Continuing from where we left off:
Oct. 11th, Thursday:
2pm-Took a bus from the town of Kalambaka after lunch and bidding byes to our temporary pals to Trikala, from where we took another bus to Thessaloniki. Rudest bus driver ever encountered in Europe, including France. Only ever time we experienced a personality that matched the all-too common dour faced Greek male.
4 hour bus ride past seaside towns by the Aegean Sea,
fortresses,
and Mt. Olympus, which was covered in fog; to the region of Macedonia, and the city of Thessaloniki, considered the culinary capital of Greece.
Had just enough energy to check in at hotel, and freshen up before a nap.
Not the best place for someone who speaks no Greek. Found no taverna or anything of the kind nearby, and too tired to venture out in a cab. So sauntered off to the nearby supermarket and contented ourselves with Pita chips, eggplant dip and fruit.
Oct. 12th, Friday:
7am-Woke early. Breakfasted and walked to the center of town, which is by the waterfront,
and housed the White Tower, remnant of the Ottoman regime,
and several neat cafes where we stopped for frappes.
We then wandered by several Byzantine churches,
and chaotic Aristotle Square,
where we came across a street performance so incongruous with anything I had to take a picture of it
I mean-these were supposedly Native Americans, form North America, performing a war dance to a relaxing New Age version of South American reeds. Unbelievable.
We then stopped for another mezedes feast
after which we walked back to the hotel for a well-timed nap. Didn’t feel like doing much after so got dinner to go.
Oct. 13, Saturday:
Look forward to getting out of here. Didn’t feel like it was a very productive stop on our way. Got a few hours to kill before heading off to the Cycladic islands, so went into town center again and visited the supposedly biggest Byzantine church in Greece, Agios Dimitros:
They allowed pictures in this one, so snapped up a few of the altar,
and some frescoes
before heading out to the Roman Forum
and its baths
and strolling back along the waterfront before going to the airport and on to the first of our Cycladic islands, Santorini.
