[img alt="
The sea view rewards the climb."]https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fodors.com-vbulletin/1000x2000/image_f6b6f04dd060b0f47a9a0e72c2204745112e3469.jpg[/img]
The sea view rewards the climb.
[img alt="
Its a little funky here and there."]https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fodors.com-vbulletin/920x2000/pxl_20250218_125549231_mp_2_035e0c6583ba89d6846574 f64cd2294a733031f0.jpg[/img]
It's a little funky here and there.


Tsinari with stove.

Any idea why some photos work and others don't?

Spaces/line breaks in the coding around the alt text...?

Thank you, Patrick. I'll try that.

We stepped into the cathedral Hagia Sophia, and I lit candles for my sister and my mother. Here, you donate a coin or so, light a thin taper with another flame and stick it into the sand. A lovely effect.

Thessaloniki has an almost comical concentration of museums, at least a week's worth alone, including An Olympic Museum, something called the Selfie Museum and the Museum of Illusions. My favorite was the Archeological Museum, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Museum of Byzantine Civilization. Hannah and I walked to the old pier to the MOMUS Museum of Photography, but it was closed for remodeling or something, so instead we lounged on stone chairs in the fine chilly sunshine,

White Tower from the old Pier.

Sending Bob to Meteora for a day turned out to be the best thing. He had a great time, took some really fine photos that I can't find right now. His attitude toward Greece turned right around.

He ended up spending most of the day with a young woman from I think Poland, and enjoyed her company. She was staying in a mixed hostel dorm that included some smelly guys who snored, and so Bob invited her to come share our apartment. Thank goodness she declined, because that would have sent Hannah over the edge. He figured Hannah could just share her room.

Bob has gotten used to being taken under random European women's wing, six of them so far over the years including the Roman I strongly suspect of stealing my credit card. This time he made a generous gesture at our expense.

What a rich trip report! Thanks for persevering with the photos. Your writing is also delightful so that alone would be enough to make this a great trip report.

Very kind, Coquelicot. Thank you!

I don't throw the word stunning around, but this scenery is. Bob's photos.

I followed the sticky steps, and some photos work. Others don't. I'll try the moderators.

Someone looked up and said, What an excellent spot for a monastery.

This is Alexander the Great country. I tried reading a recommended historic novel about him to prepare, but it got too sappy. Blamed his mother for everything.

I wish I could report foodie experiences from the street food capital of Greece,. What with one thing and another, and Hannah was busy with tango festival most of the time, we just didn't prioritize food.

She and I had hoped to eat at Prinkēpéssa near the White Tower for authentic music, but our timing was bad. Not open for lunch that time of year, Music only at late dinner, and they book up fast. So we regrouped, found a nice little Middle East falafel place around the corner. The young counter woman had a little English, the cook none. I used. my very limited Pimsleur Greek on them, overheard them speculate that we were English. I'm not sure I heard another American accent the whole time we were in Thessaloniki.

One morning, we three had breakfast at one of the posh places along the sea promenade. Very nice, but I can't remember the name. It was consistently too chilly to eat outside.

On the Thursday we three ate out in the entertainment district past Aristotle Square. Carnival was in full swing. Young people, some daringly dressed considering how cold it was, other just settling for kitty cat ears, crowded the streets. They were setting up the square for music. Colorful lights.
Youth calling to youth. I think this would be a fun place to go to University

I thought this would be my chance for good restaurant seafood, but when I tried to order from the menu, I was told it was Burnt Meat Thursday. No fish, was I crazy? The last Thursday before Lent, you're supposed to grill meat, then eat it like crazy before you fast.

Speaking of weather, which many of us are these days, it never got warm enough to laze around on our deck. I know that was asking a lot of late February, but still the temps stayed 15-20° F cooler then predicted. For some of our Thessaloniki days, my weather app had "Severe cold" warnings because in the lower 40s, as it has lately said when St. Louis is hovering around zero F. Still, it was not windy or unpleasant to walk outside.

One day, we three took the special overview city bus that leaves hourly near the White Tower and climbs up to Ano Poli and the ancient hilltop ruins. It crawled with traffic through congested areas, live narration overlaid by recorded highlights. Not an unmixed pleasure, but very worthwhile. We got out on the way down to walk in the fresh air. Bob tried to go back another day, but when he missed the last one, he instead walked to the hilltop, explored the ramparts and took pictures.

Really some fine museums.