Anchialos to Thessaloniki – July 24th
Distance: 18.6 km – Elevation +370 m -360 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 32 degrees
The Alexandros Hotel was clean and tidy and the supper in the hotel restaurant was well prepared. After a good breakfast I left the hotel just after 8.00 am to follow the main road into Thessaloniki. After an initial stretch of a busy dual carriageway, I came to the beginning of the city suburbs with the road lined with shops, car showrooms, bars, and cafes. It was another warm day and around 6 kilometres into my journey I stopped at a bar in Echedoro for a refreshing frappe.
It was interesting to be in a busy city again watching the Greek people going about their daily lives. Time passed quickly and I soon found myself in Thessaloniki where I made my way to the Hotel Pella. After checking into my room I made my way to the harbour and the sea where I sat and reflected on my journey. I have walked across the Balkans from the Adriatic to the Aegean, and reached the end of stage 2 of my pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A distance from Rome of 830 miles ( including 140 miles by sea) and during that journey I have climbed more than 60000 feet.
