04 – Kavala

Kavala, the Azure City. In Paul’s day, it was called Neapolis.

Located in the north-east portion of Greece, it’s a thriving seaport full of history, culture and beauty. Just a few blocks from its downtown beach is the St Paul Memorial, commemorating Paul’s vision and call to Macedonia. It was built in 1928. It stands next to the remains of columns embedded in the sidewalk – supposedly the very stones Paul stepped on when he stepped ashore (I guess global warming has lowered the sea level over the years and that’s why the beach is now a couple blocks away from where the stones are).

The inscription reads as follows:

“At Troas, a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia and the next day to Napolis: And from thence to Philippi, which is the cheif city of that part of Macedonia…” The Acts (16, 9-12)

So basically, this is the first seaport town in Europe that Paul pulled into on his way to Philippi, 11 miles away. He later sailed from here on his last journey to Jerusalem.

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Senic overview of Kavala.
Some fortress off in the distance, near the sea.
Nice, clear blue water. Not at all dirty like we’d see here in the states.
Here’s the St. Paul Memorial. commemorating Paul’s vision.
“Ha, ha. No.. it’s ok. See.. he has a helmet!”

Here in the US, there’s a reason why we have these crazy things called “rules”, eh?

Judging by the lack of hyper-sensitivity for safety regulations and whatnots, you get the distinct impression that frivolous lawsuits don’t happen in Greece.

A more modern aqueduct. I forget how old it was, but it wasn’t Roman (1st century BC/AD). I think someone said it was built in the 14th century.