Week 14 in Greece

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We had new heating oil delivered Tuesday 3rd Feb. This is the first time it has been refilled this winter, so indicates that it has not been very cold, unlike other parts of Europe. The 4th Feb and we went into Salonika and did a bit of window shopping. There are flower sellers on the corner selling tulips and hyacinths, now that the weather is starting to become spring like. In Salonika today it was supposed to be 11 C today, with an overnight low of 7C. However you still see Chestnuts being roasting on the coals by street sellers.
We caught the bus to Upper Toomba, a suburb of Salonika, where Michael’s friend Stavros has a super doper Patisserie /Café. Yu can have coffees outside under shaded tables in the summer or in the enclosed glassed area in inclement weather. We then decided to walk about 4 km to some friends in Voulgarie, another suburb. We needed to walk off the delicious biscuits we had with our coffee. I noticed a temperature sign saying 21 C at 1pm. We passed a remaining part of the old castle enroute-Michael did not know that it had actually been built out that far from the centre of Salonika before. Coming home we see a neighbour’s rooster close to the nearby high school, so because of roaming dogs, Michael picked it up and took it back to its rightful owner. Two days later a roaming dog killed one of the neighbour’s chooks, as they allow them to wander around their chook pen for some time each day.
Michael grilled the fish I bought yesterday on a new improvised “carvonya” or BBQ. I did a bit of gardening this morning and in the afternoon we caught the bus down to the nursery near LIDL and bought some bulbs. They were starting to sprout, so should have been purchased about a month ago.
Although we are far removed from the infernos in Victoria, our thoughts are with those people who have lost family members and property during the wild fires. We have seen the devastation on the News internet sites.

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Photos

Heating Oil Tanker
Our first refill of heating oil for this winter.

Walking Sticks
A shop in Salonika had these carved heads of walking sticks.

Chestnut seller
This seees to be part of a company selling chestnuts on the streets in Salonika

Flower seller
Spring bulb flowers for sale on street corner in Salonika

Old Castle Wall
This was near Upper Toomba, an outer suburb of Salonika.

Plant Covered Building Salonika
This was taken from the bus and the green plant covering the building would have cooled it in summer.

Clematis covered building
This building near Salonika Market has only the outlines of the branches from the clematis covering it in the winter time.

Michael grilling fish
This man has endless talents!

Michael's cooking
Stuffed Peppers and Tomatoes made by Michael were the order of one day for lunch.

Michael and the bulb bed
Michael looking at his start on the flowering bulb bed

Pruning the vines
Michael pruned the vines over the pergola.

Herbs in Salonika Market
A selection of herbs for sale in Salonika Market

Dried Peas ane Beans
A shop selling a wide variety of dried peas and beans in Salonika Market

Dried Peppers
Different types of dried peppers- sweet and hot ones in Salonika Market.

Comments

[Traveler]

Looks fun
Looks like a very fun trip! www.travelingdonor.com

[jenny southall]

March 4th
I cannot believe how "green" in colour the trees are, and the grass. Wonderful. Hope this reaches you as this is my first comment.