18/08/2022 - Stage 12 from Thessaloniki to Kavala / Greece (176 kilometers)

In the morning, we continued driving along the sea. In some town between Thessaloniki and Kavala, we found a parking space on the fourth parallel street to the beach. Ben didn't want to go, but I went for a long swim in the sea. It wasn't too cold, but still a refreshing break from the temperatures. We arrived in Kavala in the early afternoon. Our very modern apartment was located on one of the city's hills. On another hill above the old town is the Castle of Kavala. We walked through the steep streets, passing by the beautiful aqueduct and a marble lion dedicated to the heroes of the wars, until we reached the castle all sweaty. It was built in the 15th century and is well preserved. We enjoyed a great view over the city and all the way to the island of Thassos. In typical Greek fashion, we rewarded ourselves for the effort. We had tzatziki, 3-cheese baked with tomatoes, fried calamari, and lemon chicken. It was delicious as always. The sun had said goodbye for the day by now. We visited a small white lighthouse on a viewpoint with a beautiful view of the increasingly colorful city. That's exactly where our walk led us. We walked steep streets down to the harbor, passing by bustling bars and the Agios Nikolaos Church. Down at the harbor, we walked along the lively promenade. Picturesque fishing boats and sailboats, restaurants, bars, and cafes, there was a lot of activity here. A few meters away is the noteworthy Town Hall of Kavala. It was built by a Hungarian tobacco merchant and is a miniature version of a Hungarian castle. It is considered the symbol of the city. Through the bustling city, we now walked steeply uphill to our accommodation.