Day 89: Crossing from the East to the West, Ipsala 49 Comments

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Last night, we ate out at Rose Cafe. It may not win any gastronomic medals but it was tasty, filling and unforgettable.  The ingredients include perfect weather, amazing night sky, light breeze, great hubby and the end of an amazing journey across Turkey.  

As we bed down for the night, the perfect weather breaks. A vigorous north westerly rips down the Dardanelles. A sudden and almost shocking change rocks Vin senseless. A reminder that winter is here and this wind is just a taste for what lies ahead. 

In the morning, the weather remained cold and gusty. We rapped up and set off along our 130km drive to the border.  With just one day left of our visa it is time to head back west. Along the way we stopped at a Migros 5M store and stocked up with all our Turkish favourite goodies. Plus a bit of Christmas shopping before we filled up with LPG and diesel. 

At the border the road peters out in an open assembly area, full of trucks. Patiently waiting to present the enormous amount of documents and jump the hurdles of red tape. Beyond the truck grey border boxes and barriers. Suddenly loudspeakers blare out, the final wail before we head back to the west.

We entered Greece via the border just outside Ipsala in Turkey.  The queues were minimum and overall it took about 75 minutes to proceed through all the different check points. A slow but painless process. There are several lanes but only two open, one for trucks and one for cars and other vehicles.

Border Check Points & Procedure 

  1. The first Turkish booth and barrier is to purely log your vehicle in to the customs area. A vehicle recognition camera transmits your details on to a system.
  2. Passport control – here the police check your passport (not interested in your visa). Once again, they log everything on to the system and check you against your photo. 
  3. Customs control – no questions asked but they wanted to see ownership evidence of our motorbike. We produced the V5 registration which they checked on the system.  They also checked for speeding fines and violations!
  4. Check out Vehicle Registration. Another small police booth were a vehicle recognition camera reads your number plate, the police check on the system that everything is complete and you are then free to leave. He did ask to see in the motorhome but when we opened the door he literally stuck his head in for two seconds?
  5. We then drove into ‘no mans land’. This area is heavily guarded with military police and no one is allowed to walk in this zone but trucks are allowed to park up? 
  6. Greek passport control – quick glance at our passport but no interest once they realised we held EU passport. 
  7. No one at Greek customs

*** the dogs passport and titre certificate were not even sniffed at. 

Greece, ah the land of bumpy roads, blue sea and beach life.  Onwards to Alexandroupolis and the first thing we notice are the trendy bars and humble tavernas and a LIDL. Whoa! Whoa! Handbrake turn! We skid on to Lidl car park and in a jiffy Craig is out the motorhome and is giddy drooling down each aisle. Basket filled with wine, pork, wine, bacon, wine, cheddar cheese, lurpak butter, wine, salmon, gin, unbruised fruit & vegetable, tonic, sweet potato, sausages, wine, Italian & German hams, wine, sugared donuts. A clear indication of what we’ve missed.

Our Bumble parking spot at Alexandroupolis GPS position N040.163436, E025.869546

We parked up at the back of Lidl and pigged out on the things we’ve missed. Then on to a few glasses of wine followed by lots of laughter, a few tears and lots of fond memories of Turkey & the wonderful Turkish people.

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49 thoughts on “Day 89: Crossing from the East to the West, Ipsala”

  • Reply ↓
    Robert Ellis

    Hi Joanne & Craig what a beautiful trip you’ve had,Memories that you will never forget Especially for you because you never expected Turkey to be so wonderful,you’re last port of Greece will soon be over then back to Blighty Don’t forget to give me a call when you get back,I’ve loads of goodies for Mac n Tosh Looking forward to seeing you all soon Luv Pops xxx❤️🌹❤️🌹🍷🍷🍷😆😅xxx

  • Reply ↓
    Lindsay

    And we’ve also enjoyed experiencing your trip. I have spoken about and shown your FB photos and website to about 10 different people and regularly show my partner so thank you for the vicarious adventure. Xx

  • Reply ↓
    Hakan

    İyiki gelmişsiniz iyiki tanışmışız. 😊 Her ikinizde güzel kalpli insanlarsınız. Tanıştığımıza memnun olduk. Tatilinizin güzel geçmesine sevindik. Umarım tekrar karşılaşırız. Yakışıklı arkadaşıma selam söyle 😊

  • Reply ↓
    Sandie

    Love your run down Joanne, it sounds amazing and so cheap given your experiences and travel distance. Safe journey home and happy preparing for your next trip. Any ideas where you will be going?

  • Reply ↓
    Mary Windsor

    What wonderful memories you have made. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every moment you’ve shared via facebook. Thank you for taking us along with you on your adventure. Mx

  • Reply ↓
    Jack

    I like your line of thinking, a Lidl. I used to think you wee bonkers but now we travel around Europe we too have come to love and trust Lidl

  • Reply ↓
    Lynne

    Absolutely fantastic your journey has been amazing and some of the best photography I have ever seen.safe journey home due for a catch up with you and our Mandy.

  • Reply ↓
    Angela

    Thank you for sharing this journey with us! We would love to pack up and head off in a campervan but were hesitant with (coming up) teenage children – I can’t wait to follow your journey and see how you go. Where next?

  • Reply ↓
    Lorna

    You’re like my partner and keep a spreadsheet of all costs. What a fabulous experience and I’ve really enjoyed your photos and posts! I lived in Istanbul for 10 months in 1994!! Hope to go back for a visit one day! One lovely thing coming back to uk is the green fields and autumnal colours of the woods! Safe journey home x

  • Reply ↓
    Carole J

    Loved your trip guys.
    I want you to know I came across your blog earlier this year and couldn’t stop reading. Tomorrow I’m heading to France to pick up my first Motorhome.
    My husband died one year ago. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions. Since we pretty much stuck to ourselves, no close friends in the area and all family living elsewhere, I have 2 dogs which makes normal (car, hotel) travel impossible unless I want to pay £100 a day for boarding. I felt trapped in my home and very lonely. I’m excited to start my new chapter traveling, .
    Thank you for showing me the way!

  • Reply ↓
    Abigail

    Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.I soon realised that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.

    Thanks for taking us on a fantastic journey

  • Reply ↓
    Michael

    You guys are soooooo good at what you do! I’m always impressed with your work and love reading your journey. This year is just one more stroke of genius. Keep up the good work. I hope to join you out there someday. With a wife and 4 kids, it’s an extended timeline to get there, but watching your journey helps keep me inspired as I slowly hit my own milestones.

  • Reply ↓
    Dave Miller

    I think I have fallen in love with Turkey from Italy…my current Mh base. When you were wild/free camping, did people have much camping stuff out in the off-season? As we have a small Mh we often pit out the awning and stuff. Would this be an issue?

  • Reply ↓
    Maddie & Paul

    Just got back into enough civilisation (Sydney) to get some wifi and catch up with a little binge reading with Our Bumble. Turkey is now on the radar, sad to see you leave but thanks for introducing us to a new world or motorhoming. Looks like you guys are having your usual blast. Thanks for sharing.

  • Reply ↓
    June

    Very awesome journey! Just beginning to look at options in Motorhome life and off grid solar powered! Originally we were just going to do Spain and France but that seems boring in comparison to Turkey. Think I might have to give hubby a nudge.

  • Reply ↓
    George Junior

    Could you just please do a post every day even when you are home?
    Please???
    I know its a big ask but I love waking up to your emails.
    I appreciate all your efforts so that we can see how fab motorhome life can be.
    Thank you!

  • Reply ↓
    Brenda Mcgill

    Morning Guys, another great post to read and wonder what it would be like to be with you two. What a beautiful country to visit. It just seemed that it was Paradise and an adventure all rolled in to one. You did it way before any of the crowds got there ( me included). You have opened my eyes to another country that I would not have even considered, so thank you. I don’t know about anyone else but I am sure going to miss Turkey too!

  • Reply ↓
    Charles

    You guys continue to blow me away. I love your blogs and the accompanying photos. Thank you so much for all the information, and all the hard work – I cannot begin to imagine how much time this all takes. You have certainly saved us countless hours by doing the research for us as we start our motorhome journey.

  • Reply ↓
    Amanda

    Firstly I would just like to say that your site is pretty awesome; but I’m loving the Turkey tour!
    Currently I am writing a persuasive speech for my communication class on why everyone should travel at some point in their lives, and I’m looking for a good solid quote from a blogger who has been out and about in the world. Think I might you use your blog as my reference point..if you dont mind

  • Reply ↓
    Richard Sharp

    I’ve so enjoyed the wonderful descriptions and photos of your travels in an area I had previously discounted. I could well reconsider! I know the Lidl in Alexandroupoli and I have to admit the final line of your post actually made me emotional as you described leaving behind all those places, and probably more importantly, people you experienced over the last months. Thank you and bon voyage, Richard (currently parked up on a deserted beach on Crete).

  • Reply ↓
    Kevin Dugdale

    Dudes thank you so much for sharing your experience and work with us. I would say a little risky jaunt sums up your journey 🙂 You`re sure helping us shape the travel bug some may have hidden in us. Just reading your posts I understood travel the world equals accept the world and self the way it is. Keep up the good work!

  • Reply ↓
    Gilda Baxter

    The end of an epic trip😄 But I am sure you are already planning the next…I can’t wait. The border checks are quite comprehensive, but I guess you just have to accept it and go with the flow? When we travel we love trying the local food, but returning home is equally nice to have again all the familiar foods and tastes that are so comforting to us. Safe travels 😄

  • Reply ↓
    Linda Heather

    What an adventure you’ve had.
    Ive enjoyed seeing Turkey through your eyes and learnt alot about Turkey along the way that I never knew before.
    Im not sure Im brave enough to follow in your footsteps as of yet but who knows what the future holds.
    My husband Colin is the same as Craig with Lidls, very rarely do we pass one in Europe without venturing in lol.
    Wishing you both and the little dudes a safe onward journey.
    All the best Linda xx