Philipion Hotel Thessaloniki

... Everywhere we went it seemed there were crazy day-after-Thanksgiving female shoppers. I can’t count how many women I saw that looked like they were in the midst of their mid-life crises, trying to dress young and shop in skanky stores. It was a little scary.

Aside from that part of Thessaloniki, it did have some Greek-like things for us to do: a few ancient ruins to gaze at, an old church-turned-mosque to wander through ...

... br>
Bin um kurz nach 20:00 gelandet, und um 23:50 dann mit dem Nachtzug weiter nach Sofia. 18,50Euro fuer die Strecke, habe aber noch fuer 10 Euro auf den Schlafwagen upgegraded, da der eine Waggon ziemlich voll war (und ich ausserdem doch recht muede war).

Gruss
Ralf

... galleries. Here we went to an art gallery whos exhibits which ranged from several hundred beer cans arranged in a spiral to a musical video about communism. Top fun!

We also went in to a photography gallery and a museum of cinema which was quite cool. A pretty awesome 3D film at the end as well!

This passed most of the time we needed to kill and we filled the rest with wondering the streets looking around.

... we were allowed on trains or not. We asked if we needed to make a booking at the station and they told us no but we then got thrown off the train in some backwater town because we didn't have reservations. A helpful Greek guy had come to translate between the conductor and ourselves and when we asked him why the conductor wanted us to get off he just shrugged and said "because he is an *******". We asked the woman in this station if we needxed reservations and she said we ...

... As we hung up, I an older man, whimpered into the phone, "No."

So, how to forestall his no doubt wanting to pay my bus ticket?

On the way to the bus terminal, Mr. Z. in his inimitable way got into a conversation with a fellow rider; to such an extent that he walked into the terminal in such rapt attention with him that he completely forgot about me until they were 3/4 of the way into the lobby. With amusement, I just waited near the door until he remembered what he ...

... It certainly can't buy you love, the people who say that are right, but it can definitely buy happiness. I treated myself to a chocolate bar and a bottle of water from a vendor just to illustrate my point to myself (I appreciate that water and a chocolate bar isn't everyone's idea of happiness, but there and then it was what I wanted). The Greeks seem passionate about their religion and the many Orthodox churches I saw at testament to this. Each ...

... about everything here.  Its a "yogurt" base with like garlic and cucumber in it.  They serve it all over and its just amazing.    We walked down to the park by the White Tower right on the water and ran into my roomate Megan and bf Jared.  We sat there looking out at the water and watched everyone walking by.  It was adorable.  This place really is amazing.  It still is hard to believe I'm here though.  We saw some ...

... to know that Allie and I at least have some way to get up in the morning (too bad the free trial only lasts for ten days. Whoops!). I guess we'll actually have to find a real alarm clock by then. Anyways, after the short ride to campus, Jared and I parted ways as he headed off to Greek Language 101 and I went to finish some last minute items before my 1:00 class (or as they like to refer to it here, 13:00). I tried to change my schedule to add the extra ...

... It was the largest collections of finds we have seen so far. The entire site was made mostly out of marble and the majority was fairly intact still. The temple of Apollo there was gorgeous and the first ruin we've seen without any scaffolding around it to hold it together. It was quite something to think that Julius Caesar and many other notables once walked down the marble paths we were now walking! The site was noted as the largest Roman township in all of Greece. 


We ...

... of the city center and we ate at this really great local Greek restaurant. You guys would never believe the food I am trying! We had sovoulaki for lunch (lamb skewers) and this Greek salad. I tried everything but the raw onions and tomatos. It also came with some friend potatoes. Everything was really good! I must admit, I feel a little outside the backpacking circle. So far everyone I have met has just been to Istanbol or is going to Istanbol ...