Its raining as we get into the taxi heading for the Otogar. We are half an hour early and manage to catch an earlier bus to Kesan. Its a half size coach. Our chauffeur puts our bags in the back and we take our seats. We are the youngest people onboard by many years. I feel like we are on a geriatrics jaunt. Coughing, wheezing, sneezing and groaning, and finally snooring adding to the hub-bub. The journey takes an hour and a half, I am hoping we all survive it! The driver is obsessed with his phone. We are in the front seats, so I can see his every move. Its raining hard, the windscreen wipers are on intermittent speed, the spray from lorries as we pass them completely blanks out the screen with muddy water. But, that doesnt stop our driver from texting, phoning, and checking the news on the internet on his phone. Nerves a bit frazzled we reach Kesan. We are all still alive, just, even the old man who spent the  entire journey breathing in and out of a plastic bag. Our chauffeur is removing bags from the back, I am perturbed to see one of ours, which is already on the tarmac, looks damp. He tries to block my view as he lifts out our remaining bag. But I am dismayed to see the boot has an inch of water in it! Our bags were first in, so were on the bottom of the pile. They are soaking, so much so we leave a steady trial of water on the terminal floor. These bags hold our entire travelling possessions. Clothes, electricals, wash kits, maps, books everything! Annoyed is not a strong enough word!

The bags - we bought them many years ago for a trip to India. They are sturdy soft bags on a frame with concealed drag handles. The back of the bags has a zip which when undone allows the frame to be removed and reveals shoulder straps so you can wear them as a rucksack. They were very expensive but have been worth every penny. They are showing their age and we have had to repair them occassionally on this trip. Very strong twine, a sail makers needle and a good drizzle of superglue seems to be the best solution.

Anyway, Kamil Koc (bus company) have a bus leaving in an hour and a half. The bags sit draining water across the ticket office floor. I worry.

This journey has been bothering me as I was not able to buy bus tickets for the Kesan to Alexandropoloi. Or even find a timetable for that matter. That, as it turns out is the least of my worries!

The bus is barely half full. Off we go. The journey should take about an hour, but with border crossings you never really know. Its still raining. We stop at the Turkish border. All get off and queue up at the kiosk. Our turn, smiley border guard puts our passports on the scanner. Smile disappears. `Polis`. He points us to the Polis station. Off we go with our chauffeur in tow. Passports and e-visas  are handed over to the Polis. Lots of conversations, tutting and looking at the pc screen. And furtive looking at us. I ask whats wrong,. `You have violated your visas!` `How?` `You have exceeded your 90 days by staying a total of 102 days` I explain that on the occasions of leaving and re-entering Turkey (which we have done twice, once for Kos, and again to fly home to the UK) I e mailed the visas office, told them what we were doing and was reassured that it was fine. When they said the 90 days would start all over again I was not convinced, and rang them to confirm. The man even said `yes, its a bit of a result, you can stay longer`. Despite me explaining this to the Polis, they fine us TL432. One says `Dont worry, stay in Greece for 3 days, get a temporary residents permit and come back in`. Another says `You cannot come back for five years!` I am distraut! I have been so careful. Our plans to travel along the Black Sea coast (which looks fabulous) are scuppered. 

Desperately unhappy we get back on the bus which is waiting for us at the Greek border control. I cant even remember going through the control. I am totally in shock. We have been expelled from my beloved Turkey. 

The bus dumps us in Alexandropoloi. `Dumps` is the only word I can use to describe it. Its still raining. We are on the side of the road and no taxis in sight. I try ringing our accommodation but the lady only speaks Greek so no help there. We wander around, eventually find a taxi. And arrive at our accommodation.