Thursday, 7 November 2013

26 – 29 October 2013 - Alexandroupoli to Naoussa, Greece

We spent several days travelling from Alexandroupoli in Thrace, north eastern Greece to Naoussa in Macedonia.

Byzantine Church of Panagia Kosmosotira, Feres – this was a miniature copy of the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul

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Dadia Forest Reserve – home to 36 of the 38 known species of European birds of prey. We hiked 3½ km through the oak and pine forest to the bird hide where the only birds we saw were crows!

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Autumn in Thrace, north eastern Greece near the border between Greece and Turkey

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The remains of Bayezit’s Mosque, Didymotiho – the largest mosque built on European soil

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The Byzantine castle at Pythio in in the morning fog

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Excavation of 1st Century AD interred funerary cart with horse skeletons and various household belongings at Mikri Doxipara

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Thracian plain

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The mosque in Komotini

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The ruins of the ancient city of Philippi

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Mosaic floors at the ancient city of Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great

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The vineyard of Domaine Kir-Yanni, Naoussa, complete with Ottoman lookout tower

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Naoussa is a wine growing region in Macedonia, northern Greece.  Many of its wine producers also produce Tsipouro by distilling the residue from the wine press.  It comes in two flavours: pure or anise/fennel flavoured, which makes it taste similar to the more famous Ouzo.  With 40-50% alcohol it has a kick like a mule but the Greeks prefer it to Ouzo.

Using a wood-fired copper still to make Tsipouro at Domaine Foundis, Naoussa

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Giorgio Diamantakou emerging from his cellar at Domaine Diamantakou

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Xino Mavro Vineyard at Domaine Diamantakou

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