06 Vagis Trip

September 19, 2006
- Vagis Trip Update
By Gabor Vagi

Hello Everyone

Objective of our Trip Update: to write about things that you might be interested of (if not, tough sh.. luck, you must read it anyway!)

If you have no will power or not willing to increase your regular aerobic exercise by about try fold do not even think about coming to (or close to) Hungary. Avoid it by all means. No, tripling your time spend windsurfing do not help either! By now I (feel) have gained 10 lb and eat half as bad as my Hungarian buddies. How do they live passed age 32 is a mystery to us....

Actually we have done very little so far you would be interested (except eating) with the exception of visiting Plitvicka Jezera National Park which is a must see before you die (just like the Hungarian Goulash which you also have to try.... yes, just before you die, not sooner). To describe this park would be impossible with my vocabulary (English or Hungarian) so please try to look it up: www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr

Croatia....must see by driving on the coast from Pula to all the way to Albania. Imagine crystal clear, 75F water dotted with gorgeous island where the wind speeds up between regardless what direction is coming from.

Viganj, Croatia

Plitvicka National Park, Croatia

Our Smallest Ferry, Albania

Lake Ferto, Austria

Leaving from Hungary with Friends

Our Guide Milike

Road hazard in Albania

Beach with Bunkers, Albania

Vasiliki Bay, Lefkov, Greece

September 23, 2006
- Vagis Trip Update
By Tundi Vagi

Hello Everyone

   We managed to reach Peloponnesus after we visited Lefkada and Kefallonia island. So far we had lots of interesting sites and planty to play and eat.
   This morning we cached the 6:00Am ferry to Kyllni and this was the most luxuries ferry we ever had they even had a exersise room what I take advantage of so I can eat all day if we don't find wind.
   First we visited Olympia where the games originated from.
Then we drove down south to Pylos where we found a great big bay with marginal wind. Gabor rigged the 12 sail then put me on the 9.8 "storm sail with the Formula.
   I managed to windsurf the rig but when I missed the jibe pulling up the sail took all my energy.
   Later Gabor kited and raced with some windsurfers.
   Ruff life we having please don't feel sorry for us.
   We hope you all doing well and healthy.
Until next time...

Love, Tundi And Gabor

Olympia, Greece

Olympia, Greece

Olympia, Greece

Mythros Beach, Ithaka, Greece

Campsurfing, Viganj

Dessert Again

Greek Orthodox Church, Ithaka, Greece

Laundry Day at Lefkos Beach

Lefkos Town

Luxuary on a Ferry

September 30, 2006
- Vagis Trip Update
By Gabor Vagi

Hello Everyone

   I am debating to recommend or not to see Albania. If you are a friend, not, but if you really curious to see how a third world country looks like (in the middle of Europe) and if you also want to go to Greece by driving (instead of using ferry) than yes. Make sure you have a reliable car/RV and allow at least a whole day to drive that approx. 300 miles across this unique part of the world.
   After surviving a cable ferry ride over a river mouth and driving the least twenty some miles on dirt road we finally made it to Greeeeeeece at a boarder called Konjspol. Driving on a paved, 1st class road after that make you appreciate modern world more than having a calculator after using a slide ruler.
   Tundi just telling me she has written about this part of our trip but since I have a different point of view (objective, remember!?) you all must suffer trough this one again.
   So Greece: very relaxing, seems to be safe no matter where you go. People seems to tolerate visitors (campers) more than any other country we have ever been. Maybe because the mainly live from tourism or just happy to see only a few hundreds of them instead of millions comparing to the summer months.
   Must see places:
   Lefkada island, Visiliki (British owned facilities: windsurfing, catamarans, diving, biking, kayaks etc.)
   Kefalonia island, just nice and if you bring formula gear good wind between this and Ithaka island.
   Peloponnese, Olympia: a bunch of ruins, nothing impressive but you would hate not to see it and run the 100 meter dash yourself where many original Greek athlete (and bunch of idiot tourist like myself) did it before you.

Love, Tundi And Gabor

Elafonisi Island Beach, Crete

My friend who stole my food

View from my hammock, Elafonisi Island Beach

Ammoudara Beach, Crete

Ammoudara Beach, Crete

Ammoudara Beach, Crete

Ammoudara Beach, Crete

Elafonisi Island Beach, Crete

Elafonisi Island Beach, Crete

Mythros Beach, Ithaka, Greece

October 4, 2006
- Vagis Trip Update
By The Vagis

Hello Everyone

   Pylos/Navarino Bay, Erodios Camping: one of the rare occasion when we actually stayed in a campground (1st class, 15euro/night) for the best access of the windsurfing site. Foinikountas, just an hour south of Pylos: for windsurfing only if you are or your loved one is not sick and tired of your addiction yet.
   Gytheio, just because you are waiting for the ferry to take you to Crete (which happens once a week in Sept) visit the Ocean Club just a couple of miles south of there and try something new...you guessed: windsurfing.
   Crete, after arriving to Kissamos (see picture of my "red-eye" sleep over on the ferry) head to Platanos/Falasarna because you don't want to forget rigging since yesterday and it is only 15 minutes west of the port....and yes you have my permission to windsurf.
   Elafonisi, one of the most beautiful spot we have ever been just a little over an hour south of Kissamos (south/west corner of Crete), very romantic (except in the few hours when the 4 busload of tourists arrives from the north side of the island) so sex is mandatory and windsurfing is optional!
   In Crete you have to shuttle between the north (highly populated and touristy) side to the south side where are the most natural and privet beaches are because there are no or primitive roads exist only Chania, Old Port: great night life and it's on the way to east Iraklio, Ammoudara beach: windsurf rental and good long beach with side-on shore when the north/westerlies hits....great local sweet at old town Lion Square (bougatsa!) Nikolaos, just a beautiful port and great swim/snorkel beach.
   Next (and last report from Crete) coming up.....

Tundi and G-man

Nikolaos, Crete

Nikolaos, Crete

Ammoudara Beach, Irakilo, Crete

Another Bougatsa, YUMMMMM...

Knossos Palace, Crete

Knossos Palace, Crete

Milike on Nikolaos, Crete

Nikolaos, Crete

Pool Inspection, Nikolaos, Crete

October 6, 2006
- Vagis Trip Update
By The Vagis

Hello Everyone

   Eastern Crete, Palekastro: Dunkernbeck visited this place once and was unable to sail one day due to somewhat high breeze....when the north/westerly hits the flat water (off shore) can be a real challenge even with 3.0....need to say anymore?

   Xerokambos: If there is no wind above (like in our case) head 40 km south to Xerokambos for the gentle southerly thermal wind (see Tundi on the 7.4 and me on 14 kite), gorgeous place!

   First picture attached is a recommendation of gear to take when you want to prepare for all possible condition not including wave stuff (which we had to compromise due to lack of space and also since 98% of the time we do not need it.)

   Boards: approx 80 and 100 liter slalom and 100cm formula

   Sails: 5.1, 5.8, 6.6, 7.4, 9.8, 11.0, 12,0 all race sails due to high adjustability

   Masts: 400, 430 (2ea), 460 (2ea), 520, 550

   Booms: 3 each to use it with above sails and also to have some overlap between sizes

   Misc: 4 ea mast extension, 2 ea mast foot, fins: 30, 32, 34, 36, 68

   Kite stuff: one 133 board and two kite 10 and 14 (flat/bow)

   NOTE FOR POTENTIAL FELLOW TRAVELERS: If you really serious about spending your retirement for traveling LEARN TO SAIL FORMULA OR KITE!!!

   It pays off big time unless you just want to yakety yak on the beach with fellow German windsurfers (because they are everywhere) and talk about windsurfing and the good old times when there was wind all over the world.....get real! there is no such a thing as high wind around most of the world (especially following you on your journey) that is why they invented FORMULA GEAR and KITES.

Tundi and G-man

A boy with his toys

Xerokambos Beach

Xerokambos Beach

Xerokambos Beach

Xerokambos Beach

October 13, 2006
- Vagis Trip Update
By The Vagis

Hello Everyone

No Comment....Just kidding....and we are not coming home by the way.....just impossible to leave this place.

We'll be home for the celebration of the Revolution of the Red October (November 7...don't ask why the Russians celebrated it on Nov 7).

Tundi and Gabor

Rodos Old Town

Prassonissi Rodos

Sunset to Rodos