As predicted I was awake early as the sun quickly started to heat the tent (and me inside it). I went in for a swim and did a few laps along part of the beachfront before 8am.
Early morning motorbike view.
I was now left waiting for the restaurant to open for breakfast or milk and bread.
Eventually the restaurant staff arrived and opened their doors to the wonderful breakfast menu….so this is what I learnt:
Restaurant - serves dinner when they are ready (it seems) and the menu is limited...
The Nano-Market is open when the restaurant is.....at their discretion.
The Camprgound's Nano-Market, that only provides milk and bread, then has nowhere to store your milk and bread for when you want it.......except a freezer.
Breakfast is available at around 10am - or more likely 10:30am or later once they have arrived and opened.
Breakfast is bread and jam and juice and coffee.
If you would like a cooked breakfast you need to wait a little longer - around 2pm the restaurant starts cooking food...…..
I wasn't happy. I had a coffee. I spoke to reception. I decided best to leave.
Camping Nautilos advised that because their 'season' didn'tt start until the following week that's the way it is. Thanks Nautilos - I hope the 'season' goes well.....
After I had packed everything back up and loaded the bike I headed for Parga.
I had been told about Parga by a Romanian woman who had just started working in Ponti who suggested it was beautiful since she had visited there when working in Igoumenitsa.
Most of the road was good with wonderful stretches of bitumen and fabulous views....every-now-and-then the dreaded fine gravel appeared and at one spot the half road had fallen down the hill…..(image below).
Parga is a wonderfully beautiful small seaside township. There is a small port with some little boats in it. There is a beach close to the shops and restaurants. There are a few islands within an easy swim from the beach and restaurants. There is a castle on the hill. It is very busy.
Parga - It is rather attractive.
Swimming lanes in the sea of Parga.
I hadn't eaten at a Zorba's anywhere in Greece so when I saw one on the edge of the water I thought this is my chance.
They asked if I spoke German (it is a second language in that area of Greece) and when I said "English" they chose or selected me a seat based on my language. Not sure really how it worked….
Lunch was very enjoyable, by the seaside....slow cooked lamb in paper - very tender.
On the way back towards Igoumenitsa I stopped to take a picture of the roadworks….
Not the first time I have seen half the road fallen down the hill.
I headed back towards Igoumenitsa knowing that Kalami Beach Camping and Elena's Beach Camping were easy to find along the Plataria Coast.
I first surveyed Elena's Beach, decided I would not be happy if I didn't check Kalami too. Checked Kalami and returned to Elena's because the tent sites looked better by having a little view to the water, rather than Kalami's which were looking at the roof of the toilets/showers.
I returned to Elena's Camping, found a suitable site and set-up camp. I was hoping to not leave the place for at least a couple of days while I got organised to move on to Albania.
I was hoping to spend some time updating this website so when I found out the only option was hour-long slots that had to be paid for I was a little wary of how it might work.
I didn't bother with the internet and instead enjoyed a relaxing evening/night with dinner at the open and full menu restaurant on-site with recommendations based on what was fresh and available each day.
That's more like it.