To expand the destinations for camper travelers as well for the expansion of Camper-route.de and in preparation for other items on alaturka.info we went to Pogradec, not at least to take a closer look at the local cuisine.
In every country, and often even in the respective sub regions, there are special foods and dishes that not only make experiencing unforeseen taste sensations but also often new cooking ideas in general.
There are no other vegetables with so many anecdotes and myths about them as about asparagus, at least in Germany. Long before the asparagus was used as food, it found versatile use as a medicinal plant.
Earlier, before starting with the project, we regularly baked cakes, a time we sometimes missed, so the thoughts were often associated when having a coffee with the desire for freshly baked, homemade cake.
What in Turkish is called meze, with comparable mezze in Persian regions, in Italian are called antipasta, small dishes, often served in small bowls, which are consumed on various occasions.
When the temperatures slowly rise, the bushes and trees turn green again, it does not take much longer for the lilac to flower again.
Although it has long been set for sun and summer, sometimes there is rain and storm at Lake Ohrid, which yet surprised us wearing summer clothes. Just good, if then at least one hot drink is available, which despite wet clothes at least heats up the inner temperature - a hot glass of Salep.
A renewed meeting with the two long-haul travelers Philipp and Micha, since yesterday on the camper stop Zampetas in Thessalonica, which had been slowed down on their way to Mongolia at the Russian border.
Philip, Micha and John had actually left during the morning for fishing between Thessalonica airport and Perea. After some preparations at the camper stop Zampetas, the departure to the beach had been approached on foot, which probably should take half an hour, since the route was not clear.
Traditionally, Meefischli should not be larger than the little finger of the statue of St. Kilian on the Würzburg Main Bridge, so at least local vernacular (which corresponds about 8 to 12 centimeters) says.
After a tour through the old town of Thessalonica, camper guests from Bulgaria had invited for dinner with fried anchovies at the camper stop. It was easily understandable to agree: anchovies are very tasty and healthy and are also one of the cheapest fish that you can buy in Greece.
In the meantime, Philipp and Micha have reported again, but this time from a somewhat unusual place, at least as far as their other activities are concerned: a Georgian bakery on the flat lands.
A few days stopover with Lydia and George had also led to an invitation from Sabine and Achim to a traditional US-evening for a later the evening planned illustrated travel explanation by ship from Barcelona via Tenerife, the Azores to Florida.
Whoever had brought the still warm and deliciously fragrant cake with the almost unspeakable name Kürtöskalács to the booth of Frankana, it was definitely delicious, no question, as we quickly agreed.
After quite relaxed return passing Vienna and Belgrade we had reached Thessalonica in the evening, where Toni and Alexander, owners of the camper stop Zampetas, already longingly expected us.
Years ago, we first came across the Salsola salad when we were presented a selection of meze dishes (starters) in a seafood restaurant at Cesme, including the Salsola, which is called saltwort or glasswort as well.
Who does not realize that, a nice evening with a glass of wine and then the next day small rest in the bottle, too little for a coming pleasure, but too much to dispose it.
We were on the way back from our excursion through the Steigerwald between Ebrach and Burgebrach when the hunger sentiment seduced us into the restaurant of a small village.
Thick stop and go traffic, as usual in the area around Stuttgart, had caused some traffic jams, so we had to move the planned arrival time at the Camper Stop in Slovenia to the night.
Always fascinating during the travels and the following stopovers is the meeting with campers of so different origin. So we had met two Spanish campers in their Nisan camper (built 1990 with self-built furniture and their technology), who want to travel coming from Spain to China.