Blogs from Perea , Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece, Europe

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Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea September 19th 2013

Thessaloniki and Northern Chalkidiki - Day 12 Thursday 19th September So after 10 days of self guiding ourselves around mainland Greece, Glyn an I felt no shame at paying €2 each to go on the 'Hop on' Tour of Thessaloniki bus this morning. It took about 50 minutes, whilst the guide talked about Byzantine stuff, mosaics and a statue of some guy on his house.... or so I thought, in fact he said he was on his horse. The bus was pretty empty and the guide kept making us look at photos of mosaics on the screen above his head when I was quite happily staring out the window having a bit of a day dream. Had I come to Thessaloniki on day 1, all the Byzantine Churches, random bits of falling down Roman walls and ... read more
Thessaloniki
Kittens at Bar Kyma
Our sort of secluded beach

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea September 18th 2013

Mount Olympus to Thesssaloniki - Day 11 Wednesday 18th September I'd set the alarm for 6.30am as we had a mountain to climb, but bed was so comfy that I didn't get up quite that early. After breakfast and telling our hotelier, Alex, that we'd left the key in the door as he shouted goodbye to us from his room, we were on our way. I drove us just under 10 miles to Prionia, the place you can drive closest to the top of the mountain and parked up. It was just after 9am and eerily silent with just a handful of cars, one grotty squat loo, a closed cafe and a couple of guys organising bits of lumber. The only sounds were barking dogs and the ringing of bells on the collars of a pack ... read more
Glyn enjoying the walk up Mount Olympus
The Gods farting
Prionia

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea March 6th 2012

24th Feb Mama’s jonquils are starting to come out and we noticed some blossoms on the almond tree en route to the street market this morning. But the temperatures are still winter like. Sat 25th Feb We get up at 4.30am to catch a taxi to Salonika for our 3 day trip to Patra and Nafplion and leave the CBD at 6.30am. There are 33 people on the tour bus. We stop at the towns of Tempe and Lamir for toilet stops and then drive to Corinth down near the Pelopannese and get there around 3pm. We stop and have something to eat near the Isthmus Canal. There were 2 big restaurants closed near Isthmus Canal, and the same near Tempe. Perhaps the people are not travelling by bus or car as much, and the restaurants ... read more
Corinth Canal
Pruned trees near Corinth Canal
Gum trees lining road

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea February 11th 2012

Wednesday 1st Feb A white cat was sitting on the pergola, waiting for some little birds to come along and eat the left over grapes still on the vine. Except I went out with a wooden pole and sent him on his way. Thursday 2nd Feb We went to Athens on the Train at 10am today and got to Athens at 6pm. The trip was supposed to take 5.5 hours, but with nearly snow all the way to Athens, had to get new train loco to clear tracks, etc. So an 8 hour trip. There was actually snow covering everything when we left Perea at 7am to catch the bus to take us to the railway station. Looked lovely, and we were the first ones to walk on it- amazingly no cars had driven in it.Apparently ... read more
Our hot house, Perea
Kiosk roof with snow
Litchohori Railway Station

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea January 26th 2012

6th Jan Today is the Blessing of the Waters and we went down to Perea Pier around 10.15am to witness the church officials and priest going through the ceremony. The cross is thrown into the sea and the young men swim towards it and try to find it. Who ever finds it first, can feel very proud. We bought some decadent “pastas” or little cakes to celebrate our 35th Wedding anniversary today. We had our Greek Church wedding in Salonika all those years ago. Tuesday 10th Jan We get up at 7am to go to Florina, Michael’s birth town. We travel on the bus, as the train no longer runs to Florina, the service being cut 12 months ago. We want to visit some of Michael’s relatives on the bus, deciding to staying at a ... read more
Picture book snow scene Florina
The crowd at Perea
Perea Pier

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea January 6th 2012

26th Dec- 4th Jan 2012 We bought Mama a sewing machine and the guy gave us a little demo of its functions. We carried it home on the bus. We made (Mama and I) a covering for it as only a thin plastic one came with it. She was very happy, as she has a hand turning one which is very heavy and needed to be kept in the spare room and used from there. We also bought some fabric and cottons from two different shops in a market area built in early 1900 Going into the city to get it, there were 3 Italian Tourists who must have come from the airport and were catching the same bus as we were. So Michael spoke English to one of the girls and told them we would ... read more
Mama's New Sewing Machine
Fabric Shop, Salonika
Haberdashery Heaven

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea December 27th 2011

Tuesday 20th Dec we headed into Salonika on the bus and I noticed that it must have been pension pay day, as saw queues of people waiting outside a bank, waiting to get through the security door. You enter the secure space, close the door behind you and have your photo taken, then are allowed into the bank proper. Then the same when leaving the bank. It is all automated, but won’t allow you to enter if you wear sunglasses or helmet, etc. In Salonika I tried to get some preserved ginger or crystallized ginger, but no luck. So I cooked a Dutch Ginger Cake (with out ginger), but added diced, dried pineapple in its place We asked at an icon store about Saint Elizabeth and the salesperson said indeed there was one. I said in ... read more
Xmas Lunch Continuing
Xmas sweets (and Gwen)
Xmas Carols

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea December 19th 2011

Monday 12th was the Name Day of St Spiros and a good opportunity to commence putting up the Xmas Decorations and Mama has the custom of changing the chair covers and floor rugs to – the Christmas Period. I think a lot of Greek people have the same practice.Mama put the flotaki rugs on the sofas and put up the starched doilies on the buffet and we put up some Xmas Decorations around the lounge room. After lunch, we went up to the block again Michael used the axe to cut down some plum saplings. There was a shepherd with 150 sheep grazing on the vacant blocks that have not been fenced. I did not see a dog, but I have been told he did have one. He must milk the sheep- not sure if by ... read more
Close up Xmas Wreath Mama's
Lights on the water Salonika
Michael and the toy soldier

Europe » Greece » Central Macedonia » Thessaloniki » Perea December 11th 2011

Second Travel Blog Tuesday 6th Dec Today is Nicholas’ Name Day. Name days are more important than birthdays here in Greece and you celebrate the Name of the Saint you were named after. For those people with a name not belonging to a saint, such as Elizavet, there is a specific day during the year where all those people celebrate their “name” day. On 7th Dec we went into Salonika to visit Michael’s cousin. We had to catch 3 buses; the public buses, although the prices have gone up, are still very affordable for us, but perhaps not for people here out of work. The 90 Euro cents ticket could also buy a litre of milk or a loaf of bread. There were also two bus ticket inspectors who got on the bus to check our ... read more
Hard Working Michael
Partially cleared block
Pile of cleared vegetation




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