Waiting for the Sofia train, still not sure how to get to Thessaloniki

The White Tower, Ottoman prison and emblem of the city

Jewish baths..a tiny community remains in city after the Nazi occupation

Bagoutsa...with cinnamon cream, spinach or cheese..from Smyrna and the Byzantine empire

Aristotelos Square..the city was rebuilt with French help after 1917 fire, then earthquake in 1970s

Forum, baths and stadium from Galerius, 3rd c. AD

The Rotunda - Galerius' mausoleum, then a church and a mosque

Enormous and originally covered in glorious mosaics

Thessaloniki

July 18, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

So the bus from Plovdiv didn't turn up, or didn't exist, or we somehow missed it despite being there 40 minutes early..lots of possible scenarios to work through, til we ended up jumping on the last train to Sofia, finding a willing taxi driver and heading off through the night to Thessaloniki...crossing the border at 1 in the morning, through the forests and down into Macedonia (Greece..another part of the Byzantine empire, Ottoman overrule and Balkan nationalist tragedy/puzzle). Arrived around 3am, grateful our bike tour of the city was postponed so we could go back to bed for a bit..first impressions of harsh light, massive modern characterless blocks, large and busy and flat - but the gorgeous afternoon light, wonderful Miriam (our guide) and fascinating history changed that - oh, and the amazing food..Read more