JUNE   2015     HOLIDAYS

GREECE       BULGARIA     ROMANIA

The Holidays will be covered in III Parts. Greece,  Bulgaria and Romania.

The Total duration was from 01 June to 22 June 2015.

Greece was with 4* Hotels and Bulgaria and Romania with mix of 3* and 4* Hotels.

Greece was on SIC Basis and balance by Car.

Except for Initial Flt from Delhi to Athens and return from Bucharest to Delhi on flts were used. Crossing of countries was by road.

Only One Schengen Visa minimum with 2 Entries is required for the complete trip.

There is no need to buy water in any of these countries as the Tap Water is good to drink.

The wash Rooms at Gas Stations are clean and good for use. You can also get snacks and Coffee at Gas Stations.

This Blog will be in Three Parts. Part I Gen Info and Greece, Part II Bulgaria , Part III Romania.

Our Flt details were as under;

Qatar   Air

01 June     QR 575 09.20   Doha 10.40  ; Flt Time  3.50hrs  

                     Halt 2.30 at Doha

                     QR 203 13.10  Athens 17.50 ; Flt Time  4.40hrs

Return Flt

     21 Jun  QR224  19.05   Doha 23.35 Flt Time   4 hr 30 min

                     Halt 2 hours at Doha

    22 Jun   QR 574 01.35   Delhi 07.40 Flt Time   3 hr 35 min

Qatar Air gives excellent Food specially the Veg Food is extremely Good.

TIME  ZONE  Delhi   = 0900Hrs    Athens Sofia Bucharest    0530 (-3.30)

Greece Tour by Mr Zack Benardout  ATLANTIS  ph 30 210 5202700; 5 Pattison St,9 Omania Sq   Athens 10431

Bulgaria & Romaina by Mr Vlad Trestian , BALKAN TRAILS,  1 Spiridon Matei St Bucharest 032087  mob  407 235 78452

Mr Vlad is a remarkable person and his tours are highly recommended being correctly priced, with very good transport and very good English speaking guides.

Currency

Bulgaria Currency

1€= 1.95 Lev   10 Lev= 5.78 $ = 5.12 €       1 Lev = 100 stotinki =35.88 Rs

Coins, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 stotinki, 1 lev

Banknotes, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 leva

Romania Currency  Although the official currency is called RON but it is  LEI locally

10 Lei   = 157.31Rs  =   2.58 €  = 2.55 $

Polymer  1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500,200 lei.1 (green) 5 (purple) 10(Reddish Brown) 50 (Yellow) 100 Blue) (200 and 500 lei notes are rarely used).

Bani  Coins:  1 (brass), 5 (cooper) 10 (steel) and 50 (brass)

Greece Tour   01 to 07 June

Greece Tour Route

01-Jun, Mon, Qatar  Air Arr Athens  17.50. Taxi by Tour operator for night stay at

 Hotel President  Tel. +30 210 6989000 

43 Kifissias Ave. - 115 23 Athens, Greece,

Hotel is good but away from City Center. There is a lane about 200 meter on left side when you face the hotel, this lane leads to Metro Station which is another 80 meter. The Lane has a Super Store next to Metro station and has many eating places in the lane.

Sun Rise from Hotel in Athens

02-Jun, Tue Day,  Dep at 07.30 for Cruise of 
3 Islands Aegina, Poros, and Hydra. Returned by 7pm. The Lunch was served around 2pm on the Ferry Boat. Lunch was good. 

Cruise Route

Leaving Athens

Hydra

03-Jun, Wed, Dep at 8.30 City Tour Athens. Were shown from bus  Royal Palace,  St. Paul's Church, Parliament, Unknown Soldier , Old Parliament, the Constitution Square , the Russian Orthodox Church, Hadrian's Arch, and on foot the ACROPOLIS incl the Temple of Athena .

Add caption

Olyumpia

  

ACROPOLIS

Guard at Memorial of Unknown Solider in front of Parliament in Traditional Greek Uniform

Did not return to Hotel after the Tour at 13.00 PM but stayed at Constitutional Square.

It is better to take Guided Tour of ACROPOLIS than to take city tour. In City tour you just sit in Bus and go around to get down at the Stadium and Acropolis.

  

04-Jun, Thur, Dep for Delphi

It is highly recommended Tour. It Departs at 8.45 by Coach   through Thebes, to see TEMPLE of APOLLO, and reached at 5PM  for overnight stay in Kalambaka.

You have a very good tour to Delphi and you have excellent view from the Temple.

 Stayed at;

Divani Meteora Hotel

National Road, Trikala-Ioannina,

The Hotel has steep internet and wifi rates so do not log in on wifi. It is 1 Euro per hour.

05-Jun, Fri,

Started at 08.00to see visit two different BYZANTINE MONASTERIES in Meteora.

It is very nice to see these Monasteries. The views are fantastic from the Top.

Inside the Monastry

Sovinear at Road side

We returned to Trikala at 12.30PM for bus to Thessaloniki. Bus started at 13.30pm reached Macedonia bus Station at 16.15PM. At the  Bus Station we  booked in advance our bus tkt to Sofia. Took a Taxi to Hotel cost was 7€.

Night at Thessaloniki at

Kinissi Palace

41 Egnatia str. & 17 Siggrou str.

54630, Thessaloniki, Greece

The Hotel is very nicely located. It has very good Break Fast but the AC is very old and takes lot of time to cool the Room. The bathroom specially the bathing area is by far the smallest. It is not a 4 Star Hotel by any standard. At best it can be a low 3 Star hotel.

06-Jun, Sat, Own City Tour Thessaloniki. Just walked around to Sea Front. That is the place where every one gathers in the Day and specially in the Evening. The Walk  through the  main Pedestrian lane is very good. The Walk ends at the Aristotle Square.

Aristotle Square

Sea Front 

07-Jun, Sun, Dep for Sofia at 14.30by Bus . Border Crossing at Kulata. It took one hour for Pass Port Control to check and put their stamp. Arrival at 18.45 and Night Stay at Sofia. The Bus is comfortable and journey is nice.