17/08/2022 - Stage 11 from Kalambaka to Thessaloniki, Greece (280 kilometers)

From the inland, we headed east today. We reached the Greek coast, took a short detour to the sea to check how warm the water is. It was very pleasant for the feet. People were lined up like sardines in a can on the beach, sunbathing. Not the right place for us. We drank a frappe and ate a portion of bougatsa, a Greek pastry made of filo dough with cream filling, in a café where only locals were sitting. Very delicious. Then we continued along the coast. On our left, Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece at 2,917 meters, was towering. We were almost at our destination, the second largest city in Greece - Thessaloniki. Before we went to our accommodation, we made a stop at Media Markt and bought Ben a beard trimmer. I had forgotten his razor at home and he looked more and more like a bush thief ;-). Then we continued through the city, the streets became narrower and narrower. We arrived at our accommodation and didn't go out anymore. The sun was burning and the air was stagnant on the streets. At 5 p.m., we ventured out of the air-conditioned apartment. Thessaloniki is known for its excellent shopping opportunities. There was a shop in every street and pedestrian zone. In between, we found interesting buildings from earlier times, such as Hagia Sophia and the Turkish Bath. But there were also small and large archaeological sites, such as the Roman Forum, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. Our walk led to the sea and along the 5-kilometer long promenade. Here stands the White Tower, the most famous monument and landmark of the city. Originally, the tower served as a prison during the Ottoman occupation of Greece and was surrounded by heavy walls. After the Greeks recaptured the city in the First Balkan War, the tower was whitewashed as a symbolic act and was named White Tower in 1912. We went to a stylish bar for drinks. A small portion of homemade ice cream with honey was served, very good. Back to the upper town, the historic center, and to our accommodation, we walked through many alleys, parks, and squares.