We are parked tonight in Zampetas Camper Stop and Service Centre just outside Thessalonika. We arrived here this afternoon at about half past one, hoping they would be able to have a look and see if they could repair the bodywork damage to the van. I was fully expecting them to say that without new panels there would be nothing they could do but the guys here have a real "can do" attitude. They examined the damage, talked me through how they could repair it, gave me a price and by two o'clock the damaged panels were off, we were shown where to park for free with all services on site and at eight o'clock the GRP wizard was back, offering the panels up to the van to make sure they fitted. Tomorrow they will re-fit them and we'll be good to go. There are three brothers who own this business and the eldest travels about in his motorhome now, being semi-retired. He's the GRP wizard and he only arrived back last night so we were really lucky that he was here. As I wandered around the site this afternoon he called me over to show me the work he was doing on the panels and explained in detail why he was doing it in a particular way. We are overwhelmed with the level of service and the attitude here, nothing is too much trouble for these guys. There are a Swiss couple who have been here for four days while all manner of repairs have been carried out on their van, including waiting for spares from Germany. The work on their van has now been completed and they can't speak highly enough of the folk here. It's a level of service, skill and adaptability that I just don't come across any more in the UK. It's half past nine now and they're just closing the place down for the night and making sure everybody is ok. Truly impressive people. The only downside is that we're about 500 metres from the main runway at Thessalonika airport.
If that wasn't noisy enough, the guard dog in its kennel five metres away whines for five minutes after a plane lands or takes off! Despite that I don't think we'll have too much trouble sleeping tonight.
There were a Kiwi couple with their eighteen year old daughter here as well today and we got chatting to them when we spotted the GB plate on their motorhome. They'd taken a sabbatical from their teaching jobs and had bought the motorhome in the UK and were travelling around Europe. They'd called here to get a gas filler adaptor and when the guys here didn't have one in stock they apparently made one for them! Their daughter was flying from Hambourg to Boston in a couple of weeks to attend Harvard, one of only four youngsters from New Zealand to be accepted this year. Very impressive. Apparently motorhomes are tres expensive in New Zealand and their plan is to ship it back home when their tour finishes and, hopefully, they will be able to sell it for the price they paid and get the shipping costs back. If you're reading this,Shane and family, it was good to meet you, briefly, safe journey and good luck.
Pat
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