Views from above in Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki was Greece's old capital, and although even today it's not the most touristy of cities I liked that it was that way. Friendly people, great sights, lots of sun - everything Greece should be and more.

I loved that there were so many references to old Greek philosophers all throughout Thessaloniki. Aristotle Square, places named after Socrates and Plato. First, though - the challenge of deciphering Greek letters and learning how to read Greek! (I'm proud to say that I think I've become pretty decent at pronouncing Greek letters by now.)



With Phyllis and Steven, we got lost walking around the streets of Thessaloniki and checking out cool street art and beautiful graffiti.



There was a lot of street food too - including delicious cobs of grilled corn for lunch.



To watch the sunset, we climbed up Thessaloniki's main hill to the city walls.

It was an extremely tiring two-hour climb in the hot Thessaloniki weather (although we could have taken a bus, and goodness knows how many number 23s we saw while walking up that hill) but at least we got to stop for nice views in between.



The old Thessaloniki city walls looked strangely out-of-place, ruins of fortresses next to newly built residential apartments. It's unusual to see history and modern life so close next to each other, but I guess that's just the way Thessaloniki is.





Right at the top of the city walls, we came to a tower that looked out and across the city, and watched the sunset from there.













Although we were icky and sweaty by the end of our climb, it was great that we got there just in time to see the sunset - and having worked hard for that view made everything about fifty times more gorgeous.



Watching the sun set over the old Grecian capital, bathing the world in swathes of gold.