DAY 164

Ismahan (France) sleeping on a sofa, near fireplace. Our host made this very comfortable setting while we had some doubts about it. Just next to it stand a frame that lasted from previous piece of furniture damadged by flames.

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Campfire room.

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Waking up at 5.00am wasnt the CMFA daily habbit. Despite of hot sun hitting as early as 9.00am we hardly ever managed to leave the accomodation place before 8am. Denis (Germany) setting down his tent and packing things before leaving.

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Anna (Poland) and Alex (Germany) enjoy a beautiful view, early morning.

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Morning circle. This was the last day of marching in Bulgaria. At this point we didnt know yet that we will be prohibited from marching in Bulgaria and from this point we will march only occasionally until CMFA reached Lebanon.

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Checking shoes and socks before marching.

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Ismahan prepares for the march, while Liza and Wiktoria got up to join the morning circle. They stayed in the logistics team this day.

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Denis (Germany), full of concernes about the future and the shape of the CMFA.

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5.30 am.

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Morning circle.

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CMFA posing for a group photo. I tried to take these shots as often as possible.

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CMFA posing for a group photo. I tried to take these shots as often as possible.

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Heading north, to reach Bulgarian border.

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Liza and Alex met us on the way, providing some water.

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It says 24km to Bulgaria, actually we did more than 38km on this day. We were lost just near the border, where the terrain is very obsolete and the roads almost not used.

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Ismahan takes a short rest in a post communism amphitheatre. We initially thought that it may be an ancient one but it was probably from 1980s.

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20 minutes break in a cafe. Traditionally we have ordered cold refreshing cafe frappe, but we have been also offered with some rakija and self made vegetable dish. It was delicious!

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Greece rural landscape.

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Ismahan is collecting some flowers on the way.

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Finally, after marching for more then hour in the full sun, on the open space we reached first shadow. It was such a relief.

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An old, abandoned road across the border. It was more than 40degrees in the sun, no shadow, extremely humid and hot piece.

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Finally, after marching for more then hour in the full sun, on the open space we reached first shadow. It was such a relief. Denis decided to shorten the break and hit the road first to reach the city as soon as possible. We met later on in a cafe.

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Ismahan wears a bracelet with an inscription "Peace messanger".

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Finally, after marching for more then hour in the full sun, on the open space we reached first shadow. It was such a relief.

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Herman (Germany) taking a rest in the shadow.

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Again, marching in the full sun.

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Again, marching in the full sun.

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Again, marching in the full sun.

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Herman (Germany).

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Malika "Queen of the CMFA" marching through Greece. She has taken part in the whole journey, starting from Berlin, ending in Lebanon, only with small breaks.

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Entering Ormenio.

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Getting close to the border crossing with Bulgaria.

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In the no mans land, between the checkpoints. We were controlled by the Bulgarian border police who was hiding in the bushes and came out of blue, while we were passing.

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In the no mans land, between the checkpoints.

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Bulgarian border.

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Evening organisational meeting in the accomodation place. We were to plan our next days and the strategy for Bulgaria. Civil March was waiting for the permission to enter Turkey and since we didnt have any B plan, the tension was high.

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Denis (Germany).

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Ismahan listening to a fierce dispute between Malika and Wiktoria.

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Even after a long day like it, when we were all wasted, there has been space for discussion. Malika (France) fiercly defend her right to march next day while Wiktoria (Poland) wanted to stay one more day in Villa Pirenya and do some planning and research.

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One of the most difficult aspects of the march was to manage personal opinions and individal aspirations. Conflicts were many times unavoidable.

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All of us were already very tired this day, finally we decided to take a day off.

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