Day 1 - 18 September (Sunday)
We visited Athens 7 years ago when their economy was sliding and hence we were curious to see whether there has been any changes since then.
Upon arrival in Athens we were joined by our Balkans tour manager Mr Aidin and our Athens local guide.Our first stop was Syntagma Square, also known as Constitution Square, facing the House of Parliament, where we witnessed the changing of the guards which is done hourly, on the hour.The soldiers, dressed in traditional skirted uniforms loomed tall above the eager tourists.
An orientation tour took us around the city, passing the Academy of Science, University of Athens, the National Library and the old Parliament building which is now the Museum of Modern Greece.
The next stop was Olympic Stadium, also called Panathinaikon Stadium or Kallimarmaron. It is located at the same site where ancient Athenians had a stadium built in 330 BC. It can seat up to 90 000 spectators and today is used for major sporting and entertainment events. It hosted the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Next we proceeded to Kolonaki from where we took the funicular train to the peak of Lycabettus Hill. At 912 feet high, it is Athens' highest hill and from here we could have a 360 degrees panoramic view of Athens in the bright sunny day.On the hill is a small 19th century chapel of St George.
From here we went to PARS Persian Restaurant for lunch which comprised of chicken mandy rice,salad, humus,flat bread and dessert, which was totally satisfying as we were famished after the airline food the last few hours.
We then went to the Hotel Stanley for check-in and rest. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 2 - 19 September (Monday)
After a leisurely breakfast, we left the hotel at 9.00 am to the Acropolis area. The bus dropped us at the foot of the Acropolis and we made our way up, passing 2 theaters ; the Dionysus,one of the oldest theaters built in the 4th century BC and Odean of Herodes Atticus built in the 2nd century AD. On the Acropolis we visited the famous Parthenon temple which was built between 447 and 432 BC and is the symbol of the grandeur of ancient Greece.Although we have been here before we never cease to be amazed by the magnificence of the building and ingenuity of the people who built it using marble brought from 200 miles away.. Also on the Acropolis is the Temple of Niki,the Erechthelon and Propylaea. On our way down we had a view of Ancient Agora, the ancient commercial and public centre.
Our coach ferried us to the Temple of Zeus which is the largest temple in Greece.Its construction started in the 6th century BC and was completed only 700 years later.Only several columns remained and we could only imagined the magnificence of it before its destruction. It was said that no dying person or pregnant woman were allowed into the temple as it was a sanctuary for immortals which should not have any birth or death events in it.
Our next stop was the Plaka area which is the old town situated at the foothills of the Acropolis and dotted with quaint cafes and souvenir shops. We had our lunch at the Cave of Acropolis cafe comprising of a choice of grilled bream or fried calamari,Greek salad (of course !),eggplant salad,humus and garlic bread.
With our appetite satiated we did not mind the drizzle that followed as we walked in and out of shops, dodging the rain. We later stopped for coffee at one of the many cafes in that area.
At 5.00 pm the coach picked us up and we headed back to the hotel for a rest and later, dinner.
Day 3 - 20 September (Tuesday)
We had an early start with breakfast at 6.30 am and at 7.30 am we departed for Kalambaka. Soon we were out of the city and driving along the calm deep-blue Aegean Sea on our right, passing olive and pistachios groves.
At 10.00 am we made a comfort stop at Lamia. Our journey from here passed cotton fields and beautiful countryside. Upon arriving at Kalambaka we straight away proceeded to a restaurant for lunch comprising of vegetable soup, fish,potatoes,rice and salad.
Our coach made its way uphill to Meteora, a series of rocky outcrop ,on some of which perched monasteries.The first monastery that we visited was Monastery of MonkVarlaam. To get to the monastery we had to climb 120 steps - certainly not for the faint-hearted. At the entrance, each of us who were not wearing a skirt were given a pareo to wear. Visited the church built in 1541/42 which is ornately decorated with fresco on its walls and ceiling and adorned with intricate chandeliers. From the compound of the monastery we were presented with a panoramic view of the whole Meteora area and the surrounding lowland.
After retracing our steps downwards our coach stopped at a view point which is a rocky surface by the road-side and again we were mesmerised by the beautiful view of Meteora, Kalambaka and the plains below.The next stop was Saint Stephens Monastery which was built in the 15th century. Here there were no steps to climb. The nun manning the entrance counter and others in the monastery could pass off as Muslims with their black habit and head-cover.Here too, ladies who were not wearing skirts or dresses, had to put on a pareo.
We spent some time at the monastery before making our way to the modern and stylish Divani Hotel for check-in and a rest. Dinner was at the hotel and consisted of pasta,fish,rice,salad and vegetable soup.After dinner with the temperature slowly dropping, we went for a walk along the main street of Kalambaka passing souvenir shops and cafes. We stopped at one of the cafes for coffee before heading back to the hotel.
Day 4- 21 September (Wednesday)
At 8.00 am we left the hotel towards Macedonia a country with a population of 2 million of which over 30 % are Muslims. We passed mountains, valleys and corn-fields.Soon we were at the Greece/Macedonia border which was rather deserted and poorly-maintained. After clearing border control we resumed our journey through country-side with farms and plum and apple orchards with apple trees laden with green and red apples.We stopped at a road-side stall to buy apples to eat as we travel.
We arrived at Ohrid, Macedonia (population 40,000 plus) past 1.00 pm and proceeded to Mayden Restaurant for lunch comprising of chicken,veal,potatoes,salad and chicken soup. After lunch we visited Ali Pasha Mosque and Hadzi Turgut Mosque.We then walked along the pedestrian mall with small bazaars on each side, selling souvenirs and pearls. Apparently Ohrid is famous for fresh-water pearls.
It started to rain. We were told that Ohrid has 300 days of sunshine a year and of all days it decided to rain when we were there. We took shelter at a cafe for half an hour and when the rain subsided, we made our way to the jetty to board a boat for a cruise on Lake Ohrid which looked more like a sea because of its size. It was still drizzling so we sat inside the boat. Fortunately later the rain fizzled off and we moved to the deck to admire the scenery before us - looming mountains surrounding the lake and houses perched along the waterfront. A rainbow completed the picturesque vista.
After an hour we arrived back at the jetty and walked along the pedestrian mall looking at quaint shops selling clothes,souvenirs and pearls from Ohrid Lake.Our bus then took us to the beautiful Izgrev Hotel over-looking Ohrid Lake for check-in. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 5 - 22 September (Thursday)
At 8am we checked out and continued our tour and shortly we were at the Macedonia/ Albania border. We were told that Albania had a population of 3 million of which 60 % are Muslims. We arrived at Tirana, the capital, with a poplulation of a million. Our guide pointed out a big mosque under construction financed by the Turkish government. Once completed it would be the largest mosque in the Balkans.We straight away went to Sofra Turke Restaurant for lunch comprising of chicken soup,salad,kebab and rice. We then went to Ethem Bey Mosque to pray dzohor/asar.
From here a local guide took us for a walking tour of the Clock Tower, City Square,Opera House and Art Gallery. At 2.45 pm we left Tirana towards Montenegro.
Our coach made its way along winding road with looming rocky mountains around us. As we passed the Adriatic Sea we stopped near St Stefan Island to watch the sun set. The island which is attached to the coast by a narrow isthmus,was formally a fishing village and is now an up-scale hotel resort,the playground of the rich and famous.
After the view of the glorious sunset we set our journey to Hotel Residence in Budva for check-in and buffet dinner.
Day 6 - 23 September (Friday)
Montenegro is on the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 650,000 people, of which 20 % are Muslims.It has a 300km coastline forming the Montenegro Riviera.
At 8.30 am we left our hotel for a tour of Budva , a charming old city founded by the Venetians and conquered by the Greek,Roman and Byzantine. Our local guide took us for a walking tour of the city along narrow cobbled-stone alleys with sandstone buildings housing small quaint shops and cafes. We stopped at the pebbled Richard's Beach and Square of Six Churches.
At 10.45 am we left Budva for Kotor. As we descended the mountainous road towards Kotor we stopped at a view point for a picture perfect panoramic view of Kotor below and we notice a cruise liner berthing in the Bay of Kotor. Upon arrival at Kotor our local guide took us for a walking tour of the Old Town built between the 12th and 14th century with its medieval architecture,interesting squares,buildings,museums,monuments and Venetian palaces. We stopped for lunch at Astoria Hotel as we partook a meal of seafood pasta,fish,potatoes and ice-cream. After which we continued with the walking tour along alleyways lined with shops and cafes. We had some free time to wander around the old city.
At 2.50pm we left Kotor for Dubrovnik in Croatia,through Lepetane where we had to take a ten-minute ferryride to cross the bay. We arrived at Sheraton Hotel Dubrovnik for check-in , a rest and dinner where they had a Halal buffet spread.
Day 7 - 24 September (Saturday)
We left the hotel at 8.45 am for the Old Town of Dubrovnik. Croatia has a population of 4 million plus with 45000 living in Dubrovnik,of which about 4000 are Muslims. George Bernard Shaw was so mesmerised by this beautiful city that he said "those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik" which he dubbed "The Pearl of The Adriatic".
A local tour guide ushered us into the walled old city through Pile Gate from which the main street, Stradun or Placa starts. The city walls was constructed in the 10th century and has fortresses at its four corners. Inside the entrance of the gate is Onofrio Fountain built in 1438. Nearby is the Franciscan Monastery.We walked along the main street and at the other end are the Orlando Column, Sponza Place, churches, Rector's Palace and Mayor's office. We then exited through another exit to a jetty and a boat took us for a cruise in the surrounding area. We circumnavigated around Lokrum Island which is covered with pine trees and has a botanical garden. We also had an interesting view of sun-bathers in the nude. Our guide pointed to us the highly-priced Villa Sheherezade popular with the rich and famous.
Lunch was at a local restaurant - pasta and mussels,fish,potatoes and fruit cocktail. After lunch we walked up some 30 steps to the cable-car station that took us for a 4-minute ride up Mt Srd. From here we had a commanding view of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area. As the day was a bright sunny day the view was indeed breath-taking.
We took the cable -car back down to the old town where we visited the local mosque and we wandered around a bit and stopped for tea and ice-cream at Klarisa Cafe, sitting in the open air and watching people passing by.
At 3.45 pm we left for the hotel, had a short rest and went for a walk along the pebbled beach next to the hotel. Some sun-bathers were still enjoying the last hours of day-light. Dinner was again at the hotel.
Day 8 - 25 September (Sunday)
We left the hotel early at 7.30 am and soon we were crossing the border into Bosnia. We stopped at a road-side cafe and had a good view of Nuem below along the Bosnian coastline. Bosnia has only 24 km of coastline.
From here we re-entered Croatia and later into Bosnia again. All this in and out of the two countries was leaving me disoriented.
Our coach detoured from the highway and stopped at a park and we boarded a tourist train that took us downhill to Kravice Waterfall on the Trebizat River and said to be the highest waterfall in Bosnia.It stands at 25 metres high and has 20 waterfalls that cascaded from a large tuff limestone hill into a crystal clear pool 20 metres in radius.. The whole area is so green with thick lichen,moss and grass. What a stunning sight ! In the clear sunny day the view was spectacular and some visitors were seen having a picnic in the area. I could have spent the whole day here.
Our next stop was Pocitelj, a small medieval village along the Neretva River ,with a fortress, a Turkish-inspired mosque and buildings of mix architecture of Turkish, Bosnian and Venetian design.
Our next stop was Blagaj. After a short walk we arrived at our restaurant alongside the Buna River spring with its crystal clear water so clean and refreshing that you can drink it right off the spring.Our lunch consisted of grilled trout,salad,potatoes and local dessert. We had our dzohor/asar prayers at a Sufi mosque nearby.
A short drive away took us to the Ottoman city of Mostar. We visited the Mehmet Koski Pasha mosque and then walked through a narrow street lined with bazaars to the Old Mostar Bridge. The bridge also known as Stari Most was designed by famous architect Mimar Hajruddin and built in the 15th century using extra-ordinary bridge construction technology. It was destroyed in the 1990s crisis and restored in 2004. The bridge is depicted in all pictures of Mostar and people flocked from all over the world to look at it.
At 5.20 pm we left for Sarajevo and travelled uphill to the outskirts and checked into our hotel,the beautiful rustic Pino Nature Hotel. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 9 - 26 September (Monday)
Woke up to a temperature of 8 degrees Celcius and a misty morning. At 9 am left the hotel for Vrelo Bosne Park,a 600 hectare park with its natural springs and rippling streams of crystal-clear water and amidst lush greenery, trees and plants. It would have been an idle place for a walk had it not been for the fact that it was a biting-cold misty morning.Nevertheless we still enjoyed the crisp and fresh morning air.
Our next destination was the Tunnel Museum. The tunnel which measured 720 metres long 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres in height, was constructed in 1993 during the 1992-1995 siege of Sarajevo. Narrow rails and mine carts were later added on to facilitate transportation of food,medicine and humanitarian aid.The entrance is from farmhouses at both end of the tunnel. We were shown a short video of the siege and construction and usage of the tunnel and we got to enter a short stretch of the tunnel which is narrow and claustrophobic.
Bosnia has a population of 3.6 million of which 51 % are Muslims. Sarajevo itself has a population of 500000.On the way to the Old Town of Sarajevo we passed several mosque and also BOSMA - Bosnia Malaysia Trade building and the Vijecnica, the cityhall building. Had lunch at Pod Lipom Restaurant - chicken soup,beef,lamb,salad and carrot cake. After lunch we visited the Gazi Husref Bey mosque which was built in 1530 during the Ottoman period,with the Gazi Huzref Bey Madrassa adjacent to it. We walked around the bazaar which has strong Turkish influence and then proceeded to the other side of the pedestrian mall which has European influence. Stopped for coffee and ice-cream at one of the many cafes.
At 5 pm we made our journey back to the hotel. Dinner was at the hotel, comprising of chicken soup, braised chicken,salad and dessert.
Day 10- 27 September (Tuesday)
At 8.40 we left the hotel and shortly stopped at what was said to be the biggest shopping centre in Bosnia for comfort stop.
We arrived at Travnik with its Plava Voda Springs gushing out water that flows into a river. There's so many springs in Bosnia that reminds me of the description of Jannah (heaven) ie "under which rivers flow".
The more fit in our group decided to climb the 150 steps up to the old village with its oldest mosque in Bosnia. Unfortunately the mosque was destroyed during the war and only the minaret survived.Efforts have been made to restore the building using the original stones.Meanwhile the space has been used as a museum.Lunch was at a restaurant near the springs and consisted of soup,chicken kebab,rice and flat bread.
Our journey took us to the Malaysian Mosque, built by the Malaysian government during Tun Mahathir's period. We stopped for our dzohor/asar prayers and met other Malaysian tourist.
Our next stop was the Jajce Waterfall, a 20 metre high waterfall where River Pliva meets River Vrbas and the main attraction of Jajce town. Several steps from the road level takes you down to a viewing platform and many visitors got sprayed by the wind-swept waters of the fall.
A short drive further took us to the windmills of Lake Pliva. The windmills were used to grind wheat using water power of the springs and lake. They reminded me of huts in durian orchards.
We proceeded to Bihac and checked into our hotel, Hotel Kostelski. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 11- 28 September (Wednesday)
After breakfast we took a walk behind our hotel to view a waterfall and river that flows by.The morning was misty and the air fresh and clear.
We left the hotel at 9.00am and shortly was at the Bosnia/Croatia border for the next attraction, Plitvice National Park, the biggest national park in Croatia and the Balkans.After getting our tickets we walked some distance through tree-covered forest to a jetty. A 2-minute boat ride took us to the other side of a lake. We changed to another boat that took us on a cruise along the lake as we admire the crystal clear waters that looked like a flawless emerald.Trees around the lake had started to change to autumn colours.
Our stop was where we had our picnic lunch in the bright sunny weather with a nice breeze fanning.
After lunch we walked along walking tracks and ascended the hill slopes,stopping to admire the lakes and numerous waterfalls around us. Our only regret was that our guide did not take us along the boardwalk which would have given us a closer view of the waterfalls.
At 2.30 pm we left the park for Zagreb and checked into Aristos Hotel. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 12 - 29 September ( Thursday)
Our morning started with a tour of Zagreb old town conducted by a local tour guide. Our first stop was the Cathedral of The Assumption of the Blessed Mary characterised by its twin towers in Kaptol
From here we walked along the sloping street of Radiceva which was one of the city's principal business centres in the 19th century. We stopped at St Mark's Square dominated by the 13th century Church of St Mark,a Romanesque church which still retains much of its original shape.The roof tiles are decorated with the coats of arms of the Triune kingdom of Croatia,Dalmatia and Slavonia.The other prominent buildings in the square are the Governor's Palace and the Parliament house.
Our walk took us through the Stone Gate, the only old town gate that has remained intact.Under the arch of the gateway is a chapel dedicated to the patron saint of Zagreb, the Virgin Mary and it holds a painting of the Virgin that was miraculously saved from a fire in 173.
We were then brought to The Bloody Bridge which is an alley which was the spot where a bridge connected Gradec and Kaptol and a scene of frequent squabbles. From here we walked to Ban Jelacic Square where we were given free time to wander around the open air market place.
From there we proceeded to Zagreb Mosque and Islamic Centre for lunch and prayer before making our way to the airport for our flight home.
1 comment:
MashaAllah....awesome scenic views. Nak kene buka laptop baru puas tengok semua gambar2 sis.
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