Day 47-50 - October 20-23, 2023 Thessaloniki and trip to Patras

October 20th, 2023 I leave the beautiful picnic area above Feres around 10 a.m. and drive on the motorway to Thessaloniki. Things don't look so great with parking spaces. So I book myself an apartment. It is ideally located, not far from the center. I settle in and walk to the coastal promenade in the afternoon and let myself drift. I return with a few groceries, write on my blog, enjoy dinner on the roof terrace and fall into bed dead tired. 12881 km

October 21-22, 2023 Two days of relaxation in Thessaloniki. I sleep in and read a lot. Then I write and in the afternoon I go into town. The sights are the white tower on the waterfront, the Rotunda of Galerius (mausuleum for the emperor, then church and mosque), the Arch of Galerius and the ruins of the Galerius Palace. Eating out on the waterfront is nice, but a tourist rip-off. It is better to mingle with the Greeks in the old town and go to these bars.

October 23rd, 2023 Today it's time to say goodbye. The alarm goes off at 7 a.m. and I'm on the slopes at 7:30 a.m. We're going to Patras. The drive goes through the mountains the whole time, fantastic. My ferry to Ancona is scheduled to start in Patras in the early evening. However, the departure has been postponed to 3:30 in the morning. I have to digest the news first, but then I realize that there is a ferry to Venice at 11 p.m. Rebooking is easy, even at no extra charge. Same arrival time and 300 km saved, what luck. There is a hairdresser in the harbor building. Of course I use this to make myself suitable for Europe. Then we head to Patras for a late lunch and a stroll through the city. Back again, the German travelers to Greece meet in the parking lot in the port. There are stimulating conversations. I get to know a nice woman and in conversation it turns out that we have mutual acquaintances. We meet again on the ferry and she takes me straight to the women's dormitory, as there are many beds available there. After the free rebooking, a free bed, such a lucky day. 13221 km