Woke up at 5am (I think ‘that’s really 4’ to myself) still feeling cross at being ripped off by the hotel – so I go out to find some breakfast. Stuff myself on a nutella filled pancake at a 24hour creperie (there are indeed such places). Then I went back to the hotel and vent my frustrations on the lady who manages the hotel about paying over the odds when she innocently asks “Did you sleep well?”. My argument is a bit wasted on her, as she still doesn’t speak much English, but I feel much better. I went back to bed and slept from 7.30am ‘till 10! Mavi and I went for a (second, in my case) breakfast in the Old Town – wondering into another church on the way. The restorations look a little more sensitive in here than what I recall of Heraclea: no walls bonded with cement of picture finished off – the wall paintings are left as they were found and are all the more gorgeous and mysterious because of it. I love the dark and muted colours and the sun filtering in through high windows.
Greece is far more prosperous than any of the Balkan countries I have passed through – even though it’s broke and having to undergo ‘austerity’ it’s not apparent. The country feels very much like being back in Western Europe – including the prices!
Mavi and I had breakfast (cheese ‘tost’ and coffee) on a balcony that overlooked that great flat plain that leads to Thessaloniki. I shall depart a little later this afternoon, after going to see the famous waterfalls – where the river Edessaios throws itself from the cliff onto the plain below. Maybe I’ll take another day to reach Thessaloniki as it’s 28˚C hot and I’m in no rush. Mavi reminds me of Leah (Edwards) – did similar course at Uni, similar age, similar temperament, similar grace. Mavi is wavy though – as she talks, she snakes her hands and her body to illustrate what she’s saying, in a mesmerizing, dancing fashion. Mavi says she is inspired to take a bicycle with her on her next travel adventure – yippee! I have made a convert to cycle-touring! We say goodbye. Maybe we’ll meet again in Thessaloniki – though that really would be something of a miracle.
After packing up, I go find the waterfalls – they have been channeled by man (to create energy, amongst other things) but are still quite impressive. Tourists can walk behind the falls and get damp too. I get given a peach, sliced open, washed and ready to eat, by the man selling them in the carpark beside the falls.
Edessa exerted its magnetic force - or maybe I’d melted and stuck to the chair – whatever the reason, I didn’t get moving until gone 6.30pm. The ride down hill to the plains was fabulous – the warm air and movement combining to create a pleasant breeze. I’m a bit concerned that place names are beginning to sound like James Bond enemies: ‘Skydra’ is off to the right. I’m only aiming for Giannitsa this evening – the largest city in the Pella region by all accounts. Every now and then, a large lorry stuffed with boxes of peaches will pass me, wafting peachy aroma all around which has my mouth watering.
I arrive at Giannitsa at around half past 9 and find the centre of town quickly enough. I had a much welcomed and rather tasty berry smoothie in the nearest café/bar. The barwoman was really helpful once I’d established there were very few places to stay around here – no campsites or hostels. She told me that the Hotel Istron was probably the cheapest place around – although it was unfortunately situated 5km outside of town. This meant that I wouldn’t be returning to explore the city before moving on (being too lazy), which was a shame. The Hotel was €30, but included breakfast, double bed and air conditioning (ie not quite such a rip off as the hotel in Edessa). Greece is not cheap.
Greece is far more prosperous than any of the Balkan countries I have passed through – even though it’s broke and having to undergo ‘austerity’ it’s not apparent. The country feels very much like being back in Western Europe – including the prices!
Mavi and I had breakfast (cheese ‘tost’ and coffee) on a balcony that overlooked that great flat plain that leads to Thessaloniki. I shall depart a little later this afternoon, after going to see the famous waterfalls – where the river Edessaios throws itself from the cliff onto the plain below. Maybe I’ll take another day to reach Thessaloniki as it’s 28˚C hot and I’m in no rush. Mavi reminds me of Leah (Edwards) – did similar course at Uni, similar age, similar temperament, similar grace. Mavi is wavy though – as she talks, she snakes her hands and her body to illustrate what she’s saying, in a mesmerizing, dancing fashion. Mavi says she is inspired to take a bicycle with her on her next travel adventure – yippee! I have made a convert to cycle-touring! We say goodbye. Maybe we’ll meet again in Thessaloniki – though that really would be something of a miracle.
After packing up, I go find the waterfalls – they have been channeled by man (to create energy, amongst other things) but are still quite impressive. Tourists can walk behind the falls and get damp too. I get given a peach, sliced open, washed and ready to eat, by the man selling them in the carpark beside the falls.
Edessa exerted its magnetic force - or maybe I’d melted and stuck to the chair – whatever the reason, I didn’t get moving until gone 6.30pm. The ride down hill to the plains was fabulous – the warm air and movement combining to create a pleasant breeze. I’m a bit concerned that place names are beginning to sound like James Bond enemies: ‘Skydra’ is off to the right. I’m only aiming for Giannitsa this evening – the largest city in the Pella region by all accounts. Every now and then, a large lorry stuffed with boxes of peaches will pass me, wafting peachy aroma all around which has my mouth watering.
I arrive at Giannitsa at around half past 9 and find the centre of town quickly enough. I had a much welcomed and rather tasty berry smoothie in the nearest café/bar. The barwoman was really helpful once I’d established there were very few places to stay around here – no campsites or hostels. She told me that the Hotel Istron was probably the cheapest place around – although it was unfortunately situated 5km outside of town. This meant that I wouldn’t be returning to explore the city before moving on (being too lazy), which was a shame. The Hotel was €30, but included breakfast, double bed and air conditioning (ie not quite such a rip off as the hotel in Edessa). Greece is not cheap.
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