Kavala and Thassos – view from the hills north of the city.© Ivo

A walk in the old town and the fortress – Julia on Vizantiou street.© Ivo

Portraits with the fool moon behind!© Ivo

And a nice moon path.© Ivo

The moon path seen between the houses.© Julia

Old style chimneys.© Julia

At the entrance of the fortress – Ivo looks a bit tired.© Julia

More portraits were taken back down at the port.© Ivo

Julia and the full moon next to her left shoulder.© Ivo

Ivo stands firmly on the ground.© Julia

After nearly two years of online friendship and perfect collaboration in Edition Elm's publishing projects, where Julia made some really nice and stylish cover drawings, we had to meet up live at last. It was an excellent ocasion to have that appointment in Kavala for the end of July 2010 and spend two days in beautiful harmony.

It took 6 hours driving for Ivo to arrive in Kavala about 8 pm in Monday, July 26, 2010. Julia came a few days earlier.

The old fortress of Kavala seen from the ferry.© Ivo

The same view through the eyes of Julia.© Julia

The fortress again and the ferry port of Kavala.© Ivo

Kavala – the city centre and the new part of the town.© Ivo

Julia shines on the ferry to Thassos.© Ivo

Kavala – the city east of the port and the birds' escort.© Ivo

Full speed ahead!© Julia

The top deck. Unexpected showers will come in a while! :-) Quelle surprise!© Julia

We sail south to the ferry port of Skala Prinos.© Julia

Birds were following us deep in the Aegean Sea, looking for some food given by the passengers.© Ivo

A nice shot of this bird.© Ivo

Kavala and this Thracian part of Greece stayed well behind.© Ivo

We sail one hour and 40 minutes to the island of Thassos.© Ivo

And here is Thassos at last. The whole island is in clouds. Later we'll discover heavy rain was falling on the south-east.© Ivo

Fortunately we had a very nice weather, it was not too hot at noon (it was 1:15pm when we hit the road there).© Julia

Still, the island seemes fascinating, especially the beaches along the coast.© Ivo

An old fashion rocket (or comet they would say?) is leaving the port of Skala Prinos.© Ivo

We got ready to go out from the ferry now, and were asking ourselves: "Shall we go left or better go right?"© Ivo

Navigator's point of view. We are now ready to strat the tour counter-clockwise.© Julia

Turning right to the west of the ferry port we drove along a beautiful beaches where fishing and tourist boats were anchored.© Julia

Some of the boats were docked.© Julia

This is a wide and nice beach in a typical Greek style.© Julia

Driving trough small olive plants we crossed an irrigation canal.© Julia

And went deep into the olives down a small and narrow country road.© Julia

Sheep at noon under the olives.© Julia

We followed that cosy road through the olive plants.© Julia

At a trivium crossing while wondering which way to go, we met a nice and smiling Greek farmer. "Keep following that road bis zum Asfalt" he said in several languages to make sure we understand him! :-)© Julia

On the main road we turned right and began our tour around the island. This is the landscape to the left of the car.© Julia

And this was the view to the right. Julia was lucky to make lots of photos from the car.© Julia

Just in a few minutes we stopped here to enjoy the beautiful view.© Ivo

Rocks and wires at noon – beautiful landscape by Julia.© Julia

Ivo, his old Russian car and the small Olympus. Viva!© Julia

And we hit the road again quickly.© Julia

After another 5 minutes we stopped at that little rocky beach.© Ivo

Ivo takes pictures interested in the marine life.© Julia

A cloud passing over helped a lot for this portrait of Julia, fascinated by the nature.© Ivo

The nature trough her camera.© Julia

Again the same beach to the right...© Julia

...and to the left.© Julia

The landscape just behind that rocky beach.© Ivo

A cone for Julia.© Julia

At the next stop Julia takes pictures of olives.© Ivo

There are so many olive trees and gardens in Greece!© Julia

A beautiful landscape. There is a lonely couple down at the beach, not to mention the birds.© Ivo

Again a master landscape by Julia.© Julia

At the same stop – our nice and manageable car, the old russian Lada, masterly prepared by Dimo The Trouble man. :-)© Ivo

Our next stop is in probably less than 100 metres. :-)© Julia

Julia enjoys to be a model! :-)© Ivo

Now the nature becomes more rocky and the shore gets steepen.© Julia

Ivo being a model for a while. :-)© Julia

Julia being a model and photographer at the same time. :-)© Ivo

Living on the edge! :-)© Julia

A beautiful view to this small peninsula, photographed by Julia on the next stop.© Julia

A stockade, partly missing.© Julia

We left the sea shore behind and went on an easy flowing road through the mountain to the small village Theologos.© Julia

Quite close to the village we meet a beautiful flock of geese. When we go up, they go down, respectively down – up! :-)© Julia

And this dance was repeated several times! :-)© Julia

And here we are in Theologos, where we stayed for a while.© Ivo

Nice old houses and cosy little paths and stairs.© Julia

This one especially looked so strange.© Julia

The view to the church taken just beyond the stairs.© Julia

Just 10 km from the shore there is no view to the sea. A village architecture comes like from the 19^th century.© Ivo

There were some "novelties", of course.© Julia

Early in the afternoon there were not too many people in the streets, only these children were passing by the church wall.© Ivo

The entrance of the church. Traditionally they paint in some colour the entrance door.© Ivo

The belfry tower in the church yard...© Ivo

...under the belfry Ivo...© Julia

...and Julia posing again.© Ivo

Walking on the street again, we found an old car parked in the yard – this nice looking Citroën from 1960s seems in a good shape.© Ivo

Julia was interested in that trellis vine...© Julia

...but the grapes is freen. :-)© Julia

Down this little street there was water flowing freely, most probably from a mountain source.© Julia

Just in a few steps the village ends like this.© Julia

A landscape from the same point, just turning back to the village and the church.© Julia

A close look to the church and the rocky hills north of the village.© Ivo

The wall of an old house.© Ivo

And Julia posing next to the verdure.© Ivo

Looking for sunglasses. May be these!?© Ivo

Or perhaps these!?© Ivo

Or these ones!?© Ivo

Oh, no, too yellowish to my taste! :-)© Ivo

Unfortunately we bought no glasses, so we sat in Stelios Tavern, immediately next to that shop.© Ivo

We took frape – they make it very good! – but received also ouzo for each of us, water melon and... some strange dish too. :-)© Ivo

It produced lots of smoke so Julia found that it is a good idea to make a little magic! :-)© Ivo

That's how our little magic was inflamed...© Ivo

Here is the result. Enjoy!© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

Back to the street again. They had a really nice sign-board with a map of Thassos painted on it.© Julia

Walking down again the main street...© Ivo

...looking at the chimneys, roofs and stony walls all around.© Ivo

Following the wires down to the little shops near by.© Ivo

There were so many little nice things like herbs and spices, all kinds of jam and honey, wine and ouzo...© Ivo

...olive oil and olives mostly of course. Julia is fascinated so much.© Ivo

And so many things from the past era.© Ivo

The next little shop gave us this sight. Somebody will say it is typical for Greece, some will insist on Bulgaria. Well, both will be right! :-)© Ivo

Shopping time – we need gifts for friends.© Ivo

So many nice things from another world.© Ivo

"You know I love halva very much!? I'll take one more." she said.© Ivo

These two little bottles so nicely weaved in an ancient style, reminds Ivo's own house in Brestovitza, and the time he was a kid.© Ivo

A nice stone house on the main street of Theologos with lots of flowers in front of it.© Ivo

Last view to that nice and cosy street with all these coffees and shops around before we hit the road again.© Ivo

One final jump a few steps to the north of the main street to take pictures of the ruins of "Konaki" – the administrative building from the time they were under turkish.© Ivo

Very old stony stairs lead us there.© Julia

A kind of flower garden in front of the old building.© Julia

And we hit the road down.© Julia

What a wonderful atmosphere we kept from that cosy village.© Julia

Several very small and rocky islands close to the shore.© Julia

Julia took some nice photos through the window of the car.© Julia

Pictures taken in motion by Julia.© Julia

Pictures taken in motion by Julia.© Julia

Pictures taken in motion by Julia.© Julia

Pictures taken in motion by Julia.© Julia

Pictures taken in motion by Julia.© Julia

The road became mountain like with lots of hairpin curves.© Julia

The map of the island is on Julia's lap – its reflection in the up-right corner of the photo.© Julia

Next we stopped to visit a monastery build on the sea shore. This picture shows the rocky hills above the road.© Julia

Nice little garden at the monastery entrance...© Julia

...with a splendid view to the sea.© Julia

Lovely terraces and olive trees.© Julia

The entrance of the monastery "Moni Archangelou".© Julia

All that's prohibited here. :-)© Julia

The belfry – beautiful photo by Julia! :-)© Julia

From the terrace in the monastery – the last "stolen" photo.© Ivo

On our way on we looked for another nice places for sightseeing.© Julia

Here is the small island Kinyra.© Julia

Kinyra is on the east of Thassos.© Ivo

What a lovely view through the pine trees.© Ivo

Mostly like a mountain in the sea.© Ivo

And we went back to the "Asfalt" again! :-)© Julia

Here are the rocks above that place.© Julia

Then we stopped again.© Ivo

The sea was so calm and enticing.© Julia

This Kinyra island is quite close to the beach east of Thassos.© Ivo

Here's where the light comes from to make the view so beautiful.© Ivo

Ivo makes the previous picture.© Julia

Julia's photo of the same hills.© Julia

There was a nice building with a tavern most probably.© Julia

Julia liked this verdure very much. "It could be a nice wallpaper" she says.© Julia

Driving miss Julia! :-)© Julia

And being veeeeery careful on the right hairpin turns.© Julia

Here we are in Limenas, the capital of Thassos, on the sea shore again.© Julia

Quite close to the ferry port we faced a beautiful sunset.© Julia

We checked the ferry schedule, to make sure that we have enough time to the last one to Keramoti.© Ivo

Then we got our cameras and made lots of images... again! :-)© Julia

That's how the last photo was taken. :-)© Ivo

And this one too.© Julia

Julia is so impressed. Next are some more photos she took there.© Ivo

The boat.© Julia

Ops, hope you see the camera in Ivo's right hand. :-)© Julia

What a quiet place...© Julia

...and still water.© Julia

Continental Greece at sunset.© Julia

A boat is passing.© Julia

Still, quiet and easy. It's lovely!© Julia

Time for some more portraits! Isn't it!?? :-)© Ivo

Julia being an enchanted model at sunset light.© Ivo

Just charming. Next image will be empty without her!© Ivo

True! A portrait of a still landscape.© Ivo

And a boat passing by... again.© Ivo

Remnants of an old stump on the beach.© Julia

Interesting forms, indeed.© Julia

Even frightening a bit.© Julia

Cheers with Mythos! :-) We sat for a dinner in a near by restaurant.© Julia

Unexpected guests on the table! :-)© Julia

Nice and friendly little kitten.© Julia

Does my finger seems tasty or what!?? :-)© Julia

Cheers, my friend! :-) (Ooops, somebody's drunk! :-P)© Julia

One final shot to the late sunset after dinner.© Julia

Minutes later we were on the ferry.© Julia

In addition to that wonderful day we had the full moon again.© Ivo

We had to arrange that somebody shoot that picture of the two of us... Next time for sure! :-)© Ivo

Finally we approach the port of Keramoti after sailing for 35 minutes. The end of the day we spent quietly in the car when driving back to Kavala.© Julia

It was about noon in Tuesday, July 27, when we took the ferry to Thassos from the port of Kavala in the city centre. While waiting for the ferry, we walked in the city centre near the port, looking for postage stamps – Julia had to send her postcards.

Luckily we got our cameras and batteries were full. A wonderful day was about to happen, full of impressions and images that had to be to kept.

On Day 2 at 9:30 in the morning we were in Xanthi – nice town about 50 km east of Kavala.© Ivo

We had a walk and made some photos at this Basilica...© Ivo

...and this nice fountain and tower in the centre.© Ivo

While looking around for nice place to have our coffee, we bought nice sun glasses for Julia – at last we hit the right model!© Ivo

Then we felt hungry and sat to have some local food - banitca, as we say in Bulgarian. :-)© Julia

Continuing our walk in the small streets full of shops and all kind of tradespeople.© Julia

Strange, here we felt more like in Turkey than in Greece. But that's the origin of the local people here.© Julia

We left Xanthi and went north straight trough southern Rodopi mountains.© Julia

There are lots of tobacco plants all the way to the Bulgarian border.© Julia

© Ivo

© Ivo

A flock of goats is grazing peacefully on the hill beyond that tobacco plant.© Ivo

Back on the road we passed trough the village of Ehinos. "Moschee".© Julia

We went up and up, higher in the mountains.© Julia

In 40 minutes we reached Thermes. This time we are impressed by the huge number of satelites everywhere.© Julia

After that last village we hit the narrow path to the Bulgarian border and went even higher and higher.© Julia

Here is a beautiful view to the south with the road.© Julia

Deep into the mountains down there is Thermes village.© Julia

Ivo is tired a bit from driving too slowly on the curvy road. This was just a few minutes to the border between Greece and Bulgaria.© Julia

It was raining when we passed the border into Bulgaria.© Julia

In only 5 km north of the check point we are now in Zlatograd.© Julia

While looking for a parking place in the old town a deluge poured over that little town.© Julia

Luckily just a few minutes later there was no need of umbrellas and Julia enjoys to be a model again.© Ivo

Ivo shows the draw-well in the museum of the old cellar school next to the church.© Julia

Magnificent view of St. George church drenched by rain.© Julia

Julia is really impressed taking the next photo now.© Ivo

Another nice shot of the church with the belfry this time.© Julia

The same church through the branches of the walnut tree.© Julia

Julia on the grass in the school yard.© Ivo

She is impressed by the ornaments of that door.© Julia

Really old house – another beautiful shot by Julia.© Julia

The window shutters and the belfry.© Julia

Another house built in the 18^th century style.© Julia

Door in the wall in the same old style.© Julia

On that street in Zlatograd.© Ivo

A tiny coop on that same street just a few steps down.© Ivo

Looking for the best position they got known each other.© Ivo

And finally we have this photo of the coop. :-)© Julia

Going down by the same street...© Julia

...we get known with the typical Bulgarian style.© Julia

Well, this is a really old house! :-)© Ivo

And some old, but well-kept ones.© Julia

There are many new houses, built in traditional architecture.© Ivo

This is most probably the local school of Zlatograd.© Julia

Modern urban buildings just a few hundred metres from the historical old town.© Ivo

Well, we agree that this is ugly, quite a bad combination for that lovely place!© Julia

Walking down the same street we came to the walls of another church.© Ivo

This beautiful small church "Holly Assumption" was built in 1834.© Ivo

This is a really quiet place...© Julia

...with nice view to the hills around Zlatograd...© Julia

...that had to be photographed.© Ivo

What a nice and warm atmosphere.© Julia

It was very quiet inside.© Julia

All of a sudden we received a phone call there.
"Hi Felix, I'm with Ivo in a church in Bulgaria!" Julia laughs! :-)© Ivo

After clearing some details with Felix, we went out...© Julia

...to take some more pictures...© Julia

...and went back, looking for some flowers, small snack and fuel.© Ivo

On our way back — horse parking! :-)© Julia

And an outside horse buffet. :-)© Julia

After Xanthi we were driving fast.© Julia

The next point was so important to us!© Julia

That's why! :-) The wonderful beaches in Keramoti next to the mouth of the river Mesta (or Nestos as they say in Greece).© Julia

It was so nice to feel the hot sands under the feet, especially after the stormy rain in Zlatograd!© Julia

And Thassos is again in front of us.© Julia

It was time for swimming!© Julia

Julia in the warm waters of the Aegean sea.© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

We were in the beginning of the beach, and it was long and wide...© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

"I'm the one who makes waves!"© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

© Ivo

We spent probably 40 or 50 minutes there. What a bliss!© Ivo

Back on the road to Kavala we were watching the storm north in the mountains, and we stopped next to this rice field.© Julia

We were taking some more pictures, what else! :-)© Julia

Probably this was the same storm we met in Bulgaria.© Ivo

It still poured lots of rain.© Julia

But we were playing some tricks and games at this hag. :-)© Ivo

It was nice and mellow, so quiet and freely in the Lower Thracian valley south of Rodopi mountains.© Julia

A close look to the sunflowers plant.© Julia

Tiny monuments or micro chapels like this are everywhere on the roads in Greece. They put them on places where road accidents happened, and – honestly – it makes good effect on drivers.© Julia

The storm in the mountains seemed furious.© Ivo

But we were interested in the art of taking pictures! :-)© Ivo

Well, both of us! :-)© Ivo

Julia looks at Thassos again...© Ivo

...sees an ambitious photographer...© Ivo

...and bursts in laughter! :-)© Ivo

Who else, but Ivo!? ;-)© Julia

Isn't she a lovely model!??© Ivo

Nice and joyful!© Ivo

One final shot of the storm...© Ivo

...and we got back in the car. Water melons are so sweet and tasty here!© Ivo

Approaching Kavala we are in the eye of the storm.© Julia

Just in a few minutes we were out of it and had to stop again! :-)© Ivo

It was so impressive when Ivo saw the rainbow in the back mirror.© Ivo

But what a nice rainbow!© Julia

And one more photo of it. What a wonderful end of our vacation in Kavala this lucky summer of 2010!© Julia

We decided to start our tour in 8:30 on the next morning, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. We had to strictly keep our schedule, in order to visit all cities and places we wanted to.

Both of us a bit sleepy, we left for Xanthi to have our morning coffee there. It was the only stop on our way to Bulgaria.

No photos from that last day – July 29, 2010. Julia had to be on the airport in 6 am, so we woke up quite early in the morning. We had our coffee at the airport while managing some difficulties with her lugage and luckily cope with that little problem. Then Julia took her flight back to Munich, and Ivo hit the road back to Bulgaria via Xanthi, Zlatograd, Smolyan, Kardjali, Assenovgrad and finally Plovdiv.

It was a long and ordinary day after such an extaordinary though short vacation for both of us.