Sunrise: Thessaloniki 7:06am
Sunset: 7:40pm
Steps: 10,003
Steps: 10,003
I was up, showered dressed and down to breakfast by 7:15 this morning. There is another group here. A church group from Australia, at the end of their tour.
Just as well I went down early, as the majority of people all seemed to arrive just after 7:30 and the place became packed very quickly. The actual breakfast area is fairly small, so it looked very congested. I should get down there at 7 tomorrow and take a photo, before the crowd arrive.
We all met down in reception at 8:55 to then walked a few metres to the main road, so that when our bus came along, we were all ready to jump on board. Once onboard, we were introduced to our local guide for today and tomorrow Nena. We also met our driver, Dimitri.
Pella was our first port of call today. First up was a visit to the ancient archaeological complex site.
before we headed to the archaeological museum, where we saw the outstanding floors that used to decorate the ancient city's grand mansions.
We also saw some beautiful ancient gold jewellery
Figurines
Pottery
Male burial asseccories
After a coffee/ice cream break, it was back on the bus at 11:45 to go to Edessa, the town of the waterfalls.
We had a lunch break in Edessa and were back on the bus around 2:30pm and headed back to Thessaloniki, where we arrive back at the hotel around 4. Lois & Betty wanted to see the Castle at the top of the old Town and asked me to join them. We caught the #23 bus from a bus stop around the corner from our hotel and headed up to the top of Thessaloniki.
Till the 1890s the Castle was the seat of the garrison commanders and then it was turned into a prison till 1989. In fact, this prison was known as a severe place of torture. Many political opponents were lead there during the Metaxas Regime (1936-1941), the Axis Occupation in Greece, the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) and the Regime of the Colonels (1967-1974). In fact, the prisons of Yedi Kule were frequently mentioned in the underground rebetika songs. After the damages that wars, earthquakes and time have caused, the Castle of Thessaloniki is today under restoration but open to visitors.
It was closed but we took some photos from up there and then caught a bus back down to the hotel.
There was time to have a shower, change clothes, do some laundry and meet the group in the foyer at 7:15, so we could all walk to a nearby restaurant for our "welcome" dinner.
The starters were shared among 4 people and for the main, I had a chicken risotto with curry. Far too much food on the plate and I couldn't finish it. I don't know what the desert was called but it was extremely delicious. It was after 9 by then, so I said my goodnights and walked back to the hotel.
I packed the suitcase, as we are on the move tomorrow.
I have met almost every one on the tour and there are 19 of us.
Roger & Helen, who I came in with on Tuesday, are from Adelaide.
Robin & Peter, Marion & Jim and Wendy & ?? are all travelling together. Colin & Colleen and Warwick & Irene are also travelling together. The rest of the group are Stephen & Jenny and Lois & Elizabeth (or Betty) and David & Julie.It is just on midnight here, so I'm heading for bed. Fitbit is saying that I walked 10,003 steps today. Night all.
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