Tangier Med - Chefchaouen

A three day trip on a ferry can only be boring on a ferry like the one we got but was long enough to give us time to have a look on our maps on the long tables of the dining area.

We were only happy to finally make it to Morocco though the customs tried to vanish our joy sending us from one queue to the other and then got us waiting...

...and waiting...

...even though the paperwork was all finished on the ferry.

The first kms after Tangier where nothing special but the N16 following the east coast is a great ride that we accidentally took as we should head straight to Chefchaouen instead. The P4105 after Oued Laou was no worse at all climbing up the mountain and we arrived at Chefchaouen with a big smile on our faces.

We wondered around the town...

and then we decided to have something to eat and leave behind all those guys harassing us trying to sell all shorts of stuff (why the fuck everybody tries to sell joints ONLY to me? wtf? I am only a few hours in Morocco and these guys try to sell me all the hashish of the world!)

Here's the restaurant we picked:

and the goodies we ate:

Here's a challenge for you: have a look at where I am going to sleep right now and try not to die laughing:

Preggio - Livorno

We left the sweet village of Preggio on a lovely morning to make it to the port of Livorno. The first kms were very beautiful with lots of twisties in a very scenic mountain full of chestnut trees. Passed Lago di Trasimeno, short stop at Siena and a longer one at Voltera. Typical medieval town on the top of a hill and a good chance for some walk and cheese tasting.

Nothing that interesting on the rest of the route except lots of traffic (as usual) on the S1. We had a nice 'n cheap dinner at Livorno

while we watched the seagull waiting at the queue for some “FRUTTI di MARE”.

In the evening we entered the Grimaldi ferry were we realized how ridiculous it was. For a 60 (sixty) hours trip booked in an A class outside cabin what you get is a thing in an area that stinks worse than a dirty kitchen, a worn mattress comming straight from the 60s thin as a cigarette paper, 20 ml of something between a shampoo and a bathfoam, one small piece of soap and one towel. Yep...you gotta wipe your butt and face with the same thing what's your problem? No glasses and other useless stuff for human beings. Funny thing is that (of course) they don't want you to throw paper and other stuff in the toilet while at the same time there's no trash bin in there...F U!

On the road again :)

...this time trying to get my bike for the first time to Africa (Morocco). She looks like looking forward to it fully loaded at my balcony:

After a 280km ride and an awful sleep on the ferry I made it to Ancona and then another 150 km for the meeting point of my friends +Kim Dasko +John Stalick @ Preggio, Perugia. I've done most of this route except the last 30 kms after Gubbio full of superb twisties on terrible tarmac conditions (holes and gravel all the way more than enough to send you to Jesus). The guys are amazing, and the village is such a beauty.

Don't miss the incredible food on that restaurant as well as the view from their balcony (guarantee - money back if you don't like it):

Ready for breakfast now and a ride up to Livorno where a 60 (!) hour ferry trip is waiting for us.

Stay tuned!

Βόλτα στα παλιά

Το Λαύριο είναι η χαρά του παρελθοντολάγνου. Εγώ δεν είμαι ακριβώς τέτοιος αλλά δεν παύει να με γοητεύει κατά περίπτωση (το παρελθόν).

Κλασσικό όμορφο κτίσμα από τα τέλη του 19ου αιώνα που έπεσε θύμα ελεεινών νεότερων παρεμβάσεων (δείτε τους τσιμεντόλιθους κλπ):

Τι να ήταν άραγε εδώ...καμίνι;:

Οι εγκαταστάσεις της ΕΒΟ-ΠΥΡΚΑΛ καταλαμβάνουν μεγάλη έκταση και μέρος του δρυμού του Σουνίου. Έχει "πλάκα" η παλιά ρεμίζα με την χειρόγραφη ταμπέλα (κάντε κλικ για να την δείτε) και τους παλιούς αριθμούς των αυτοκινήτων:

Εντυπωσιάζει το έτος κατασκευής στην μαρμάρινη πινακίδα της εισόδου (κάντε κλικ να τη δείτε καλύτερα γιατί την έβγαλα βιαστικά να μην ενοχλήσω τον ήδη θορυβημένο φύλακα).

Industrial past

I have something with ruins - confirmed. And the area I live offers lots and important ones.

Today I walked around the industrial past (late 19th century) and reached the tunnel of the train that used to carry the minerals down to the port:

What impressed me was an engine I found of that age. The crankshaft is exposed and when I saw the rods I said to myself "is it stuck ?" but no! I managed to turn the crankshaft with my foot and it actually felt quite smooth :)