Today we woke up to some pretty good weather. A bit chilly, yes, but sunny and without that heavy wind from yesterday. Much better. So, a quiet morning: a walk along the beach, having a good sniff around, a bit of running about for no clear reason… the usual.

The beach was still just as wild and empty, and with the sun out, it was much more enjoyable. I took the opportunity to do my rounds, check that everything was still in its place and, of course, play with the ball. Because if there’s a beach, there’s a ball. It’s the law.

We ate in the camper and then set off. After a few kilometres, we saw a sign that promised culture: “Byzantine tower – Apollonia Tower”. That always sounds good. We parked, walked up a little slope and reached the top.

And there it was. A tower. Just like that. Nothing more, nothing less. Ancient, yes. Made of stone, also yes. But really, the description says it all. We saw it, walked around it like good responsible tourists, and that was that. Cultural mission completed in record time.

We kept driving and stopped in Kavala to refuel, because with so many kilometres, the fuel gauge drops faster than a dog when it hears “let’s go for a walk”. Then we made another stop in Xanthi, at a Praktiker, which is like a B&Q. Daddy Edu needed things for the camper. Because, obviously, DIY never ends. It’s like digging a hole: you start for no reason and when you realise it, you’ve already been at it for half an hour.

Afterwards, it was time to look for a place to sleep. And we went to one we already knew: Porto Lagos. Two and a half years ago, we had met up here with Ingo and Elke, some German friends we met in Georgia. Back then, the place was full of life. People, atmosphere, the humans swimming in the sea… all very nice.

Today… a different story. There was hardly anyone there. The streets empty, the harbour quiet, too quiet. No swimming, of course. It’s cold and the water is full of seaweed. And besides, there are quite a few half-abandoned buildings, some in ruins, which give it a slightly strange vibe, almost like a mystery film. One of those places where you expect something to appear from around a corner… although nothing actually does.

Even so, we found a good spot among the trees, well sheltered from the wind. And hey, even if the atmosphere is a bit strange, the place has its charm.

So here we are staying the night. Quiet, no noise… and with the feeling of being in a place that was something else not so long ago. Tomorrow we’ll see how the story continues.