"lets discover one more culture" starstudio's Profile

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  • shopping in Athens<\/a>\'. I appreciate your advice." data-reportAbuseItemOnPageDetails="Comment #1, ID=10048145" data-anchorFragment="?showComment=10048145#comments" data-reportURL="http://members.virtualtourist.com/members/reportAbuse/" data-contentTitle="Thanks for your answer to \'shopping in Athens<\/a>\'. I appreciate your advice." data-photoURL="" data-commentAuthor="om_212 http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/e3bee/" data-authorName="om_212" data-authorProfileURL="http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/e3bee/">Report abuse
  
  om_212 Apr 3, 2013 at 5:26 AM

  Thanks for your answer to 'shopping in Athens'. I appreciate your advice.

  
• • Highway Athen-Lefkada<\/a>\'. Thanks for your advice." data-reportAbuseItemOnPageDetails="Comment #2, ID=10038509" data-anchorFragment="?showComment=10038509#comments" data-reportURL="http://members.virtualtourist.com/members/reportAbuse/" data-contentTitle="Thanks for your answer to \'Highway Athen-Lefkada<\/a>\'. Thanks for your advice." data-photoURL="" data-commentAuthor="maltese24 http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c776/" data-authorName="maltese24" data-authorProfileURL="http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c776/">Report abuse
  
  maltese24 Mar 7, 2013 at 9:12 AM

  Thanks for your answer to 'Highway Athen-Lefkada'. Thanks for your advice.

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    starstudio Mar 16, 2013 at 8:25 AM

    on your way .. spend one hour or more, stoping by to Mesolonghi, and visit the Heroes Yard (or Heroes Garden).
    Is one of the most historical points or Greece, Mesolonghi is known as the site of a dramatic siege during the Greek War of Independence, and of the death of poet Lord Byron.
    

  
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  bakalapoe Feb 24, 2013 at 12:02 PM

  Hello, Kostas! check out this link
  visitgreece.gr/en/mainland/a...

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    starstudio Feb 24, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    Σ' ευχαριστώ φίλε μου ... αν και ήδη οργανώνω το επόμενο μακρινό ταξίδι που δεν αφήνει πολλά περιθώρια για εσωτερικές μετακινήσεις, η επίσκεψη στα μέρη σας παραμένει δελεαστική, και μια διαρκής σκέψη! Σου εύχομαι ό,τι καλύτερο, και καλές βόλτες σε όλο τον κόσμο!!!

  
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  bakalapoe Feb 23, 2013 at 2:50 AM

  e-evros.gr/index.php?sec=85&...
  This article contains good news for you. Have a nice day!

  
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  Bennytheball Feb 6, 2013 at 2:20 PM

  Oh no!.......my post landed in the wrong place, it should be in the Morocco Forum, Giampiero, can you wave the magic wand?..........Benny.

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    starstudio Feb 8, 2013 at 1:48 AM

    My friend Benny... do you think that we must "cut off" any of destinations, estimating the duration of the tour?

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    Bennytheball Feb 8, 2013 at 7:30 AM

    You will probably not like my suggestion, but I would cut out Marrakesh, it's the tourist capital of Morocco, therefore all prices are higher, and the city is infested by greedy touts and general hustlers. I've been to Marrakesh a few times, and the famous Djemma el Fna Square is worth a visit, snake charmers, magicians, food stalls, black magic fakirs, the location is unique, and a big tourist attraction from all over the world, but at the same time there is the down side of the touts, hustlers, and pickpockets, so nowadays if I have to pass through Marrakesh, I do it as quickly as possible.
    
    On the other hand, Chefchaouen is quite different, I always spend a week there, the atmosphere is relaxed compared to the frenetic activity of Marrakesh, prices of food accomodation and souvenirs are much lower than elsewhere, especially off-season, in May, but in Marrakesh, everybody charges tourists whatever extortionate prices they think they can get. The people are just blatantly greedy, and have no shame about ripping off tourists.
    
    Unfortunately, from a logistical point of view, it looks like you will have to miss out Chefchaouen, it's a long way north, out of the loop you want to travel. So, these are my recommendations, based on many years of travelling Morocco, you have a difficult decision to make, but I would still avoid Marrakesh, simply because of bad experiences I had there before, which has made my opinion biased.
    
    Happy to help further, after you make your decision....
    
    Benny.
    
    

  
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  Bennytheball Feb 6, 2013 at 9:54 AM

  Hello again Kostas. I don't know if I'm posting in the right place here, but anyway, here goes.......
  
  First, when you arrive at Casablanca, don't get talked into hiring a 4X4 vehicle ( Moroccans call them Katkats) these are expensive, and in the journey you are planning, entirely unnecessary, the main inter-city highways are well-surfaced and maintained. Petrol ( essence ) costs Dh10 per litre, diesel ( gasoil ) is 8 Dh per litre, but most hire cars are petrol-engined.
  
  I see you want to include Chefchaouen in this rather ambitious itinerary, but I don't blame you, it's one of my favourite places, a peaceful town high up in the Rif mountains, and relatively hustler-free, a breath of fresh air, after the nuisance touts and hustlers of Marrakesh, and to a lesser degree, in Fes. I always spend a week of my annual month's holiday here, I enjoy the hill trekking alone, in the surrounding foothills, where the scenery is spectacular. One trail starts behind the campsite at the Hotel Atlas, the other starts at the waterfall, Ras el Ma (the head of the water). The town's ancient
  blue Medina is the main attraction along with the old restored fortified Kasbah, at the top end of Avenida Hassan 2, beside the Hotel Parador.
  
  To complete this long journey safely you will need two drivers, and a large Thermos flask filled with strong black coffee. It would be better to drive by night, each taking a four hour turn at the wheel, while the other sleeps in the back seat. The roads are quieter at night, but you must beware of unfamiliar hazards, donkeys pulling carts displaying no lights, stray sheep and cattle, occasional landslides after heavy prolonged rainfall, and a generally poor standard of driving by other road users, especially the Grand Taxis, who sometimes attempt overtaking on blind corners.
  
  I would recommend starting from Casablanca north towards Tangier, the road is now almost all motorway (`a peage)
  you stop at the tollbooths to pay for the distance travelled, but this road is safe and fast, it should take six hours, thereafter another four hours to Chefchaouen, via Tetouan. From Chefchaouen to Fes is another six hours, then the longest distance is from Fes to Marrakesh, progress here will be slower over the mountain highways, especially if you get stuck behind overladen slow moving trucks, on the uphill gradients. From Marrakesh to Essaouira is easy, over the flat stone desert, the road is good, so only three hours, then from Essaouira back to Casablanca is another six hours.
  
  In the Rif mountain region, you will encounter many Gendarmerie roadblocks ( Barrages ) looking for drugs being transported south to the big cities, but your number plates will identify you as a tourist driving a hire car and they will normally wave you through. You also have to be careful to adhere to the speed limits, passing through small towns this is 40KPH, and often the Gendarmerie hide a speed trap behind a tree to catch unsuspecting drivers and impose a spot fine, around Dh200. You are entitled to request a receipt for the fine, paid in cash, but the police force is largely corrupt and in the absence of the issue of the receipt, the fine becomes "negotiable", normally down to half the stated amount, which is added to the Gendarmes' beer fund, after a day's work in the hot sun. The only exception to this malpractice is during the month of Ramadan, when all police bribes are suspended, and offenders have to appear in court.
  
  Don't give lifts to hitchikers in the Rif mountain area, in case they are carrying concealed slabs of hashish, and if you are stopped at the Barrage, you would automatically be implicated in the illegal transportation of drugs.
  
  I always, in preparation of my next trip, download and print out free Google city street maps, they are very useful and reliable.........
  
  Hoping this gives you some more inspiration............................Benny.

  
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  bakalapoe Jan 14, 2013 at 8:13 AM

  Για σου, Κώστα. Έχω εδώ ένα άρθρο για σένα
  e-evros.gr/index.php?sec=85&...

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    starstudio Feb 3, 2013 at 5:20 AM

    ευχαριστώ πολύ. είναι πραγματικά ενδιαφέρον ..

  
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  kmohandas Dec 31, 2012 at 9:35 PM

  May the new year bring you & family tremendous joy and infinite reasons to celebrate your life. May it usher in new possibilities and give new meaning to your life. And may you cherish each moment it beholds.
  Have a wonderful promising and fulfilling 2013.
  

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    starstudio Jan 1, 2013 at 11:52 PM

    Thank you my friend ! May you have all the best !

  
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  bakalapoe Dec 29, 2012 at 7:54 AM

  Χρόνια πολλά και καλή χρονιά!

  
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  kmohandas Dec 8, 2012 at 7:15 PM

  Wish you a lovely B'day filled with full of joy & happiness.

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    starstudio Dec 31, 2012 at 6:02 AM

    Have a nice, healthy, and happy new year my friend !!!