Will you vanlife me? ENG

Will you vanlife me? ENG A couple and two dogs travelling the world in a self converted van.

We left the most southern part of the Mani peninsula and the drive was - again - just absolutely breathtaking. This time...
26/02/2024

We left the most southern part of the Mani peninsula and the drive was - again - just absolutely breathtaking.

This time we drove along the coast, overlooking the half island. I couldn’t get enough of the view.

After we had restocked on water we planned one last little hike, when we heard a big crash in the back during our drive.
We quickly stopped and saw, that a hook from the bed had been broken. The bed was now half hanging from the ceiling.

So we carefully drove to the next parking spot and tried to fix the bed.
As we hadn’t taken as much tools with us, as we had during our first journey, we were only fix the issues temporarily.

By that time it had become so late, that we decided to spent the night at the beach and take the walk the next day.

So we went to the little bay the next day. On the way we were eyed by every person we passed and we did feel a little uncomfortable.
So after the walk we quickly packed up and drove further.

Even though we had found a sheltered place between the mountains, we could still hear the wind whipping. The next day it...
22/02/2024

Even though we had found a sheltered place between the mountains, we could still hear the wind whipping. The next day it was all over and we decided to stay at the tip of the Mani for a few days.

I think I've said it before, but this week I realized again how beautiful I found it on the Mani Peninsula.

During the week we explored all the paths around us and admired the play of colors in the sunsets.

At night the jackals always rang in the evening at the same time.

After we had managed our resources well, after 5 days it was time to continue driving through the beautiful landscape of the peninsula.

Let’s hope this week the weather will be better on Sunday, than last week. Even though it was very stormy, we wanted to ...
17/02/2024

Let’s hope this week the weather will be better on Sunday, than last week.

Even though it was very stormy, we wanted to walk to the most southern part of Greece mainland.

So we drove back to the beautiful Mani Peninsula and parked a few kilometres away from the lighthouse.

The trail led us through a big open field, with horses grazing on both sides.

The wind was gushing over us and the waves were crushing permanently against the shore.

After half an hour we reached the lighthouse and we watched a few ships go by. After a little break, we walked back to our van and decided to find a spot to park away from the coast, which was shielded a bit better, as the wind was really picking up.

It was our anniversary, so I planned a little surprise for Daniel. After we had restocked our groceries in the best LIDL...
15/02/2024

It was our anniversary, so I planned a little surprise for Daniel.

After we had restocked our groceries in the best LIDL we had seen in Greece, I navigated us a few minutes further, straight into a winery.

Daniel couldn’t quite grasp what was going on when we entered the property and got greeted by the owner of the winery.

We got led to our parking location and introduced each other. We were told, that we would be picked up shortly for a wine tasting.

Surprise definitely worked.

Together with a Swiss couple we had an amazing evening, with two white wines, one rosé wine and one red wine. During the tasting we got many interesting information about wine and Greek wine in particular.
At the end, we bought two bottles of wine and we happily said our goodbyes.

We were allowed to stay overnight on the property and use water and electricity.

We can only recommend to everyone to pay a visit to Lacovino winery.

It was time for some action after our very laid back week. Our hike started at a little church and went pretty steep dow...
14/02/2024

It was time for some action after our very laid back week.

Our hike started at a little church and went pretty steep down, something we got very used to in Greece by now.

Through a tiny trail we continued our way, until we reached the bottom of the hill. The view toward the half island was magnificent, as you could see both sides of the island.

We had to pass over a rocky path, before we had to walk up a small hill to reach the remains of the Tigani Castle.

Another thing, we had got used to, was there was not much left standing at those archeological sites.

We walked through the last remains of the castle and sat down at the edge of the island. From here we could also see the bay, we had spent the last week.

Even though it was quite windy, at the tip of the island was a very weird silence. You could see birds flying, but you didn’t hear a single sound from them, the wind or the waves. Mystically.

After a nice break we walked back through the fields, that smelled strongly like onions and I was happy for some clouds, that covered the burning sun, when we hiked up the big hill again.

This is one of those spots, that make wild camping so special. After a steep road towards the ocean, we found an absolut...
12/02/2024

This is one of those spots, that make wild camping so special.

After a steep road towards the ocean, we found an absolutely epic place to sleep. Directly inside a bay with lots of space around you.

The place was so perfect, that we weren’t the only ones staying there for a couple of days. But all vans were parked so far from each other, that you didn’t notice each other really.

As it was such a peaceful location, we stayed the entire week and only left once to get fresh water.

We drove directly into the tiny village, that is pretty well known to tourists. But at this time of year, it as absolute...
09/02/2024

We drove directly into the tiny village, that is pretty well known to tourists.

But at this time of year, it as absolutely deserted.

It was easy to find a parking spot and we walked into the cute village. All the restaurants and hotels were closed and there was no one on the streets. Hard to imagine, that this is a little hot spot during the summer.

It took us 10 minutes to walk the only street through the city and after 20 minutes we were on our way again.

Oh my gosh, the drive along the Mani coast was just insanely beautiful. Especially the bay just before Areopoli was abso...
09/02/2024

Oh my gosh, the drive along the Mani coast was just insanely beautiful.

Especially the bay just before Areopoli was absolutely gorgeous.

We drove along the coast at sundown and the hills had this typical golden shimmer.

When we arrived in the city, we parked close to the centre and had to work a few hours.

The next morning we took the dogs for a city walk.

The city was only a little busy at the centre, but otherwise there weren’t many people around.
After half an hour we had seen everything that was to be seen and we drove to one of the villages in the bay we had pasted the previous day.

It was finally weekend again. So we drove to a nearby cave. When we arrived we were a little startled by a car that was ...
09/02/2024

It was finally weekend again.

So we drove to a nearby cave.

When we arrived we were a little startled by a car that was „parked“ below the stone cliff.

It marked the entrance of the cave and was clearly pushed (or driven) down the cliff.

We went to explore the cave and within seconds it was pitch black around us. It was spooky.

We went a few meters in, but as the path got really narrow and muddy, we decided to turn back around.
Instead, we enjoyed the waves crashing against the stony shore, before we continued our journey.

After the absolutely exhausting hike on Sunday, we desperately needed a bit of peace and quiet. As we couldn’t sleep in ...
09/02/2024

After the absolutely exhausting hike on Sunday, we desperately needed a bit of peace and quiet.

As we couldn’t sleep in the mountain, where we had started the hike, as it was absolutely freezing up there, we continued to a cute little village at the sea.

We planned to stay at least three days, but Daniel had forgotten to turn the lights of Hektor off, so we had to find a way to recharge our batteries first.

As we weren’t in a rush, we arranged with the mechanics in town to jump start us and after an hour we were able to drive again.

Nonetheless, we stayed a little longer and enjoyed many dinners in town and also paid a visit to the local pastry shop.

Kardamyli was one of the first villages we had seen, that were really touristy. Many restaurants, a lot of holiday apartments and ATM machines. So we weren’t surprised to find a spot in the city, where a lot of motor homes were parked. Luckily we had a spot, that was less crowded.

After an entire week, it was time to move on.

Well, first off - the pictures don’t do the place any justice. Our journey to this location was the one of the most dang...
09/02/2024

Well, first off - the pictures don’t do the place any justice.

Our journey to this location was the one of the most dangerous ones we had ever driven.

The road was washed out and the gravel road was extremely steep.

Nonetheless, we had faith in Hektor and he didn’t disappoint.

Once we reached the top of the hill, the journey was quickly forgotten.
The view down to the Gorge was just insane.
Thinking of going down there the next day was really exciting.

On Sunday morning we started. The way down the hill was very steep and I was already worried about the way back up.

Once we arrived at the very bottom of the hill we had to walk in a dried out river. Millions of stones - big, small and huge ones, were making it quite tricky to walk.

After one and a half hour we reached the difficult part of the track. Enormous rocks blocked the way and we had to climb over and through them. One person alone couldn’t have done it. We needed each others help and we also had to lift the dogs at some points. It was incredibly though.

But we made it.

After 14 km we reached the final destination: the huge gorge. It was absolutely beautiful.

We took a little brake, but couldn’t sit too long, as it had been raining at the beginning and our cloths were wet and it got cold pretty quickly. The temperatures down there were really cold and we even had some hail coming down at us.

So we walked the entire trail back and even Waya started to struggle a little.

The last bit up the hill took us a lot of mental strength, but after 45 minutes we finally reached the van.

We were absolutely exhausted but it was totally worth it.

After some burgers and cake in Pylos, we drove to the next supermarket to stock up on groceries and decided to drive out...
09/02/2024

After some burgers and cake in Pylos, we drove to the next supermarket to stock up on groceries and decided to drive out of town again.

I wanted so drive to a lost place, but unfortunately the road was flooded, so we had to drive on.

So we drove to the spot, I had planned for the next day. After a steep gravel road, we reached the top of a hill next to a little church.

We enjoyed being the only ones and called it a day.

Sunday couldn’t have been more different to Saturday. Instead of sun and heat, the temperatures had dropped to 11 degrees and it was raining. So we started the day slowly and took our walk to the waterfalls around midday.

The area around the waterfall was magical again. It was incredibly green and moss was hanging on the crooked trees.
The trail was pretty slippery and right before the end, Daniel fell pretty badly. Fortunately, he got away with a little wound on his hand.

As it was raining on and off, the four of us returned to the van to dry off and relaxed the rest of the evening.

As the spot was relatively quiet, apart from the hunters in the areas, who were shooting all day and night - we decided to spend the Monday there too.

On Sunday we also got the news, that our new Starlink had finally arrived. So after work on Monday, we drove to Kalamata and spent the night in the middle of the city, to be able to pick up the parcel first thing in the morning.

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