Global Practicum Kavala - Day 2

 ​March 24, 2026

We packed up and temporarily said good-bye to HIlton Sofia to head to Kavala, Greece. It was an early departure with our tour guide Todor and the bus driver, who’s name escapes me but I recall it sounds like Chiso - and peer of ours - who connected with the bus driver since their names were so similar. On the way to Kavala, many napped on the trip briefly waking up to stretch our legs during one of the required stops so our bus driver can rest. A gloomy day, with heavy clouds and the occasional rain  making the streets slick and the skies grey. I was able to complete one journal assignment on the way to Kavala and submit it reflecting my disorienting experience. Then I read my book for the rest of the way. 

Arriving in Kavala, our hotel was at the center of Kavala with the ocean on

one side and the city on the other side. Rain came down a little heavier but this would not stop our tour of Kavala from starting. The hotel staff was ready for us. Our room keys were ready and as the desk agents called our names, we took them and headed to our rooms. The elevators only allowed for 2 per elevator with luggage so many opted to trek to their rooms via the stairs. Oddly, we were on the 2nd floor but the 2nd floor was not one flight up, but 4 flights up. Once we dropped off our luggage, we met downstairs where our Kavala tour guides were waiting for us in motorcycle type golf carts with rain protection. They were kind enough to prepare a traditional snack for us which was a sesame covered pretzel called Koulouria. This held us over until lunch. 

First stop was the Tobacco museum. The museum is hidden on a quaint street with an unassuming entry way. It almost felt deserted until you walked into the museum itself where two lovely women sat awaiting our arrival.  The smell of. Tobacco was prominent but not offensive like when it is smoked. It is like coffee, the smell of the coffee bean can be delightful and resets one’s senses. Tobacco felt very similar in this form, where tobacco leaves have been preserved for ages. 

The kind lady behind the counter took care of the ticketing and exchange of monies and the other would be our tour guide. What we didn’t expect was actually a history of Kavala and why it was such an important part of Greek history. We were not just there to learn about Tobacco trade, but of the land’s history. She was lively and engaging in how she articulated how Kavala may have gotten its name, the importance of trade, the many different people that may have come through Kavala’s ports, and eventually the purpose of tobacco and how it became a primary trade of this region.  It is not a big museum nor is it fancy but it had so much history and depth that added meaningfully to our experience in Kavala. 

Our Kavala tour guide came in to politely let us know it’s time to go, so we

exited to our next stop. In our golf carts, we. Toured the streets going up steep hills, passing old churches with painted murals, and seeing the statue of Mohammad Ali, “the original”, near the top of the mountain. Around this area is where we stopped to have lunch at a local Greek restaurant. I partook in the sea doggies, which was a type of small shark. It was a very soft fleshy meat, texture seemed more fatty than meaty but nonetheless tasty for the meal. After eating we took a few minutes to do a little bit of shopping in the quaint shop next door where I was able to pick up souvenirs of Kavala for my family. On our way back, our tour guide dropped us off where some stopped for some gelato, and others walked back to the hotel for some rest. Dinner was due only a few hours from the time so having some quiet time helped me reset a bit. By the time dinner came around, I wasn’t very hungry but felt a desire to try Octopus, which was supposed to be great from this area. It was good but a bit overcooked - chewier than it should be. Afterwards, a group of us met at the hotel’s rooftop bar where it overlooked the ocean. The night view of the port was beautiful. There weren’t many in the bar, which made it nice to converse with my peers. Over wine and spirits, we shared why we decided to start this journey into a global leadership PhD, prompted by Liv. It was a great discussion, each of us having different purposes and topics we wanted to explore. What made the conversation so engaging is that everyone wanted the other to be successful in their studies. Cheering each other on to be our best.  After our conversations, I decided to head back to my room and rest while others decided to head out to a local hookah bar. 

The next day, I met Brad and Kit to walk through the streets of Kavala before our 9am departure. On this day, the sun was out, ready to take on the parade set to celebrate Greece’s Independence Day from the Ottoman Empire. 

Some of us had wished we could stay and experience the festivities but the day would bring us to Melnik, another monastary and town to visit. One that would forever be a core memory.

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