Wednesday 12th September - Thessaloniki

Sunrise: Thessaloniki          7:05am

Sunset:                                7:42pm
Steps:                                  16,134

I woke just before the alarm went off this morning, so a good nights sleep.

I only walked 5,587 steps yesterday but that was because it was a travel day and there isn't too much opportunity to go walking on a plane.

I went down to breakfast shortly after 7. After that, I got a map from reception and had a good look at that before exploring. Not that it's a very good map. More about where the shopping Malls and hotels are. 

Thessaloniki is a Greek port city on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. Evidence of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history remains, especially around Ano Poli, the upper town. The ruins of Roman Emperor Galerius’ 4th-century palace (I think we passed that on the way to the hotel yesterday evening. We certainly went past some roman ruins anyway)  include the Rotunda that has been both a church and a mosque. 
Much of the city center was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1917. The rebuilt 20th-century city has a modern European layout.  The historical  Centre has a population 354,290 and was founded in 315 BC.  The urban area has a population of 788,952 and the metropolitan area is 1,012,297. In other words, a lot of people.

After breakfast, I went out walking along the waterfront. Our hotel is only a couple of blocks back from it.

The White Tower was built in the fifteenth century after the fall of Thessaloniki to the Ottomans in 1430. At its location there had been an older tower belonging to Thessaloniki’s Byzantine fortifications, where the eastern wall met the sea wall. The Tower was the eastern end of the sea wall; there was another at the western end, and a third in between.

This is the National Resistance Memorial. It is a tribute to the heroes of the Greek Resistance during WWII, aiming to commemorate their courage and sacrifice. Unfortunately, it's a little the worse for wear.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Thessaloniki above and the inside of the Dome below

I wandered back to the hotel around midday and decided to have some lunch.

Grilled octopus, which was super delicious and just the right amount for a light lunch.

I didn't have anything in particular planned for the rest of the day, so decided to check out the Modiano open air Markets, which are a couple of blocks away from the hotel in the opposite direction of this morning's walk and right next door to the Aristotelous plaza or square.  I took this photo of the plaza on my morning walk but didn't know what it was called, at the time. It continues for another block or so past this square and is naturally lined with cafe and coffee shops. It is the main city square of Thessaloniki. It was designed by French architect Ernest Hébrard in 1918, but most of the square was built in the 1950s.

I didn't take my camera with me, so have no pics of the markets. It has been part of the Thessalonians’ life for about 80 years. Its construction started in 1922 and finished in 1930 by architect  Eli Modiano.  Fruit, vegetables, chicken, beef, lamb. All sorts of deli meats and cheeses plus the usual shoes and clothing and fish.  So many fish!!!

When I left the markets, I had totally lost my bearings, so figured it I headed for the ocean, I'd find my way back to the hotel. I thought I was west of the hotel but in reality I was east of it.

By the time I got back to the hotel it was after 3:30pm and there was a note from the tour director saying that we are all meeting in the Green Bar at 19:30 this evening.

My room hadn't been serviced but the lady saw me standing in the doorway (reading the note) and came and asked if it was okay to clean with me there. Of course it was.

I went walking again later, mainly just to see what was around the neighbourhood. Narrow streets and a lot of one way streets. Little bars /cafes everywhere and most had people sitting in them, or outside of them I should say.

I think the temp might have got to 30c today but it was pleasant not having the humidity that Malta had.

One thing I have noticed here, is that a lot of the younger and not so young females, are wearing cork platform shoes, so perhaps this will be the summer line in Australia.  I can remember wearing them in the 70's.

I went downstairs around 6:45 and ordered a small red wine. It came with a glass of water and some nibbles.  I noticed that when I bought a coffee earlier today, that they also bought water out, as well as the coffee and a couple of chocolate biscuits. 

Another couple sat down on the lounge near me. They were also from Australia but travelling with their church group and not Bunnik. They were from Brisbane and were on the tale end of their tour and looking forward to getting home.

The TD, Christina Kler, came along and introduced herself.  I had noticed her earlier in the hotel when I was having lunch and wondered then if she might be the TD. A delightful Greek lady. By 7:30, most of us had gathered and Christina handed out a map of Greece, to all of us, which she had already highlighted the route on. 

There was a drink on offer and some finger food and then Christina welcomed us and set out what will be happening tomorrow.  

I met a few of the people.  Just haven't worked out who is with who or who all the people are.

Roger & Helen from Adelaide, who I came in with from the airport yesterday. 

Elizabeth & Lois who are from Sydney and have been here since Saturday.  

Warwick & Irene. 

David & ?

Also met Graham and Marion and a few others who's names I don't recall at the moment. All up I think there are 20 of us. The gathering split up around 9pm.

My step count for today is 16,080.

Night all, although it is just after 5am Thursday morning back home.