Week 4 in Greece

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Here are some photos when we went into Salonika's city centre near the waterfront to see the switching on of the Christmas Lights. It was like Moomba, with ten thousand people, with one of the main roads closed for pedestrian access. The Real Christmas tree 22 metres high had 80,000 lights on it. Fairy floss sellers, popcorn, souvlakias, hot drinks in a trolley on wheels with coals underneath. Xmas hats with flashing lights and helium filled balloons and finished with a wonderful display of fireworks. We had 2 hot chocolates at a swanky hotel right next to the action ( Electra Palace Hotel) Cost was $22 Australian for the 2 ( most expensive chocolate or coffee for that matter) Michael's work had given him some money to have some Coffees in Salonika, so we took some photos of the event.
Caught the bus home ( fantastic bus service about every 10 minutes out to where Michael's mother lives ( about 25 km from Salonika) Equivalent of $1 per person to go that distance into the city.
Weather still mild for December : 10 degrees Centrigrade on the way home from the city at 11pm

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Photos

The Electra Palace Hotel
In this hotel's coffee shop we had the expensive hot chocolate.

Michael having hot chocolate
Each seat was prized as hotel adjacent to the City Centre where the Christmas Lights Festival held.

Angel Xmas Lights
Part of the Xmas Light Display Salonika

Lighted Xmas Tree
The ChristmasTree had 80,000 lights and was 22 metres tall. Salonika 1st Dec 2008

An original home in Perea
This is an old house in Perea- not sure if anyone is living in it.

Balloon Seller
Helium filled balloons of various shapes selling their wares to the crowd at Xmas Lights Opening Salonika

Fire Works Display Salonika
Wonderful display of Fireworks to end the turning on of The Christmas Lights in Salonika 1st Dec 2008

Restaurants near Market
Restaurants getting ready at 10pm for the evening crowd. 1st December Salonika.

A new building under construction
The construction of buildings is a little different than in Australia. The concrete supports are poured, then the floor and then the walls get put in later with bricks.

Palm Trees on Wheels
These were on the deserted beach front- the summer bar on the esplanade was closed and I assume these Palm trees are moved around the bar so people can put their drinks on.

Red Gourds & Greek Oven
Here is a house with red painted gourds. Notice the Greek Oven at the back.

Gwen on hand turned machine
Mama has an old hand turned sewing machine ( she has had it for 40 years and it was second hand when she got it) It still works! Environmentally friendly!

Old stopping place for travellers
Because Perea would have been a long way from Salonika, this old building would have had space to house the horses and also a bed for the weary traveller.