Pilgrim’s Blog

Distance: 26.0 km – Elevation +120 m -110 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 31 degrees I slept well and woke in good time for the taxi. I had arranged with the taxi driver who had taken me to Profitis Ilias yesterday, to pick me up from the hotel at 6.30 am this morning. So I was in Profitis Ilias at 7.00 am ready for the day’s walk. Like yesterday I had missed breakfast at the hotel

Distance: 22.6 km – Elevation +230 m -280 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 31 degrees Before I started this pilgrimaģe a young Italian man who had read one of my Facebook posts made contact and told me he was walking from Antalya in Turkey to Florence and that our paths might cross one day. This morning I was one hour out of Giannitsa and saw in the distance a walker approaching and yes it was Alessio

Distance: 21.5 km – Elevation +120 m -120 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 34 degrees The hotel was very comfortable and had a restaurant where I enjoyed a good supper, and this morning a good breakfast was provided. I left around 8.00 am and passed a few garden centres. I crossed a very long and straight irrigation canal and also the River Vardar. The river Vardar rises in North Macedonia and drains into the Aegean Sea,

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

Distance: 19.9 km – Elevation +210 m -720 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 33 degrees Back on the trail again after a very restful and enjoyable break with visits to Krinides mud baths and the wonder that is Philippi, the Island of Thasos and Thessaloniki. Today’s walk was more tricky than expected. I am using the GPS tracks provided by the Via Egnatia Foundation. There was only one place to stay in Choriatis, an Airbnb, but

Distance: 29.7 km – Elevation +180 m -670 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 34 degrees I dined in my favourite seafood restaurant last night and said my farewells to this lively city as I strolled along the promenade watching the sun setting as it cast its golden glow over the harbour. I wanted an early start as the forecast was for temperatures in the mid thirties and I had thirty kilometres ahead of me to reach

Distance: 29.0 km – Elevation +130 m -170 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 28 degrees I started early today and caught the beauty of the sun rising behind the mountains. I again elected to take the direct route bisecting the many loops of the Via Egnatia tracks, which without a guidebook, I do not understand the route chosen and from what I have read the Via Egnatia went north of the lake. I have decided to

Distance: 35.2 km – Elevation +170 m -160 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 29 degrees This is not the time of year to visit Stavros, it is a holiday resort and coupled with a weekend the town was full. I had managed to pre-book accommodation and slept well after a good supper. I left at 7.00 am following the Via Egnatia Foundation tracks which when looking ahead I noticed, hugged the shoreline for most of the

Distance: 27.0 km – Elevation +140 m -130 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 29 degrees What a difference a day makes! I slept well after yesterday’s marathon and rose at 5.30 am ready for the day ahead. The Via Egnatia route wanted to take me back 5 kilometres to a start at Amphipolis for an onward journey to Rodlivos, followed by the next stage to Philippi before reaching Kavala, in all a 3 day journey. I

Distance: 34.9 km – Elevation +280 m -280 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 35 degrees Éllēnas was a friendly place to stay. Eating in the beachside restaurant with its ebullient manager who wore a sprig of mint behind his ear, and the equally happy staff was a joy. I had a salad with produce from their gardens and locally caught fish deliciously fried. I think I was the only guest staying in the house but the