64. Xanthi

64. Day: Right after waking up, we take a leisurely walk on Erasmiou Beach. The beach is wide, with a deep middle and fine light sand, just as tourists wish. Unfortunately, it is also heavily polluted in some areas, which is unfortunately not uncommon in Greece.

That's why we also drive to the next beach, Magganon Beach. It has similar qualities but is much cleaner. Here we spend a few hours mostly alone. Occasionally, a car comes by but usually drives on. It's wonderfully peaceful. However, the wind can be quite strong, and lying on the ground feels like being sandblasted.

In the late afternoon, we arrive in the small town of Xanthi. On the way there, we stop by the small Agios Nikolaos monastery, which is located on a small island in a lagoon. Here, we have our first real conversation with a monk from the monastic republic of Mount Athos.

In Xanthi, we mainly stroll through the streets of the old town, which are lined with many very grand houses from better times (Xanthi used to be a wealthy tobacco trading center). Unfortunately, most of them are in a desolate state. The city appears completely sleepy, even on the central plaza. Hardly a soul to be seen. All the restaurants are empty.

When we want to stretch our legs in the old town after a delicious dinner at the Palea Polis restaurant, we can hardly believe our eyes. The city has come to life. The streets are full of people, and the cafes and bars are overflowing. We also join in the crowd for a bit before retreating to our accommodation, Nuggy.