Greece

Distance: 32.6 km – Elevation +240 m -200 m Weather: Rain. Temperature: High 16 degrees Today I said farewell to Macedonia and crossed the border into Greece. Today’s route was modified to have somewhere to sleep at the end of the day. So it was a 32 kilometre walk to Florina via the border post at Niki. It was raining heavily as I left the hotel at 5.30 am requiring full wet gear for the first

Distance: 20.5 km – Elevation +160 m -90 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 25 degrees It was still raining as I began to sleep last night and it was cold and I needed a blanket to keep warm. The Greek met office said the storm yesterday was very unseasonal, the weather conditions more associated with autumn. I slept well and left Florina just before 8.00 am.  My destination for today was Vevi. The route out of

Distance: 25.7 km – Elevation +380 m -590 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 27 degrees From the Florina plains to walking in the mountains. The route out of Vevi followed the road that would eventually lead me to Arnissa. It was a long slow climb that would first take me to the highest point of the day at 1012 metres, the village of Kella which is situated on the northerly slopes of mountain Liliakos.  There were

Distance: 22.7 km – Elevation +150 m -380 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 28 degrees The main street of Arnissa was already busy when I left the B&B at 8.00 am and as I passed a small workshop two aggressive dogs came bounding out and were yapping at my heels before their apologetic owner came and called them off. Just outside of Arnissa I came to the “Monument of the Fallen” erected in memory of those

Distance: 16.5 km – Elevation +450 m -180 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 29 degrees Another day’s walk dictated by available accommodation. The Via Egnatia route would take me first to Profitis Ilias and from there to Giannitsa, a distance from Edessa of 45 kilometres, and with no available accommodation in between, I had a decision to make.  Either to break the journey at Profitis Ilias and return to Edessa or attempt to complete the whole

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