Maribor Mak Restaurant, Germany and home

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Clunegapyears

04/11/2025

We started the day by taking Poor Penny’s body to a vet for disposal. It keeps hitting us in waves. Both the old owner on Crete and the new one in Wales have been super supportive of everything we tried to do for her. Monitoring Flo, hoping she doesn’t go down with whatever caused it.

We came off the motorway on entering Slovenia as I can’t be bothered with a go box for over 3.5 tons. Very pretty. Every time I come back to Slovenia, I’m reminded why it’s my favourite country.

The main reason for coming here is to eat at Mak Restaurant. A complete barking rocker chef but amazing food. We also had the paired wine tasting. €319 plus tip for 2 of us. Just fab. So fab, we will go back tonight! Robyn’s fault!!!

Just realised I never finished the trip blog! We had another, but different food and wine night at Maks.

Drove off motorway up through stunning Slovenia and then the Julien Alps and Austria. Slow plough had piled up snow either side of the road.

An overnight stop with Kerstin in Reutlingen. Penny still not house trained. Pee on Kerstin’s floor. And we put most of the pee soaked rugs and towels through her washing machine.

We made such good time, we had 2 nights in Bergues to recover from long driving days.

Back in Blighty, mum cooked and then I dropped Robyn to her daughter-i-l. But only after she helped me empty and clean Jez. He is now on a forecourt near Chichester. End of an era … but we want to use the sale proceeds for long haul.

Maddy and Ben flew back to Crete with me and Jordan joined us for a long weekend.

Cyprus Holiday

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Clunegapyears

20.02.26

A week after arriving home after Turkey & Georgia and returning Jez to the UK, I found myself in a blue funk. Ridiculous as we love living in Crete. Life is good etc. But I realised my mood was as I didn’t have a trip planned. Ryan Air fly from Chania to Paphos several times a week. €79 return … for both us us. They get you on luggage €174 to add 2 x 10kg small flight bags. Still a cheap trip… I got planning!

We cleaned the house. Cleaned ourselves. Dropped Corrie at a wonderful lady, Sam, and her family for 10 days. Strange to be off travelling minus 🐕. But not travelling. This doesn’t feel like travelling. This is a holiday.

J drove to the airport. ABBA (traditional setting off music) was playing. But he didn’t chair dance and drive off the road. Like I did in Jez, setting off for Morocco.

Ryan Air superb. On time. Leg room. Wide seats. Only a 1hr 10 short hop. Hire car collected. Lidl shop done. We even found the apt without too much difficulty. Basic but ok.

Aphrodite Trail

21.02.26

Slowish start may be something to do with Gordon last night. As in gin. Drove up to the NW point. It is here that Aphrodite used to shag Adonis. Bathe and walk to sleep off her exertions under an oak tree. The trail was busy (relatively) but stunning. One of those it is really good to be alive. Fabulous views. A long uphill but strategic benches for water stops. At 78 J was faster than a few youngsters!!! Ice cream reward … my first ice cream in about 3 weeks … that must be a record.

*Aphrodite Bath. Not sure if bathing was before or after her encounter with Adonis!*

*Looking NW. A steep but easy path decent*

Back to the apt to watch England Ireland 🏉. As a dual passport holder, I’m definitely Emerald Isle now. Cracking Wales Scotland game.

*Can see Corrie is being starved of affection!*

*Ben is in Mexico, with Maddy and Jordan obs. Hotel staff kidnapping him and named him Nino Rojo. Think Rojo a great nickname for him!*

Girlie Road Trip & Poorly Pup

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Pick Ups and Poorly Penny

01/11/2025

Early start to go back around Athens to collect two rescues pups, who have a new home together in the UK. Both terrified at the port so saved their pee for inside Jez. All rugs now drying on the dash board.

*Chap from TaxiPet fetched Penny and Flo from the kennels on board*

It was soon fairly obvious that Penny not well. She refused food and was bringing up foam and any water. Her litter brother didn’t travel as planned as an inflamed tummy. By 11.00 I was concerned enough to find an open vet. Worried that if I didn’t now, I’d not until Monday. Lots of jabs. And meds.

Then Robyn, my road trip buddy arrived, by plane to Athens at 20.10.

Driving Day via Meteora

02/11/2025

Poor Penny still not good. Starting to be better when we broke her meds into smaller sections and syringed water into her every 15 mins. Passenger cannot sleep!

Fortunately, I was driving, when Flo excreted (diarrhea) all over the van floor. Robyn not so fortunate!

Slight detour to Meteora to show Robyn the monasteries on rocks. Built so the monks could be closer to God. I’ve not been here for 5 years. Still a big wow.

Parked at a Brian-recommended place. Super quiet. Nice beach and Flo actually managed to pee on it. Poorly Penny has very liquid stools, but had a little bounce on the beach.

4 Countries

03/11/2025

We had driven much further than planned. Through Bulgaria and Serbia to Croatia, once we realised that our data roaming packages did not cover Serbia. We wanted data so we could find a vet, if need be.

We were administering two syringes of honey water to Poor Penny every 15 minutes and she was keeping it down. Our biggest concern had been dehydration. However, she still has not had food. We were expecting her to eat tomorrow, same as her brother . Very sadly, Robyn woke at 3.00 a.m. and found that she had passed away. We are so devastated and surprised.

A long day that ended badly.

Kassandra Finger & South

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Kassandra Finger

28/10/2025

We planned to walk, but ended up doing a few chores. It is Oxi Day when Greece said no to capitulation to Italy. Greeks out for big lunches and potentially fireworks. We needed a quiet park up for our noise sensitive Corrie. We had planned a spot recommended by friends, but P4N mentioned fines … guess as it is a nature area.

We stopped at Siviri on the first finger, Kassandra. Another beach resort town. Tavernas all busy setting reserved signs on tables. A good coffee at one. Then a short hop up to a modern amphitheater car park. Jobs: admin, hand balling water, cleaning, windows etc. a UK van for 10 mins and a learner stalling and in and out of the car park. Super quiet.

No pix as nothing to capture … this finger definitely seems the least attractive.

Big Drive South

29/10/2025

We left our quiet parking at 0726. Stopped early for diesel LPG and motorway services for coffee and spanokopita (spinach pie).

Stopped near our destination for puppy food, for two rescue pups that I’m taking to the UK, more gin and wine for the drive and the pharmacy.

657 km. Over 10 hours. £83.66 in motorway tolls. I could have broken the trip, but now I have a non driving day. Dinner was definitely in the taverna!

We’ve stopped here a few times before, but not we think since early 2020. The padel court has gone. The car park has new tarmac. And the taverna we used has expanded with a completely new dining area.

Packing and Cleaning

30-31/10/2025

A no drive day and a lie in. I went through all the cupboards and packed my summer clothes, Corrie and James’s stuff and things that we want in Crete into a large and now very heavy suitcase and a backpack. We are planning to sell Jez on his return to the UK, so he will need to be emptied. We have limited storage in UK at the Aged Ps and Maddys.

On 31st, we filled with water, check access at the airport and then had a hideous rush hour drive to Pireaus port. Fortunately, we had planned spare time so were able to have supper together dock side. J and C boarded for their 10.00 p.m. departure.

I had to be back at the port for 0630 to collect the two pups. I contemplated sleeping at the port, but decided to return to Porto Rafti, as I felt safe there.

The Middle Finger: Sithonia

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Karydi Beach

25/10/2025

We dropped laundry. Nearly didn’t as google maps took us to a house. We asked a lady nearby. Her friend. She rang her. What time tomorrow would we like to collect it? Fabulous as tomorrow being a Sunday, I thought it may have been Monday.

We didn’t drive far to Karydi beach, known for its rocks. It was pretty. Everyone else obviously knew about it too. Lots of German families. It’s school holidays. Something, as an ex-teacher, I’m delighted not to have to think of.

I took my sun lounger and knitting onto the beach. Contemplated a swim, but got as far as my ankles. Brr!

*We only just squeezed into the car park. And moved once the car park cleared, in case it got busy tomorrow*

*I’m a* *dog person but liked this one*. *It seemed to like dog food!*

Port Koufo & Heart Surgery

26/11/2025

We collected the laundry. 5.5 kilos for €22. Not bad.

*Stopped at* **Sarti** *as it’s the main town on this finger. Had an early toastie lunch, and ice cream for me. Not our cup of tea, so we promptly left*

Lin told me about Porto Koufo as her son, Craig, had been here. The Germans used the deep water as a submarine base here in WW2.

*Massive deep-water* *harbour and a* *lagoon. No flamingos this time*

*A P4N review said people had been fined in September for parking along the beach, so we are parked in the car park. Less sand walked into Jez is a bonus.*

We walked along the beach and around the lagoon, passing a few derelict concrete WW2 buildings. Could see out the harbour entrance.

A local chap recommended a taverna. Good shout as my sea bream was perfectly cooked. We celebrated 4 years since James’ heart surgery. And strange seeing an area other than Crete printed on tablecloths

German Cannons Walk

27/11/2025

We drove around to the next bay to walk around Toroni castle ruins and then up to the German cannon emplacements. These protected the WW2 German submarines in Porto Koufo.