Week 7 in Greece

---

Week 7 in Greece.

We always thought the little road out the front of Mama’s house did not have a name, as the houses were built without official permission. However we found out the name of the street Mama’s house is in-from Google Earth. Must have been a recent addition, as not there when we looked whilst in Australia.
Last Friday we went to Salonika , up to the old castle ruins and to the 300 year old church where we were married 32 years ago. Michael caught up with an old friend who owns a Zaharoplastio shop in one of the main roads in Salonika centre. Michael got a new watch battery from the old shop next door and the old man who served Michael 30 odd years ago, is still there.
Women have been making the traditional Greek biscuits - melonmakarona and Kourabiedes. There was a cooking show on the Saturday night which showed step by step how to make the two different biscuits. School finished at the end of Tuesday 23rd Dec for the two week Christmas break. Kids were going around today caroling at houses and hoping to get money or chocolates or Christmas goodies. Most had little percussion triangles to accompany their singing. We saw one with a keyboard harmonica with his friends having the triangles.
We bought some honey from the monk who has his old 4 wheel truck outside one of the banks in Perea. He comes from a monastery at Mount Athos (north east of Salonika ) which is like the Vatican precinct where different Orthodox Monasteries are. You need to get special permission to visit there. He also surprised us by being able to speak English. Mount Athos is situated in the entire third, eastern peninsula of Halkidiki, called the peninsula of Athos. It is the only place in Greece that is completely dedicated to prayer and worship of God. For this reason, it is called the Holy Moun.The Holy Mount is about 50 Km in length, 8 to 12 Km in width and it covers an area of about 350 square kilometres. The Holy Mount is a self- governed part of the Greek state. I Googled this information about Mt Athos .
The honey should be good at 16 Euro for the 800gm jar.
Christmas Day we will be having lunch at Michael’s brother’s house in Salonika. I will make a pavlova roll, filled with lemon butter for dessert. We have bought some sweet wine to drink on the day. It is produced in Samos ( a Greek island very close to the Turkish border in the East Aegean Sea)

---

Photos

Bus with Xmas Greetings
A bus in Salonika with Christmas Greetings alternating with its bus route on its digital sign

No words needed
I took this sign in the bus- no Greek or English needed. Whether it actually happens, is another matter.

Salonika Castle Ruins
This is the old castle area we walked up to, but took the bus down to the centre of Salonika afterwards.

Some Greek Cuisine
Girrakenna loves cooking and served us up these delicious delights to go with our coffee.

Monk Selling Honey
This was the Monk from Mt Athos selling the honey from his old truck outside one of the banks in Perea. Michael is pulling the little shopping jeep on the left.

Beeswax Candles at Market
I noticed these beeswax candles at the local street market on Monday in Perea.

3 boys carolling
Michael asked if he could take the photo of these 3 boys who had their musical instruments and going carolling

Church in Salonica
This is actually 2 churches- we were married in the one which leads downstairs ( the arch area in the front at ground level) The old one down stairs is 300 years old. Newer church built over the top.

Comments

[Valerie Mayer]

Happy Christmas
Dear Gwen and Michael, How wonderful all of this is - and it must have been so evocative to re-visit the church where you were married - your photos are beautiful, the colours so vivid. Happy Christmas to you both and to Nicholas - love, Valerie