We thought a lot about the return trip, because Corona is on the rise again everywhere. However, we would never have expected it, that Corona will not be a problem at all – but completely different obstacles !!
We can easily get to North Macedonia via a small border in front of Bitola. The weather is really nice and so we decide spontaneously, to see the capital Skopje. In the middle of the city there is a private one, guarded parking space behind a car wash – perfect for one night. in 5 Minutes we are in the middle of the city and marvel at the diversity of the city: there are huge ones, newly built magnificent buildings (that don't really fit into the cityscape), a nice old one, lively bazaar, a triumphal arch and an incredible number of statues.
Triumphal arch 
im Bazar
Buildings and monuments from different epochs shape the cityscape, it all looks pretty mixed up. Be kicked 1963 shaken by a major earthquake, almost the entire old town was razed to the ground. With international help, Skopje was rebuilt, the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange developed a master plan for the city.
It goes up to the old fortress, here we have a nice overview of this peculiar city. 3 Hours of walking make you tired, hungry and thirsty – so we eat a super delicious doner kebab (the first on the whole trip), get us at the kiosk 2 Cans of beer and put your feet up at Henriette's home.
The equestrian statue of Alexander the great is incredible 22 m high and really impressive.
On Sundays we do our shopping – is nowhere a problem here, because all the shops are always open. However, there is no store where you can buy alcohol, we are apparently in the most Muslim part of North Macedonia. The last dinars are refueled (the diesel only costs 1,18 Euro) and on it goes over the next border to Serbia.
The border crossing is also problem-free here, the nice officer looks into the car for a moment, holds a little small talk and we're in Serbia.
We drive comfortably on the country road, here, too, there is a lot of rubbish lying around and the villages look very desolate. You can no longer see a mosque here, therefor lots of churches and monasteries. Thanks to the IOverlander app, we can find a great spot by a small river, enjoy an absolutely quiet night.
We want to cover the next stretch on the autobahn, they are round 180 Kilometer (for 80,– € Maut !), that we drive on the dead straight road. In the evening we stand behind Belgrade on the Danube - one of the worst parking spaces on the whole tour: it's so incredibly littered, that you would like to take a sack immediately and tidy it up. Am 30. November we cross the next border to Hungary: here the dog passport is actually checked and we are back in the EU !!
Immediately noticeable, that we are in another country: it's incredibly clean, tidy, modern, the streets are in good shape and there are no sheep standing on them. In the evening we find a place at a lido, everything is perfectly designed and nicely done.
From here on there are no more photos, We completely forgot that because of all the workshop visits 🙂
So, the next day we want to go to the Austrian border – however, Henriette starts to stutter in the morning ?? We are unsure, whether we should continue and decide, to drive to the next workshop. 5 The mechanics work on Henriette for hours, change the diesel filter, clean the tank, pump 400 Liters of diesel in canisters (sometimes the hose bursts and everything is full of diesel, Henriette is about to be showered off :)) and back into Henriette.
In the dark we drive a few kilometers to the banks of the Danube, a nice place, but unfortunately it is raining cats and dogs. Everything is wet, the dogs smell to themselves in their den.
We happily continue after breakfast – I agree 5 Kilometers later, Henriette stutters again ??? Also, what to do ?? In the next town, Stuhlweissenberg, we find a large Iveco workshop. Here is the same procedure: the mechanics are helping again 5 Man over 4 Hours on the engine. In the meantime, I go for a walk with my boys in the field in continuous rain. As always, I'll let her off the leash – 2 Hop seconds later 5 Rabbits in the field and my boys are gone for now !!!!!
After the small sprint, you must be on a leash again – is also a good thing, because around the next corner there is a group of deer waiting – we have had so much game since 4 Not seen in months. Back in the workshop is the diagnosis, that the turbocharger is no longer entirely in order. But they would have repaired it poorly and the car should make it to Germany safely.
The journey continues – and what should I say: Henriette continues to stutter. Also, All good things come in threes: On the next day (meanwhile Friday, the 01.12.) we drive to the MAN workshop in Györ. Unfortunately, there is no time for us here at first, The mechanics don't look after our patient until late in the afternoon. The third workshop, the third diagnosis: the filters weren't, the turbocharger is fine, it could be the injection pump ??? But it would have to be replaced and sent to Bosch – that would take at least a week. Not really a problem for us, but what do we do with ours without a hostel 2 little fur noses ?? Which hotel will take us – dirty, wet and smelly ?? No option !
The MAN specialists assure us, that we can drive the vehicle to Germany without any problems, hold it slowly (faster than 80 we never drive anyway) and switch as little as possible, brake and clutch. As a precaution, the nice man gives us a list of all MAN workshops in Austria and Germany with us on our way.
On Saturday we want to cross the border behind Györ: there is already the next problem: Vehicles over 3,5 t are not allowed over here. Also 20 Kilometers further to the next border – here too the same ominous shield. Ok., it has to work at the next border – but there is also the same prohibition sign. Hans-Peter runs to the border station and asks the Austrian officer: nobody knows exactly, at some point we'll get the answer, that we can only cross the border via the Autobahn in Nickelsdorf. So I quickly bought a sticker for Hungary online and that 80 Kilometers back.
Fast 3 We spoiled hours because of this action and our mood is pretty much in the basement. At the motorway border, of course, there is no one to be seen in our lane – Trucks are not allowed to cross the border at the weekend ?? I find an Austrian civil servant totally exasperated, who takes care of us. He's really nice and just waves us over the border (Incidentally, Corona doesn't interest him at all). So we can actually still do it, to cross the German border in the evening. Actually, we can't believe it, but there is no control at all here: a poor cop, who is on duty on Saturday evenings when it rains, waves us through. Shortly before Passau we are now standing in the slush on a huge parking space.
We start the last stage on Sundays, Henriette only stutters a few times and we come up against 19.00 Clock happy at home.
Despite the messed up drive home, it was a great tour and we are already looking forward to the next trip !!
