Since my last post, I’ve travelled half way around the world and so happy to say that it has gone very smoothly. Buses, boats, planes and trains were all on time, I didn’t sleep through the alarm and in fact, I managed to survive on not much sleep at all! You know when you have to wake up at a certain time, then you really don’t sleep well and with the time difference, it has been just a bit weird!
Once I landed in Thessaloniki, I started walking, walking and exploring the city, the food - OMG, and some of the culture….one thing I love to do in a new place is to let the experience unfold - not plan too much and just wander and absorb! Then after that, make a few plans on what I want to see.
Tiny, tiny elevator - common in smaller hotels
check out the street art!
Scooters are easy to get around in big cities - even for felines!
Next, let’s talk food….in previous travels DH and I have often gone the AirBNB route, finding places with kitchens (washing machines for clothes are handy) but really….when we’re in a big city with dozens and dozens of restaurants - why stay in and cook? Even the local grocery marts have take out or prepared options for snacks or a light meal which can be purchased at the last minute. But, c’mon, were in Greece - home of bugatsa, spanakopita, dolmades, shrimp, lamb kebabs…why on earth would I cook?
So a morning cappuccino and a pastry and I’m good to go for a few hours, take my water bottle to stay hydrated and then perhaps a goat milk ice cream later in the day…of course, I’m saving room for dinner!
Now dinner in Greece is different than at home….very often dishes are shared between the guests and the portions tend to be very large - so the idea of having a salad and a main course for just one person means there’s a lot of food! I did my best but some got left behind.
Plus, they will most usually serve a small dessert as well. I never ordered it but it would arrive and be absolutely delicious! The ice cream is incredible - very rich tasting. My serving included a bit of a sesame based ice cream which had a tahini or halva flavour, loved that!
Perhaps because I am a solo female traveller, I wasn’t served alcohol at the end but on a previous trip to Crete, we were given a small glass of raki or ouzo, neither of which I like.
Of course I am near the ocean so, seafood it top of my list!
Bugatsa with a cream filling - what a great start to the day!
Tomato salad with feta - a huge portion…
Fresh Sardines with Lemon
I didn’t come all this way just to eat - my hotel was quite central in the city and everything I chose to do was within walking distance - I usually put on 8-10pm. Per day which was plenty.
I tried to combine outdoor sightseeing with indoor museums - one day I walked to see the Roman Forum (outdoors) and then walked onto the Archaeological Museum. I had hoped to see more pottery than they had, but enjoyed the displays of gold that had been excavated mostly from burial mounds - I learned about the invasions and how Macedonia (this area) was the eastern part of the Roman Empire. My chronological understanding is a little weak but it does seem that conquest after conquest was the way it all went over the centuries, right up til modern times!
A variety of vessels used in the home
Check out the hands for handles!
The holes in this vessel would have provided light when a fire was inside - a metaphor for my residency focus
The forum - it had been partially restored which made me wonder if it is used for concerts or performances?
It amazes me how the city has been built up -layers of cities upon one another! Plus I particularly love the sinuous lines of the brickwork.
A Turkish Hamman - or bath-house, separate areas for men and women…
One day I spent at the Contemporary Art Museum - I think parts of it were closed but I did walk over three floors and took photos of some of the work that connected with me on some level.
My residency here in Greece is focused on Vessels - Art of the Feminine, looking at the female shape as a vessel - a metaphor for holding life, memories and connectivity through aging process (I will write more in another blog post).
So I saw a few things I thought were worth sharing…
Irene Apergi - mixed media on wood - this is painted muslin or cheesecloth. It appears heavily folded but lays flat on the surface.
A close up of the work
Another work by the artist
Achilleas Aperghis - untitled Bronze
Bia Davou untitled ink on paper
Danil Panagopoulos - untitled acrylic on burlap
Thank you for joining me on this journey - more to come!
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