Willkomme ir Reisefamilie Freddy!

Dezember 22, 2020

Willkomme ir Reisefamilie Freddy!

In Griecheland hei mir die erschti Wuche imene chline Dörfli namens Arkoudi verbracht. Mir hei dert Zyt gha, chli azcho, viu griechische Salat z ässä und üs mit üsne Reise-Fründe uszutsche. Eigentlich hät nach dere Wuche dr Lockdown söuä fertig si. Wüu aber die griechische Spitäler stark überlastet si, isches zersch umene Wuche, mittlerwile umene zusätzliche Monet verlängeret worde. Mir düe üs natürlich a d Vorgabe richte, glichwou isch klar gsi, dass mir nid wuchenelang in Arkoudi wei verwile, wo üs doch unter Ischränkige erloubt isch immerhin ufem Peloponnes z reise. Und dr Peloponnes isch gross - das heimer mittlerwile festgstellt: mir si scho fasch e Monet unterwägs und hei nume e chline Bruchteil gseh.

The first week in Greece we spent in the small village "Arkoudi". We had time to arrive, to eat lots of greek salad and to share experiences with our new and old friends on the road. We expected the lockdown to end after that first week. But because hospitals are struggling to manage the Corona cases the lockdown was prolonged by one week, and later on even an additional month. Of course we respect the rules here but we could not stay in Arkoudi forever. With some restrictions we are able to travel on Peloponnes. And Peloponnes is huge! Almost one month we are already here and have seen only a small part of it.

Vor üsere Abreis us Arkoudi si mir vom Giorgos no mit ganz früschem Oliveöl beschänkt worde - so feins heimer no nie gha. Danke!

Before our departure from Arkoudi we recieved a wonderful present from Giorgos - fresh olive oil - the best we ever had. Thank you!

Aktuell isch in Griecheland gad d Zyt vor Olive-Ärnte. Überall uf de Grundstück mit Oliveböim (auso überall dert wos keni Hüser und kener steili Bärge git) fahre Arbeiter in Pickups häre, lege grossi Tüecher a Bode, näme längi Stäb mit motorisierte, dräiende Bürste am Ändi u schüttle so d Olive vo ihrne Äst obe ache. D Olive wärde när i grossi Stoffseck packt, öppe 40 kg pro Sack. Die Seck wärde när id Olive-Mühli gfahre wo Öl härgstellt wird. D Mühli bechunnt 12.5% vom Öl aus Entlöhnig. Dr Räscht vom Öl bechunnt dr Bsitzer vo de Böim u chas entweder säuber vertribe oder o direkt a d Mühli wyter verchoufe, de gits öppe 3 Euro pro Liter. D Arbeiter si immer sehr fründlich, we mir düre spaziere oder fahre winke sie, we sie a üs verbi fahre huupe si freudig.

Right now it's harvest season for olives in Greece. Everywhere on properties with olive trees (which is actually everywhere except where houses or big mountains are standing) you can see workers and their pick-ups. Spreading big drapes on the ground, they harvest the olives using motorized brush on a long rod. The olives are then packed in big textile bags, weighing aproxximately 40 kg. The bags are then being transported to the mill, where oil is being made. The mill gets 12.5% of the produced oil as payment. The owner gets the rest. The oil can be sold for about 3 Euro per litre. The olive harvesters are all really freindly, they always greet, when we walk by them or when they drive by us.

Mir hei es paarmau Glägeheit, ufene Markt z gah wo die lokale Buure ihres Gmües und ihri Frücht verchoufe. Bsunders fein si di früsche, sehr süesse Orange. Zämä mit griechischem Joghurt gäbe die es feins Dessert.
We went to the local farmer's market several times, where vegetables and fruits are being sold. The fresh and sweet oranges are a treat. We often made a quick dessert of it with a little bit of greek yoghurt.

Mir fahre Stück für Stück ar Westküste vom Peleponnes entlang südwärts u Campe mau am Meer, mau i de Bärge.

Ds Camp am Meer isch zwar am Abe und o am Morge wunderschön gsi. D Nacht isch aber eini vo de luftigschte gsi wo mir bishär erläbt hei.

We drive little by little on the southwest shore side of the peloponnes and sometimes camp on the shore, or on the mountain.
Shore camping is very beautiful and scenic, although at night it's very windy.

Entsprächend hei mir am nächschte Tag beschlosse, üs mau mit de Bärge z probiere, ir Hoffnig uf ganz töife, ruhige Schlaf. D Fahrt ines chlises Bärgdorf isch sehr schön gsi. Je wyter wäg vor Küste, desto erstuunter aube d Gsichter vo dä Lüt, dasses hie Reisendi verschlaht. Aber nacheme churze erstuunte Gsicht chunnt usnahmslos immer es breits Lächle, es Winke und es "Jassoss" (Hallo) "Kalimera" (guete Morge) oder "Kalinitta" (guete Abe) aus Antwort ufe üsi griechischi Begrüessig.

So we tried to camp on a mountain the next day, with high hopes for a deep sound sleep. The road leading to the mountain campsite is very scenic. The further we drive offshore, the more astounding people look at us, wondering why travellers go this way. After being astounded though, people always smile very broadly, wave hands and call out "Jassoss" (Hello) "Kalimera" (good morning) and "Kalinitta" (good night).

Bim Ischlafe i dä Bärge hei mir vili Schakale ghöre bälle/rüefe. Chli unheimlich hets tönt, o we üs die Tier nid bsunders Angscht mache. Trotzdem gniesse mir ganz töife Schlaf. S isch so warm, dass mir a däm Tag nachere morgendliche Rundi Jogge e Duschi verusse näme, ohni z Wasser z choche.

While camping on the mountain, we heard many jackals barking and howling. It sounded spooky, even though we are not afraid of these animals. Nevertheless, we enjoyed deep sleep. It was so warm, that we showered outside with cold water after jogging.

Mängisch muess me hie eifach chli warte bis dr "Fuessgängerstreife" ändlich läär wird :)

Somtimes we have to wait until the "pedestrian" moved out of the way.

Itz chunnt e lengeri Gschicht drüber was sich düre Zuefall so cha ergäh. Das isch glichzytig z schönschte a üsere Reis. Wüu mir ke fixe Plan hei und momentan jedi Wuche d Müglichkeite für d Wyterreis wieder chli ändere, lö mir üs vom Erläbte la leite, verlöh üs komplett uf üses Buuchgfühl u si dür das offe für (fasch) aues. Spontani Iladige näme mir ah und are Chrüzig chöi mir anhand vor Landschaft entscheide öb mir iz lieber links oder rächts abzweige.

So hets dr verlässlich Zuefall ergäh, dass mir es paar Täg nach dr Abreis us Arkoudi üsi neu-gwunnene Fründe, d Sina und dr Alexander us Berlin mit dr Chatz "Arkoudi" ufeme Parkplatz bim Ichoufe wieder gseh hei. Spontan hei sie üs iglade zu ihrem aktuelle Wohnort. Sie hei sich nämlich bimene Paar us Münche, wo hie läbt, fürne Monet e Wohnig gmietet. Was zersch eifach e Iladig ufenes Kaffe isch gsi het sich de zimlech usboue.

Ohni grossi Vorahnig si mir dene Zwöine nache gfahre.

Now it's time for a story, what coincidence can bring us sometimes. It is the most exicitng and beautiful part of our journey. Without any fixed plans, we can change directions all the time. We are being lead by our intuition, experiences and gut-feeling, because of that we are open-minded for every kind of experience. We always accept spontanous invitations and meetings. At any crossroads, we can decide whether to go left or right.

So we met our friends, Sina and Alexander from Berlin, again by concidence, on a parking lot of a grocery store (there are many of those in peloponese). So they invited us to their new temporary residence for a cup of coffee. They rented an appartment from a couple from Munich, who live permanently in Greece, for a month. What surprise a simple invitation for a cup of coffee brought us, we couldn't have known.

Without any premonition, we follow them for that cup of coffee.

Acho si mir bir Elfriede und bim Willi, zwöi Mönsche miteme sehr grosse Härz, guteme Humor wos gschafft hei, sich hie es schöns Paradies izrichte. Das Paradies teile sie mit ihrne zwöi Chatze und füf Hünd. Mir si mit aune Hünd zämä ufene Spaziergang.

So we arrived at Elfriede and Willi, a married couple with big hearts and good humour, who together have built a paradise in a small town on the Peloponnese. The paradise is being shared with two cats and five dogs. We went out for a stroll with those dogs.

Mitcho ufe Spaziergang isch o d "Arkoudi", es chlises Chätzli wo d Sina und dr Alexander in Arkoudi gfunde hei wo sie no uf ei Hand het passt. Wüu wyt u breit kes Muettertier isch gsi und d Arkoudi sich ine blödi Lag het bracht wo sie säuber nüm wär use cho, hei sie sä mitgnoh u sich sithär um sä kümmeret. Und das chline Tier chunnt doch tatsächlich gärn uf usgedehnti Spaziergäng mit dä Hünd und louft de sogar e grosse Teil säuber mit.

"Arkoudi", the kitten who helped us translate the blog, has grown considerably. When she was found by Sina and Alexander, the kitten was as small as one hand, without any orientation and lost to fend for herself. Now she has grown quite a bit and fit for joining us on our stroll. She likes the attention she gets from all the dogs.

Zwüschdüre findet sie de aber glich, so loufe sigi z asträngend. De chlätteret sie ohni längi Vorwarnig irgend es Beii z düruf - egal öb mä Hose anne het oder nid.

Now and then, walking became too exhausting for her. So she decided to jump on anyone's leg without any warning. Nomatter if pants are worn or not.

Zimlech schnäu hei mir üs i dä prächtig Kärli hie verliebt:

We quickly fell in love with this glorious and friendly (little) dog.

Vor 2.5 Jahr isch är und sini Schwöschter aus chlini Wälpe vorem Gartetor vor Elfriede und vom Willi gläge. O we sie denn scho es paar Hünd gha hei, hei sie sä zue sich ufgnoh, sie Susi & Strolch gnennt und sich um sä kümmeret. Sie hei zwar probiert es Plätzli für die zwöi schöne Hünd z finde, aber ohni Erfolg. Was üs natürlich erstunt: är isch sportlich, het e sehr usglichene Charakter, bäuet nid hüfig und het zimlech viu Charme.

2.5 years ago he and his sister were found by Elfriede and Willi in front of their gate, just two small puppies. Even though they already had some dogs in their yard, they took them in, naming them Susi & Strolch and looking after them with great care. They tried to find new homes for the two, but couldn't find anybody. We are a bit surprised: he's very athletic, has a good character, doesn't bark often and comes with a ton of charm.

Längi Gschicht churz: dä Hund ghört iz zu üsere chline Reisefamilie.

Mir hei d Rückbank freigruumt, si i d Schrinerei es Stück Holz ga la zueschnide, hei ihm es weichs Bett druf gleit und e Sicherheitsgurt installiert damit är nid füre flügt, we mir müesse brämse.

Long story short: this dog is now part of our small travelling family.

We emptied the backseats, we went to a carpenter to get a piece of wood fitting on top of the bench, found a fluffy bed that goes on top and even found a safety belt, assuring that he's not flying toward the front if we have to brake hard.

Insgesamt 3 Nächt si mir bi üsne warme Gastgäber blibe, hei Pizza usem Steiofe gnosse, säuber gmachte Eierlikör, Spili-Abe, Wok und zum Schluss heimer no es Raclette gmacht. Wunderschön isch d Zyt gsi i däm chline Paradies. När heimer üs zämä mit üsem neue tierische Fründ ufe Wäg gmacht, für zämä e Probezyt z ha, zum luege öb är überhoupt gärn reist und öb är üs nid plötzlich blöd fingt we är nüm i sim Rudel daheime isch.

We spent a total of 3 nights at the home of our lovely hosts and new friends. We enjoyed pizza freshly out of the stone ofen, home-made eggnog, game-night, wok and at the end even a Raclette. The time we spent in that paradise was wonderful. We then went back on the road with our new animal companion to enjoy some time "on probation" to see if he likes to travel with us or if he's suddenly unhappy away from his pack at home.

Natürlich isch ihm Outo fahre zersch nid ganz geheuer gsi - die paar mau Outofahrte bishär i sim Läbe sie meischtens zum Tierarzt gange.

Mir chöi üs nid gnue Bedanke bir Elfriede und bim Willi für ihri ungloublichi Gastfründschaft u vor auem ihrem Vertroue, dass mir üs guet wärde um ihre sehr geliebte Strolchi kümmere.

So heimer üs ufe Wäg gmacht nach Kalamata miteme nervöse Hund hinde uf dr Rückbank.

Of course driving in a car is initially made him nervous, especially because the few car drives he has enjoyed up to now most oftenly went to the vet.

We can't thank Elfriede and Willi enough for their incredible hospitality and especially for their trust in knowing we will take good care of their beloved Strolchi.

Like this we started our way towards Kalamata with a slightly nervous dog in the back.

Üs het zwar si bishärig Name "Strolchi" gfaue, aber aus Schwizer miteme breite Muu heimer dä Name eifach fasch nid chönne schön usspräche. Drum heimer nacheme neue gsuecht, wo aber müglichscht chli wie sie aut söui töne, damit är sich nid z fescht muess umgwöhne.

Itz müesse mir nomau chli ushole: möget dir euch no a üse Reisekolleg, dr Freddy erinnere?

Dä Holz-Hund het üs ufe erscht Teil vo üsere Reis begleitet. Wo mir du e chline Stopp ir Schwiz hei igleit u no aues usgmischtet hei wo unnötig Platz brucht het är müesse (oder dörfe?) daheime blibe z Thierachere bi sim guete Fründ, em George (die zwöi gniesse aktuell im Läsestübli daheime chli Wiehnachtsstimmig).

Even though we liked the name "Strolchi", we were not really capable of pronouncing it correctly with our Swiss mouths. That's why we started looking for another name, ideally one sounding roughly the same as Strolchi, so as that it was not too new for him.

Now we need to go back a while: maybe you can still recall our travel buddy Freddy?

That dog made out of wood accompained us on the first part of our journey. But he decided to stay at home in Switzerland when we stopped there a while ago. He is spneding time there with his good friend George. At the moment the two are enjoying some cosy moments together.

Wo mir du so losfahre u dr Hund vo hinde füre luegt hei mir üs agluegt und es isch gad für beidi klar gsi, dass är bi üs "Freddy" heisst. Mit chli Hiuf gseht dir sicher werum:

As we left by car and our new dog was glancing towards the front we looked at each other and both new: his name has to be "Freddy". Maybe with a little hint you will understand why...

Wüu momentan hüfig sehr rägnerisches Wätter vorherrscht und dr Freddy üs, z Outofahre und z Schlafe unterwägs no nid so kennt wohne mir im Moment nid im Dachzelt sondern in Wohnige. Zersch es paar Täg in Kalamata und itz im schöne Saidona mit Blick ufs Meer.

Mir gniesse jede Tag Spaziergäng ir Natur, hei dr Nutze vomene Backofe wiederentdeckt und gniesses gad chli, es feschts Dach überem Chopf z ha während dere Zyt vom Kennelehre.

At the moment it's often quite rainy here on Peloponnes. That's why we decided to rent an apartment for as long as it takes to get to know Freddy better (and also awaiting the end of lockdown). First we rented an apartment in Kalamata, now we are in beautiful Saidona with an incredible view of the Mediterranean. We enjoy daily walks in nature, we have rediscovered the use of an oven and actually really enjoy having a stable roof over our heads during this time of getting to know each other.

D Lisa und dr David, üsi neue Fründe us St. Galle wo mir in Krakau und Arkoudi troffe hei wohne momentan im Nachbarsdorf und so träffe mir üs hüfig zum Spaziere mit dä Hünd. Sie hei o in Griecheland dr luschtig Marley "ufgläse" :)

Lisa and David, our new friends from St. Gallen whom we met in Krakow and in Arkoudi live in the neighboring village and so we often meet for walks with our dogs. They also picked up a dog in Greece, a cute one called Marley.

Eismau isch uf somene Spaziergang es chlises Missgschick passiert...

Recently a mishap occurred on one of our walks...

... dr Tawan het sich bimene Sprung überne Glungge zimlech überschetzt!

... Tawan massively misjudged the size of a puddle while jumping over it.

Entspanne cha sich dr Freddy mittlerwile bim Outofahre ganz guet, o we är lieber ufene Spaziergang aus ufene Outofahrt geit.

By now Freddy is much more relaxed while driving in our car. Even though he much prefers going for a walk instead of going for a drive.

D Beii si no aktiv (dr Tawan het scho 2 Stiche verwütscht) und gö äuä no die paar wenige Blüemli ga beflüge wo mir gseh.

Bees are still very much active (as Tawan is able to tell as he got stung by two up to now) and probably take care after the few flowers we still see in bloom.

Nachere "Probezyt" hei mirs de no offiziell gmacht und si dr Freddy ga Chippe und Impfe. Ganz aständig het är sich benoh bim Tierarztbsuech. Itz isch er ganz offiziell e EU-Bürger!

After our "time on probation" together we made it official and went to get Freddy a chip and his vaccinations. He was very well behaved at the vet and is now officially a resident of the european union!