Thessaloniki: Camper Van Adventures, Stray Dogs, and Family Reunions
We arrive at a motorhome parking area, uncertain of what to expect. The reviews on the Park4Night (P4N) app were mixed. A friendly German woman is temporarily taking care of the place, and three large sheepdogs roam freely across the property. We quickly realize: this isn’t quite our type of place.
Despite the dogs, Johan bravely takes Goos for a walk, relying on the info from P4N that the dogs are friendly and playful. Mirre, Jinte, and Diede anxiously watch from the RV. The dogs rush at Goos, barking loudly—whether they’re playful or aggressive is unclear.
Luckily, some German campers manage to hold the dogs back while Johan slips outside the gate with Goos. A few hundred meters away, we spot more trouble: stray dogs. Around certain Greek cities, this really is a serious issue. Fortunately, this group seems calm—just napping. Goos is easily satisfied, so we get him back in quickly.
Later that evening, when it’s time for Goos’ last walk, Mirre plays lookout while Johan quickly sneaks Goos behind the RV. It’s a trying situation for all of us. The next morning, the property’s owner is back and gives us a thorough briefing before driving us to the city.
Exploring Thessaloniki: A Beautiful Chaos
She has maps with all the main attractions of Thessaloniki, and for a small fee, she’ll drop you off. It’s all a bit chaotic, yet well-intended. We go with the flow and end up having a wonderful day in Thessaloniki. The city is lively, full of character, and totally worth exploring. We return to the camper late, relieved to spend less time at the parking area. The girls don’t enjoy it anyway—there’s dog and cat poop everywhere, and after the incident, their nerves are shot.
Now, if we want to take Goos outside, we must message the owner, who then brings Leon and his dog friends inside. The next morning, we pack up and decide to spend our final night at the beach. But first, a quick peek inside our neighbor’s 4×4 and even a little rooftop adventure—the girls love it!
Detour & Beachside Bliss
Remember our earlier road trip mishap involving a leaky camper? We were heading to a garage in Thessaloniki but were turned away after hours of driving. Eventually, we ended up in Athens for repairs. Now that we’re back in the area, we swing by a camping store. We score a brand-new frying pan and are tempted by the vast selection, but we’re content with our setup.
Back at the beach, a kind German man lets us know that while we can’t park on the paved area, camping along the road is fine. We enjoy a relaxing beach day. Mirre works a few hours, makes fresh fudge, and after dinner, we park the camper properly. Mirre takes a long walk while calling her friend, and Johan tucks the girls in for bed.
Surprise Police Visit & Fighting a Camper Van Fine
The next day is special—Grandma and Grandpa are arriving! The girls are beyond excited, especially Jinte, who plans to teach them everything about van life.
Just as we’re enjoying our banana pancakes, the police show up at the camper next door. And yes—it’s about that rumored new law we’ve heard murmurs of, which now seems to be actively enforced. The officer is genuinely friendly and admits he doesn’t want to give us a ticket, as we’re not disturbing anyone. Unfortunately, a local made a complaint which mandates enforcement.
He kindly explains where the police station is so we can appeal. Mirre and Diede go—smart choice. Inside, it’s a back-and-forth process, but the officer is helpful. He helpsMirre draft a formal objection. She doesn’t need to pay immediately, so they head out. We’ll hear via phone or email whether the fine stands. From now on, Mirre won’t be opening messages from Greek phone numbers—or checking her spam folder, ha!
Fingers crossed our appeal is successful. We’ll find out when we cross into Turkey—for now, it’s time to rush to the airport!
Joyful Reunion & Ready for New Adventures
We mistakenly wait at the wrong arrival hall, but quickly correct our course. And there they are—Grandma and Grandpa! Warm hugs all around, and even a tearful moment from Grandpa (now we know where Johan gets it from). The camper becomes their home for the next 10 days.
Once we’ve explained the basics and done a test ride, we hit the road again. It rains the entire day, but that’s okay—it’s the last rain we expect for days. It’s time for 10 glorious days of camping in the sun with the “Kusmussen”.
