off so must remember to keep my boot clear.  Touch wood but the bike is doing fine.

We have to wait our turn for service so there is a couple of hours wait involved.

Where have I been?

This is a link to a Google map

Click on the link and it will take you to the map.

https://maps.google.gr/maps/ms?msid=218394844954211932906.0004dad0ae1226c50260f&msa=0&ll=49.21042,26.279297&spn=33.005772,86.572266&iwloc=0004dad0b66b727bba861

Thessaloniki, Greece

Sunday in Thessaloniki and all the coffee shops and eateries were busy.  Scooters and motorcycles by the thousands parked anywhere there is space - no one seems to care.

It is a large dirty city with young African men, possibly refugees/illegal immigrants, selling trinkets on every corner.  Dark skinned Caucasian people, suggested by others to be Bulgarian gypsies, in large mixed sex family groups begging.  Pitiful sight with piles of uncollected rubbish being picked over - you get the idea.

How two Greek cities such as Kastoria and Thessaloniki could be so different?

We chose to stay the night here because there is a BMW motorcycle dealership in town.  I need a couple of screws that rattled loose somewhere in Albania and Jim broke his lower windscreen fasteners.  If they can squeeze us into their schedule I will get an oil change done.

 

What is wonderful about the Greek culture is that it is all about family.  Thousands of people out early evening socialising and enjoying the sea breeze.  Of all the thousands of young men and women out and about not one drinking or affected by alcohol.

 

 

Bears and wolves

We see signs along the roadways in Australia to look out for Kangaroos, Emus, Koala bears and even camels but over the last few days there have been signs to look out for bears and wolves.

Have not seen a bear in the wild but I did see one in an Albanian town.  It was being walked along on a lead like a dog. 

Would have liked to take a photograph for which she probably wanted money.  Decided not to as the poor mistreated animal was being exploited enough without me participating.

Kastoria, Greece

Wow - not what I was expecting.  An absolute diamond in the heart of Greece.

Thirty kilometres away in Albania all that is expected, by those of us living in a modern world, just does not exist.  Riding into Kastoria and a clean, friendly, modern and prosperous city greeted us.  Coffee shops, restaurants, tree lined walking paths and any amenity you could want.

There is something special sitting by this lake late into the evening drinking and eating.  The atmosphere is family oriented and everyone in the city is out for a promenade. 

Nearly time for Jim and I to go home the night club youngsters are starting to appear.

Again we met the locals that relatives in Melbourne.

 

Crossing the border from Albania into Greece

Two old farts on bikes riding out of Albania and the border police found this suspicious?

First question the police asked was "What were you doing in Albania?" 

"Riding our motorcycles from England." was the honest answer but that just seemed to up the ante for them.  What is strange or suspicious about that.

We were asked to take the panniers off the bikes.  To take everything out of our bags.  The guy searching my stuff soon got sick of the process when all he was coming across was dirty laundry.  We started chatting about relatives in Melbourne - no surprise there because more Greeks in Melbourne than most Greek cities.

Poor Jim got the guy who really took his job seriously. 

Apparently drugs are brought across the border from Albania.  Perhaps that explains the young men in smart clothing and good cars we saw there.

Nice people

These young entrepreneurs were genuinely nice people trying to make a living in Tirane, Albania.  It is a tough place and a few Leks go a long way here.  Their tiny store had just a few basics.

We walked past their shop and they were frying sausage ( meat unknown origin ) that smelt just wonderful.  Surprisingly the young woman spoke some English - she was paying attention at school apparently.

They seemed embarrassed when we asked if they would feed us.  There was no need because they served a great meal which consisted of a mixed salad with chicken and sausage all for 760 Lek - which is about $6 to $7.  It was time for us to be embarrassed.  Jim and I, the big spenders we are, chipped in a few extra Leks.

The world needs more like them.

Albania

The very first thing I noticed about Albania was the change in peoples' attitude toward us.  Everyone was very friendly and smiling was commonplace.

 

The second thing was just how poor people were.  Not everyone - young men wearing smart clothing and driving nice cars - the average Joe was poor. 

 

The country is stunningly beautiful - but rubbish everywhere. 

 

So much to see but we have just one day to enjoy what Albania will reveal to us in such a short period of time.  The roads would be motorcycling heaven if it wasn't for the poor state of upkeep or lack of it.

 

No credit cards, no internet, few mobile phones, no ATMs, not to many signs of modernity - some may say that is a good thing.

 

There are plenty of vehicles using the roads in Albania but not all of them roadworthy. 

Don't worry Black Caviar's twenty eight win record is safe - poor condition and that wasn't the worst we saw.

I'm ditching the trailer and trying this.

Is that a WW2 truck?  Is that a truck size pot hole it is about to drop into.  Sucked more diesel fumes in the last seven days than in the last ten years.

This fellow was happy to chat.  Neither of us spoke a word of the others language - wish I could have purchased a fish from him but I didn't have a single Lek (Albanian currency) left.  Couldn't find a ATM.

Open letter to Shirley

Dear Shirley,

Hope everything at home is fine.

Jim and I are doing it tough.  Camping every night.  Bread and water the only sustenance we are getting.

Getting to bed early.

Who took these photos?  That is not a chocolate pancake Jim is eating and that is not a glass of wine in my hand.

 

Love
David

 

Montenegro

There were no particular plans to visit Montenegro but that is where the road took us.  It involved a ferry crossing and once again spectacular scenery.

Dubrovnik

To say I was pretty impressed with the view from my room is an understatement.  Dubrovnik is a big place and built by people who had the same sure footing as mountain goats.  The streets switch back down the steep slopes to the water and homes are anchored to the rock.

 

Keeping one eye on the view and the other on road I spied a small sign saying rooms to rent.  There was a two metre square parcel of land that was the car park.  Miss time my braking and my bike would have made a sudden appearance into someone's lounge room below.

 

The owner was happy to let us have the room at a reduced rate as the summer season had not yet commenced.

 

 

The 'old' city - some of it is ancient and most of it several hundred years older than Australia.

I love the narrow lanes which tens if not hundred of thousand tourists walk down.  This is still a place where people live

 

 

This is one city that it would take months to see everything worth seeing.  We unfortunately only had one day.

 

Sibenik, Croatia.







Much to my horror some of these towns are not particularly well sign posted.  The city of Sibenik, Croatia is one of those towns.   I managed to find my way to the waterfront but while trying to get to a place where I thought some hotels may have been located I rode past the bus terminal several times.  On about the fourth occasion we stopped to ask someone for directions.

 

I was approached by an elderly woman.  She was up front with her spiel.   She earns her living by spotting tourists and then acting as an agent by placing them in private apartments.  She came along just at the right time because I was sick of doing laps of the town.

 

She telephoned a householder and paired us up - short negotiation first. 

 

The town consists of the old and the new.  The old has a lot more charm - what surprised me was the high end fashion stores that abounded - must be big money in the town.

 

Narrow streets and plenty of steps to keep anyone fit.

The obligatory central square

This street had some expensive top end fashion shops.

Our accommodation was very comfortable with off street parking to boot.