28. Sep 2023

Farsala - Domokos

Photo 1: The road through the wilderness...

Photo 2: There are a lot of cotton fields here, though, and right now is the time for harvest. They need dry sunny weather, which is how it is right now. I need to carry a lot of water with me! Along the edge of the roads you can see cotton wads everywhere they have escaped the harvesting trucks.

Photo 3: Bringing in the harvest...
It reminds me that even in dry places there can be a harvest, just as in hard places flowers can bloom. May that be the case in the Balkans, that the Spirit of God would give life and renewal!

Photo 4: The prayer shrines in the desert places... It is good to pray in the wilderness!

Photo 5: At the end of the stretch today there was a mountain to climb. Even though this is not what you want to do after an exhausting day of hiking, it was the most enjoyable part of today's walk. It was in the shade, mostly unpaved, no traffic and had a great view. I will spend tonight and have my needed day of rest tomorrow in this mountain town of Domoskos. There is only one place in the village that offered rooms. When I called this morning to try and make a reservation, I asked if they spoke English. I guess not, because they hung up on me. I then wrote an Email to Nikki from the reception at the hotel where I stayed in Kozani whether she could make the call for me. She did. I got a real nice room for the two nights... and they gave me a pilgrim discount. The owners are really nice people. They just do not speak English...