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Mediterranean Europe 2003 Jacek Solo |
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Mediterranean Europe 2003 Jacek Solo |
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Europe 2003 Trip Index Read top to bottom or choose a section:
This time my preparations didn't involve any visa-type paper work. I was going to travel on my Polish passport and the whole Europe was open for me. I flew to Poland not having a vehicle. After a few days of enjoying the company of my parents, my brother and my high school friends (I attended my high school reunion), it took me a few days to find the right bike. I bought motorcycle magazines, looked for Yamaha XTZ (at least I knew what I was looking for) and made some phone calls. I the next few days I travelled around Poland checking them out. Most of the bikes were either already sold, or in a really poor shape and not registered in Poland yet. I still wonder how can a motorcycle dealer offer a motorcycle that imported from Switzerland or Germany and is not registered in Poland!
I was losing hope. The last bike I was going to see was in Cieszyn, a town on the Polish-Czech border. This one had high mileage (60,000 km), but was in excellent shape.
The owner had driven her every day. It took me a few minutes to decide that it was going to be mine. I spent a bit more time negotiating the price. The next morning I picked up the bike and drove it to Torun (450 km). That was a great ride since there was no surprises - the bike simply ran "good."
On two consecutive mornings the battery failed. I had a mechanic fix some wire connections. I read that Teneres had faulty charging system. I was going to see if that was the case with my bike during the next few weeks. I registered the bike on my name, bought the green card (insurance for Europe - only $30 CAN per year), and off I went.
I left on Tuesday, July 8. First stop: Basilica in Lichen - still being built.
In Wroclaw I changed my rear tire from Czech-made Mitas to a used Michelin T66. Felt much better. I slept in Miedzygorze at a free campsite. Free is for me.
After passing Czech I arrived in Vienna early afternoon.
A friendly Austrian biker lead me a campsite, I pitched my tent and spent the rest of the day and evening walking and driving around the city.
Vienna..... 
The next day I drove from Vienna up to Pula in Croatia, where I met my friends Monika and Radek who were just finished a 2-week choir camp there.
I spent next week travelling around Croatia.
I visited Rovinj.... 
... the Kirk Island... 
...
Trogir...
Split...
.... and
Dalmatian coast ...
I really enjoyed Dubrovnik.....
At on point I took a forest trail and barely managed to find the way out. Tenere enjoyed the trail very much.
Still in Croatia, closer to Bosnian border, different "attractions" started to appear: abandoned houses that used to belong to Serbs before they fled to Serbia.
Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania
Crossing the border between Croatia and Bosnia was no problem. ,
I stopped in Mostar .....
... and Sarajevo......
Still in Bosnia, I wasn't able to find a campsite, so I stopped at a bar, spoke to an owner and she happily allowed me to pitch my tent behind the her building. I tried to pay her, but she refused. I spent the evening in the local "joint" among happy, singing and a bit intoxicated locals.
The next morning before crossing the border with Serbia, I stopped for breakfast. Presence of a foreign biker was not common. It resulted in a friendly conversation with locals patrons of the restaurant. They actually insisted on paying for my scrambled eggs with bacon! They were very curious about economical situation in Poland in comparison to Bosnia.
I rushed through Beograd. There were a few damaged buildings, but less than I was expecting. My other stop included Smederovo and Unrjacka Bania, a popular spa town.
Entering Kosovo was a surprise. UN soldiers are controlling the border between Serbia and Kosovo. A soldier from Philippines checked my passport.
Kosovo.... 
Montenegro was pleasant surprise with its picturesque mountains, gorges and beaches.
Moraca Gorge.....
Bay of Kotor.....
Budva...
Dutch biker on Motoguzzi....
Scuba diving in Budva....
Albania.
Currently writing...
Tirana, the capital...
Llogara Pass...
An Italian on Vespa (150 cc)....
Near Greek border....
Currently writing...
Currently writing....
Pompeii....
Vesuvius...
Rome.....
Currently writing....
Sardinia
Currently writing...
Saridinia....
Corsica
Currently writing....
Bonifacio.....
.... de
Piana....
Desert des Agriates...
....
Cap Corse....
Currently writing....
Italy
Currently writing....
Florence......
Dolomites......
Austria.
Currently writing....
Glacier Glossglockner......
Currently writing....
Currently writing....
Poland.
Currently writing....
Buying a sheep skin.....
..... Torun...
Currently writing....
Plus:
Trip summary (dates, km):
TOTAL: 9,461 km.
All maps originate from Library of University of Texas website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe.html