Thessaloniki - Greece's Second Largest City

We had an amazing tour today - mostly due to our tour guide. He was so knowledgeable and so able to talk 'off the cuff' about so many things. He was passionate about Thessaloniki and about the history found here in Greece and his enthusiasm was catching. He put it best when he said Thessaloniki is a city with a breathtaking history, but also a city of contradictions, especially as it continues to move forward without sacrificing its past. The Greek people are very proud of their history and want to see it preserved and their story told to the world.

This tour took us first to the waterfront area of Thessaloniki and to see The White Tower. The White Tower is Thessaloniki's most famous landmark. It served as a prison in early times and was actually referred to as The Red Tower. Be-headings took place at the top of the tower and the blood would run down the outside, thereby discouraging other citizens from stepping out of line, less they would be arrested and face the same fate. Sounds like the Tower of London. So why is it now The White Tower? A prisoner offered to paint the tower white and, in return, his life was spared - although he did remain imprisoned. 

The old city was at one time enclosed by a stone wall that blocked off the city (mainly for protection) and parts of that wall are very much visible today. Just incredible! We then drove to the acropolis of the city to the Citadel where on the way we caught glimpses of this 'wall' and enjoyed an amazing view of the city below and the harbor. Again, our amazing bus drive was able to navigate the narrow, winding streets as we headed to the top.

A couple of interesting points: 

For the past 10 or so years the city has been trying to install a Metro system below ground. As with most cities in this area, any time you dig, you find the previous city below you and the question is what to do? Do you preserve the new found site 'as is' or do you disassemble the find and move it elsewhere? There is much angst on both sides of this issue; however, the current government decided to disassemble the relics and move them elsewhere, much to the dismay of many, including our tour guide. 

What are they finding? In one city block we drove over we were told that over 300,000 items of jewelry, coins, gold, etc. have been found. And that doesn't even count the sarcophagus', buildings, drink vessels etc. Just incredible.

We visited the Archaeological Museum, which we feel has been the best museum so far. Again, the guide's knowledge was most helpful as he took us through 'the room of death' showing so many items that have been recoverd from sarcophagus' found in the city and preserved. The etchings and detail found on these pieces is phenomenal. And the museum, on the outside, is surrounded by one sarcophagus after another that have been unearthed. Our guide spent time with one in particular, which had so much detail carved on the outside - obviously a wealthy person. People would pick out and have their burial tombs created before they died, deciding what they wanted depicted on them as well as what they would want to take with them inside.

A more modern issue the city faces is a lack of parking spaces. Over half of the population of Greece lives in just two cities: Athens and Thessaloniki close to six million people between the two cities. So the city has allowed cars to double and triple park next to each other. You then must leave your phone number on your car so when the person who has parked nearest the curb needs to leave, he will call you and ask you to come and move your car! I can't imagine this happening in the states - but maybe Red Bank could use this idea as they have been trying for years to solve their parking woes.

We didn't sail from Thessaloniki until after 9pm - it was a beautiful, sunny, warm day and the evening weather continued to be amazing. I've added a few pictures. Unfortunately, I am unable to upload the pictures I've been taking with my 35mm camera - only the ones I take with my cell phone as I forgot to take the proper SD card (the one with the mini SD card inside - oops). Additionally, I am unable to put up any pictures of the old wall, as I forgot to get a picture of it with my cell phone :-(