Well, I'm pretty much done with Thessaloniki. I spent today out and about without a map, and have learned the main streets well enough to not get lost. Really the main things here are shopping and sweet shops, and as I still have a month to go, I am NOT shopping yet, it's just more things to carry. As for the sweet shops, wow, but I seriously need to start exercising some self control or I'll be headed straight to the gym when I head home...not something I plan t...

Arrived in Thessaloniki without a hitch and found my hostel right away (have I mentioned Lonely Planet is my god?). Anyway headed right back out to figure out the next leg of the trip, as I still have to make my way to Croatia. Problem now solved - on Saturday I am on a train headed to Belgrade, Serbia and from there to Zagreb. Now I am off to find a place to do laundry!

Hiked the Ennipeas Gorge in Mt Olympus National Park today. Decided to take it easy and caught a cab up to one of the base camps and figured I'd hike down...very very glad I did that as it still turned out to be a 12km hike! Got rained on, but I had my rain jacket so I stayed nice and dry and the rain did wicked cool things to the cloud cover! Early night as the rain didn't see fit to stop. Tomorrow off to Thessaloniki, either a 8:30 or 10:30 bus, depends on when...

Today I actually had to "backpack" for the first time, as the bus dropped me on the highway and I had to hike 5km in to Litohoro...not fun! I prefer my method of buses and trains straight to my destination. Anyway, I made it. Litohoro is a cute little town! Found an adorable little place to stay (see picture lol) and while I haven't entirely managed to outrun the weather, it's only supposed to be light showers tomorrow which won't hurt the hike at all. And ending...

So we're heading north for Litohoro and Mt. Olympus. I decided to skip the Zagorohoria as much as it would be a cool sight. Its just a little too far out of the way for a stone village and a hike. Raining hard today here in Meteora, so here's hoping I manage to out run the rain because I am not hardcore enough to want to hike Mt. Olympus in this weather!