Agia Paraskevi to Alexandroupoli – August 20th
Distance: 14.1 km – Elevation +100 m -100 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 32 degrees
No early rise today. I woke naturally at 6.30 am and after preparing for the walk into Alexandroupoli I wandered along the seafront with its row upon row of sun loungers and fake palm umbrellas, looking out across the Thracian sea to the cloud covered Island of Samothraki. The sky was a perfect shade of pale blue and cloudless apart from the clouds hovering over Mount Phengari on Samothraki. Mount Phengari is where Homer writes that Poseidon stood and watched the beginning of the Trojan War.
Samothrace is where the masterful winged sculpture of Nike (Victory) was found in the ‘Sanctuary of the Great Gods’. Now displayed in the Louvre in Paris, the eleven feet tall Hellenistic statue was the inspiration for the Rolls Royce radiator ornament and also gave its name to the world famous Nike sportswear. The ‘Sanctuary of the Great Gods’ was where many historical figures including Herodotus, Lysander, and Phillip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, were initiated into the mystery cult of the Great Mother (Mother of the Gods).
I returned to the hotel for breakfast before setting out for Alexandroupoli at 9.00 am and after a couple of Kilometres I came to the village of Makri. From Makri it was a succession of Olive groves. Olive oil has been produced in this region by the Kyklopas family for many generations and I read last night that they have in excess of 12000 olive trees.
After the olive groves, I dropped down to the beach before entering the suburbs of Alexandroupoli where I found little in the way of industry or shops, it was mostly shaded parks and recreational areas which were very pleasant to walk through. I stopped for lunch in the Scout’s Park cafe before making my way to the Hotel Athina where I had arranged to stay.
Alexandroupoli is a relatively modern city with its main attraction being the lighthouse built in 1850. It is situated in the harbour area and that is where I went to join the local people as they took their evening strolls along the Megali Alexandrou and where I sat in a pavement bar reflecting on my journey through Greece.
Tomorrow will be my last day in Greece, I cross the border into Turkey on Thursday. I have been in Greece for a month now and I have sort of grown accustomed to the place. I won’t miss the stray aggressive dogs or the expense ( Greece is expensive) but I will miss the people who have been so friendly and kind. They always have three questions for me, ” where are you from” ” why are here ” and ” how old are you “. I love the way they ask the questions, demanding but sincere. I tell them I am from England and that I am on a pilgrimage walking to Jerusalem for the love of God, and I am here to meet the people and that we are all human beings irrespective of race or creed. I tell them of the love, kindness, and hospitality I have experienced and I tell them age is not important. Most understand with a hand on heart and some with a hug. Hopefully, I have left a little bit of me here in Greece for people to remember and ponder.
