Collecting Maria, Sophocles, Kiki and Ioli from Athens’ Filozoikos shelter

We got lost on our way to the Filozoikos shelter when our satnav suddenly gave up the ghost. Must have found the Athens roads too demanding! Luckily, Martha and Kiki came to find us.

Two of the dogs we collected have been at the shelter for over three years, the other two are recent arrivals. All are on their way to the UK where Conrad will be overseeing them to their new homes. Martha has told us a bit about each one.

We got our usual warm and friendly welcome at the shelter from Martha (in pink), Kiki (far right) and the volunteers

Martha with Maria

Maria is about six or seven years old. A calm dog who gets on well with other dogs, she is also probably good with cats as she’s lived with cats in the past. She’s one of 10 dogs who came to the shelter when their elderly, alcoholic and semi-homeless owner died. She’s the last but one of them to find a new home. The volunteers adore her and everyone wants to walk her. She loves human attention, kisses and hugs; and doesn’t like thunder, fireworks and other loud things.

Abandoned outside the shelter three years ago, Sophocles is a large male, about six years old, friendly cuddly and good at walking on a lead. He loves human company and seems calm with cats. He had started to act a bit aggressively with other dogs until one of the volunteers, Ifigenia, decided to become his ‘virtual mum’. Since then, he’s a new dog!

Kiki (sorry, all our photos of her were terrible, we’ll try again) and Ioli (shown here) are both one-year-old females. Gentle and friendly, both have been at the shelter for around a month, and love hugs and kisses.

Puppies at the shelter

Arrival in Athens, collecting cats

Animalcouriers were a bit late arriving in Athens. There was such congested boat traffic at the port, it was like being on a watery M25! Then people, cars, trucks and buses all tried to disembark from the ferry at the same time, leading to the usual pandemonium. Somehow it works, despite a complete disregard for ‘elf and safety.

Once we’d walked the dogs who’ve travelled with us from North Cyprus, our first stop was at Maria’s to collect the Nine Lives Greece cats Maja and Lakme she’s been fostering, and who have loving new homes to go to. You may remember that although Maja had a new home planned, Lakme’s had fallen through. This lucky puss is now on her way to join Batman and Robin in Scotland!

In chatting with Cordelia from Nine Lives, we learned she has a new job — well, someone has to fund the cats! she says. She tells us she’s “writing the texts for a website called Dailysecret.com that sends out emails to 1 million (and counting!) subscribers about cool little bars, hidden restaurants and little-known activities in a variety of cities around the world.”

We also collected Michael’s cat Rumy (which means rum). This clever little girl didn’t want to be caught, so hid under the bed! We waited patiently until she appeared, then caught hold of her by scruffing her, just like mother cats do to their kittens, and it worked a treat.

Reo gazing out to sea with courier J

Brandy knows all about colour-matching

Roxy posing near an oleander bush

Jasper can hardly tear himself away from the view

Tink studying the waves

Maja in front, foster mum Maria behind

Lakme looking very superior!

Snowy white Maja gets settled in. Maria was understandably both glad and sad to see them leave for their new homes

Rumy ready to hop on board

Perhaps it was ‘take your dog to work’ day in Athens this morning?

Buffy, Billie and Barbara, from Turkey via Kos

Sue and David approached us last year about transporting three street kittens they’d found in Turkey, and we booked them onto the current trip.

The kittens, now a trio of young cats, have been boarding at the Pethane Veteriner Klinigi in Bodrum. Carly, a British veterinary nurse married to one of the vets, has been looking after them, and has proved a godsend.

We were due to collect Buffy, Billie and Barbara on 8 June, but as you will know if you’re a regular reader of the Animalcouriers blog, we’ve had a few hold-ups on this trip! The cats’ Turkish export health certificates were due to expire on 16 June, and when it became clear we wouldn’t even make it to Bodrum by that date, another plan had to be found.

Carly offered to take the cats from Turkey to the Greek island of Kos, if we could find boarding for them there. L in the Animalcouriers office immediately sprang into action and found a rescue centre in the hills, behind the town of Kos, that could help.

Unfortunately Carly discovered a problem with her passport. Then the rescue centre’s vehicle wouldn’t start! More emails and phone calls followed, Carly found a friend to help, and L found a vet, Thalassinos Ioannis Ke Grigoriou Eleni Oe in Dodecanese, just a five-minute walk from the port of Kos.

When we arrived to collect them, the three cats were waiting with their bags all packed, and looks on their faces that implied, what took you so long?

Buffy

Billie

Barbara

 

Leaving Kos, but only thanks to some generous truckers

Having done quite a bit of driving around Kos yesterday, Animalcouriers suddenly found themselves low on diesel. Given the way some parts of this trip have gone so far, we were quite convinced we would end up stalling and missing the ferry!

Realising there wasn’t enough time to get to a fuel station and back before the ferry left, courier J went into full charm mode on spotting a group of truckers. Truckers around the world are generally good sorts and kind to damsels in distress. With a plastic bottle and tube to hand, they quickly siphoned off a few litres and handed them to us. They refused payment, but were happy to accept a little beer money!

Our ferry arriving — it only stops briefly to pick up passengers so we knew we had to be quick

Courier J and her knights of the road

Courier J triumphant!

While walking our charges near the fort we came across this little area in the lee of the wall and under a tree, home to a mother cat and her kittens. She was lying down, keeping an eye on them as they played, oblivious to the spectators watching their antics

Little charmers

Wash, interrupted

A collecting box to help pay for food them and their ilk

Animalcouriers have reached the Greek island of Kos

This morning Couriers J and M got to Bodrum port in plenty of time for their ferry to Kos. We could see it was going to be a busy crossing with lots of families and pushchairs. (There’s something to be said for winter crossings!)

After a nail-biting 30 minutes, courier M made it through customs with the Animalcouriers van and its canine passengers. Thank you, Eren, for our perfect paperwork!

Even so, on arrival at Kos, we did have a few feelings of trepidation as we approached customs on that island.

“Car papers,” said the official. We handed them over.

“You have five dogs. Why?” he asked. We explained.

“They have the, how you say, the chips?” “Yes,” we said.

“They have the…” stabs his arm with his finger. “Rabies vaccination?” we prompt. He nods. “Yes,” we say.

“OK, you can go.” And that was it. Seven minutes flat to enter the EU. Almost an anticlimax!

Morning view over Bodrum bay

The Animalcouriers van parked outside customs, where courier M is being processed

All checked in and about to board the ferry

Parked on deck, so we really were on our way!

The castle of the knights of St John on Kos

Pulling in to Kos port

Spending the night in Bodrum

As planned, Animalcouriers reached the Turkish port of Bodrum this evening but, as we expected, there’s no ferry we can catch tonight. So we have made a reservation on the morning ferry.

Both dogs and couriers enjoyed a promenade along the front, taking in the lovely view across Bodrum bay with its pleasure craft, yachts, and splendid castle.

We’ve found a hotel near the port so will be there bright and early in the morning to give the Turkish officials plenty of time to mull over our paperwork.

You can just spot the silhouette of Kos beyond Bodrum bay

Jasper and Tink admire the view

It certainly is worth drinking in

Tink just loves Jasper’s ‘knock knock’ jokes!

Roxy enjoys the evening sun

Brandy shows his handsome profile…

…then turns to admire the sea view

 

Reo looks out across the bay

Roxy greets a local

A particularly fine local mosque

Enjoying the sights and sounds of Turkey

Today is a ‘no news’ day for the Animalcouriers trip that’s passing through Turkey on the way to Greece, and hoping to reach Bodrum tonight.

In our case, no news is good news! Having a calm day or two gives us a chance to reflect on recent happenings and remember the people who’ve been kind, helpful and thoughtful during challenging times!

For starters, the owners of the dogs — the intrepid band who accompanied us to Mersin got safely back to Famagusta. From the moment we met them at the KAR office as we limped back from our first abortive attempt to enter Turkey, until they left us at Mersin port, entrusting their precious pets to us, we never heard a single grumble or groan! Everyone pulled together for the crossing from Famagusta, organising visits to the notary, new car paperwork, car insurance, permission to take their cars to Turkey — all at lightning speed. Not forgetting Bob and Lynn, who quickly reorganised for their dogs to fly instead, as they couldn’t come to Mersin with us.

During the crossing from Famagusta, there was plenty of good humour and laughter. A quick rethink when we had to leave Janet’s car behind. Willingness to take the dogs onto the ferry’s open deck in the middle of the night on a pitch-black sea. Coping with the long wait at Mersin, when all everyone wanted was a shower and a cold drink. Then the near panic when we thought they might all miss the boat back to Famagusta. Then when it looked like only Diana might have to stay behind, everyone else wanted to support her by staying behind too!

And although some of the bureaucracy came close to making us despair, the willingness of certain individuals to go the extra mile for us kept us going. Eren and his dad from Petical Vets, who put so much effort into the paperwork. The kind port police who watched over the van for us. The lovely member of the ferry crew who gave us a key to the vehicle deck so that we could check on the dogs whenever we wanted. Then at the port the next morning he found courier J, gave her a hug and handed her a bunch of grapes from the mess supplies!

And of course, the exceptionally efficient senior port officer Aynur, who kickstarted all the officials into action. We told Aynur: “We can’t thank you enough. We hope one day someone shows you the kindness you’ve shown us.” “Someone already has,” she replied, “So I know just how you feel.”

Camel in its Sunday best

Off to the shops!

Buying fresh strawberries

Driving through a large banana-growing area. We were tempted to buy some but haven’t got through all the strawberries yet!

Just one of the many handsome mosques we’ve passed

A prayer room at a Total garage

A sprawling old fort

Courier M shows off his dog-wrangling skills, while Jasper, Tink and Roxy do their own thing!

Reo hoping for a treat

Brandy — one ear up, one down

When we pulled in for a comfort break, a street dog came up to see what we were doing. We slipped him a few treats before saying goodbye.

Frida is outnumbered by cats on our trip to Spain

Sleek black cat Moka is travelling with Animalcouriers to Spain, in the company of her canine companion Frida. They’re heading for the Madrid area and both have relaxed completely into their journey.

Also on our passenger list are feline trio Berkeley, Tiffany and Boots, who’re off to the sunny Spanish resort of Sitges.

And we’re delighted to welcome back frequent flyers Jules and Jim. These two black-and-white brothers are off to spend the summer at their holiday home near the French/Spanish border. They’ll stay a few nights with friends in Narbonne until their owner can join them. They’re so familiar with the route by now they could almost drive themselves!

Moka

Frida

Berkeley

Tiffany

Boots

Jules

Jim

A family of six are heading south for the summer; Bella is also on board

Animalcouriers are transporting a family of four cats and two dogs to their summer holiday home at Grasse, near Monaco.

It was an early start for them all when we collected them this morning, but they quickly settled into the trip and all six have been beautifully behaved.

Also on our trip to Grasse is Golden Retriever Bella, whose quiet and gentle nature endears her to everyone.

Elvis the Turkish Van who’s had a summer haircut

Siamese cats Toblerone (aka Toby) and Tiramisu

Third Siamese Koko

Yorkshire Terriers Pepper and Corky

Pepper and Corky enjoy an evening walk

Golden Retriever Bella

After a record 25 hours in the port of Mersin, we are finally through!

They do say patience is a virtue — well, by now we’re all feeling pretty virtuous.

Last night, after supper and an evening walk for the dogs, Animalcouriers had to leave the van at Mersin port in police custody and go to the nearest hotel. This morning we were back at the port bright and early.

A new police shift had appeared and were initially reluctant to let us into the port. “No ticket, no come in,” they said. Then the friendly officers who’d kept a watchful eye on the van overnight appeared, greeting us with: “Good morning! Tea?” So in we went and had a quick cuppa with them, before heading off to the van to feed, water and walk the dogs.

Then at round 10.00am, as we’d had no news, we went to the port officer to check whether the computer entry problem (letter O and number zero confusion) had been sorted out. Well, at least they had a new permutation by now: instead of double O, they had double zero. So still not quite right (should have been letter O, number zero) but at least we knew change was possible. The senior port office on duty, Aynur, got straight on the phone and harrassed the port manager to do something about it. Then Eren from Petical Vets showed up and between him and Aynur they got things moving.

The port manager explained that while he and his colleagues are port staff, customs are civil servants and can start work when they like. They showed up at 11.00am.

Eventually everything was sorted out, and suddenly we were free to go! We are heading for Fetiye where we have a hotel booked for tonight.

Morning Mum! says Reo

Brandy watches the boats come and go

Jasper is a cool dude who doesn’t have the first idea what stress means!

Tink enjoys the fresh air

Roxy out with courier M

Roxy and Tink have a quick chat. Yes, we’re very good at ports now, they agree

Jasper and Tink know all about sitting for a biscuit

Entrance to the port of Mersin

From left to right: one of the friendly, helpful police officers, the amazingly effective port officer Aynur, and the doughty Eren from Petical Vets

While we were waiting, this 15-seater minibus turned up and disgorged 33 passengers!

As the gates slide back to let us out, our heroes Eren and Aynur stand by

Once on the road, we can see it’s watermelon season here in Turkey

We passed a beautiful stone mosque

And a truck that seemed to be wearing a wig (Donald Truck?)