18. Sep 2023

Pelekanos - Kozani

Photo 1: It was raining when I got to the village Galatina... and I was real hungry. I saw a woman on the street who also understood some English. I asked her where I might be able to get something to eat, whether there might be a restaurant that had open. There was one and she took me to it. She translated for me to the man who ran the restaurant. The place was full of men playing cards. One came up to me who had lived and worked on Bodensee in Germany many years ago. He spoke a little German, asked the standard questions about where I am from and where I am going, and told everyone in the room what I said. I then had all of their respect. The wife of the restaurant owner cooked me a very good chicken schnitzel meal. It was a good place to get warm and dry again.

Photo 2: The restaurant owner wanted to take a picture with me and him together, so I took one as well. That is always a good sign that the moment was meaningful. I guess not too many pilgrims pass from Germany through this village on their way to Athens...

Photo 3: After lunch I went through this very beautiful nature preserve. No traffic!

Photo 4: ...but there were bears!!! After walking through the mountain pass in the last photo, I felt this strong urge to sing my pilgrim song. About ten minutes later I went by these bear footprints. They were fresh. I just do not know how fresh. When I saw that, I kept singing until I got down the mountain and reached the next village.

Photo 5: Shortly after I left the restaurant, it had stopped raining. I was happy that I made it to Kozani without any more rain.