The Last of Greece - Thessaloniki May 29

We have not had much time here - and Thessaloniki is a very interesting city.  Our apartment is very close to a lot of historical sites.  Yesterday, our first day here we spent with a guide who was determined to show us everything that Thessaloniki had to offer.  As a result we are very tired and achy today.  We got a very late start.  Our first stop was the Rotunda of Galerius. 

As we approached it, we saw this bakery across the way.  I really want to know, why is their bread angry!

The Rotunda entrance and scenes inside.

Outside in the back they had laid out a lot of items they found around the site.  This seems to be a site the feral cats enjoy.

Next we went to the closest church to us.  I believe it is called the Ypapanti Church.  It is not famous enough to be put on the tourist maps. 

A look back as we head off towards the water front.

We decide to stop for a snack.  This is a bakery/coffee place.  So we pick these out - we heard when we were in Kalamata that Thessaloniki was famous for these pastries.  They are cream filled filo dough.  When we picked them out they were just the filo part - and we thought they already had cream in them.  They looked pretty small so we got two each.  We were aghast to receive the pastries as they were served.  Now it is way too much!


                                   

On to the White Tower.  This tower is famous for bloody reasons.  In 1826 Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II massacred rebellious janissaries here.  They wee an elite troop of forcibly Islamicised Christian boys.  After the Greeks recaptured the area, the tower was whitewashed to try to remove the bloody past - and the name has stuck.

There was not much to see along the waterfront.  No marina, no sailboats drifting past.  Just these tourist boats which make a small loop around the small bay.  The working harbor is way behind the boat in the picture - at the end of the long string of hotels and eateries that hug the coast.

   
The next area we went to was Aristotelous Square.  We had seen it yesterday, but had not been all the way to the water.

We headed down the waterfront a little further.  Then deciding we were hungry checked trip advisor for a good restaurant nearby.  It sent us to this location - exactly where our guide yesterday had told us not to eat!  The food was not bad.  Our waitress had told us that the fish was served with no sides.  So we ordered a salad and potatoes.  Both dishes were huge - and our fish/octopus came with sides.  Again way too much food.

We headed toward the markets we had seen yesterday - now open.

Walked past this same scene - the sides of the building and balconies were covered with this plant - most be something like Boston Ivy.

We both are still tired and our legs really ache beyond uncomfortable - so we headed back to the apartment for an early day.  Still have to pack for an early morning flight to Turkey.