Practical Information

Hi again an apology for neglecting the blog. I have been very busy lately and did not have time to update it.

In this post I will give some practical information about the wedding.

I know that many of you will use taxi to move around. Taxis in Greece are relatively cheap compared to other European countries. The cost from the Centre of Thessaloniki to Panorama's Townhall should be around 10 Euros. The only issue is that sometimes if the destination is not very suitable for them they will refuse to take you there. A few telephones for taxis are: 2310214900, 2310517470, 2310 866366, 2310511855. If you use a foreign mobile number, please add 0030 in front of the numbers above. If you call a taxi they will not refuse service but it will be an extra charge (1-2 Euros I think).

This is a map that includes the Townhall and the reception hall plus some hotels that some of you will stay (everybody should copy the link below and then paste the link on any browser for the map):

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=FdYDbAId6wdeAQ%3BFSZbawIdCYRfASHg-lnJEQm7Gw&ie=UTF8&doflg=ptk&msa=0&msid=109377790766201484878.00046fc886fc44af04e72&ll=40.613692,23.030434&spn=0.125098,0.308647&z=12&saddr=Odos+Komninon%2F%CE%9A%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BD%CE%B7%CE%BD%CF%8E%CE%BD&daddr=%CE%94%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BF+%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%82

If you need any help my home number in Panorama is 0030 2310340441. My mobile number is 0030 6983483336 and my UK mobile is 0044 7766295225. Or alternatively, you can call Phyllis' Taiwan mobile number at +886 931362102.

For all of you that have invitation that do not state when the reception will start, the reception will start at 21.00 at Lusitania The BARestaurant. Full-screen

We will know the wedding time after we submit all the paperwork.

That's it for now!

Food in Thessaloniki

Hi again

This post will give you some ideas for food you can have in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is quite famous in Greece for its many restaurants and food shops. Of course you will find all the touristy delights (feta cheese, greek salad, mousaka, souvlaki etc) but I would suggest to be more adventurous and try the real Greek food.

I will list the some foods in catecories that I think you should try

Pastries: One of the most famous specialties of Thessaloniki is bougatsa. In Thessaloniki it is found as savoury or sweet and it can be filled with either cream/custard (sweet) or cheese (savoury). It can also be found filled with mince. The ones filled with cheese or cream are very popular as breakfast. DO NOT TRY BOUGATSA IN ATHENS-THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PREPARE IT. Other popular pastries is cheese, spinach, leak, meat pies. You can spot shops selling pastries all over Thessaloniki. They smell great (unlike Gregg's!!) and you could try a few different tastes.

Meat: If you are in Greece you should try gyros (even in Athens...). It is the greek kebab but it tastes like real food! It is made of pork (not lamb as in the uk) and tastes like heaven! It is usually served with pita bread, french fries or chips and salad. You can also add tzatziki or other sauces. Usually the portions in Thessaloniki are much larger than the ones served in Athens even though they cost a bit more (very cheap again-with 2.80E you can be full for a day!). Best fast food in the world! It does not taste like the kebab in UK...you have to try.

In most taverns in Thessaloniki you can usually buy a selection of various meat specialties. If you order one of them they will bring you a big tray of meat (!!) with many different tastes to try. They all taste great! Try to taste soutzoukakia (a type of greek meatball), souvlakia (meat skrewers), lamb chops, kontosouvli and kokoretsi (not for everybody-made from lamb intestines).

Fish and seafood: You can find very good fish and seafood in Thessaloniki. Usually the best fish can be eaten in specialized restaurants, and can be a bit expensive. There are good sea food restaurants in the Perea area of Thessaloniki. Prawns, mussels, squids are very popular. Especially in Halkidiki you can find good fish and seafood very easily.

Mezedes: This is very typical greek. Mezedes is a selection of small dishes, quite similar to tapas in Spain (mezedes just taste better however). In Thessaloniki especially most tavernas serve mezedes. The type of mezes depends on the area. In Thessaloniki all the tastes are heavily infuenced by Asia Minor (turkey) tastes. If you are near the sea probably you are going to have sea food mezedes. This web page gives a good discription of the meze culture: http://www.greecefoods.com/meze/index.htm . The places that serve this type of food are called ouzeries, because this type of food is usually accompanied by ouzo. The most famous ouzeri in Thessaloniki is Ouzou Melathron (co-owned by my cousin) and I strongly suggest to visit it: http://www.ouzoumelathron.gr/. Also the Athonos area of Thessaloniki is full of ouzeries that you could visit. Both Ouzou Melathron and Athonos are in the centre of the city.

Sweets: Try tsoureki from Terkenlis sweet shop. Landmark sweet shop in Thessaloniki. Just follow the smell and you will find it. There is one in Agia Sofia square and one in Aristotle square. Tsoureki is a sweet bread and is very common in Easter time. For more info: http://www.terkenlis.gr/En/proionta_Tsourekia.htm

Also you should visit Hatzis sweet shop. In operation since 1908, when Thessaloniki was still an Ottoman city, this sweet shop is specialized in the tastes of old Constantinople. After Hatzis, you'll never ask for a simple 'baklava' again. Thats all for now. I will try to update the food section very soon with some healthier choices...I am hungry and need some calories so bye!

Hotels in Halkidiki

Hi again

In my previous post I wrote that I will give information for hotels in Halkidiki. I was a bit optimistic about this because actually have an idea only about the hotels of the Athos area of Halkidiki. With a quick search I did on travel republic the prices are variable depending on the hotel.

I will post for the hotels I know in the Athos peninsula and some general information for accommodation in Halkidiki.

Even though the area of Athos that is open to the general public is quite small there are many hotels in the area. Between the villages Nea Roda and Ouranoupolis there is two 5 star, two 4 star and three 3 star hotels. Most famous hotel in the area is the Eagle's Palace Hotel, probably one of the most luxurious hotels in Greece (members of the British Royal family seem to prefer this hotel). It is a bit expensive, but if you are in the area you could just visit it for a diner or a swim in their swimming pool (has a bar inside the pool!!) or private beach. For more info http://www.eaglespalace.gr/ . Another hotel of the area is hotel Alexandros. This is a five star hotel as well with a great location and a great swimming pool (has a private beach as well). I think there is a spa as well. Again not very cheap but for sure cheaper than Eagle's Palace. For more info: http://www.alexandroshotel-halkidiki.com/. A similar style hotel is hotel Aristotelis. This one has a great view of the sea and all the usual (swimming pool, private beach, spa etc). For more info: http://www.aristoteles.gr/ . Another good choice is Xenia hotel in Ouranoupolis. This has the advantage to be cited in the village of Ouranoupoli. It has also a private beach and swimming pool. I couldn't find an official website but I found this for extra info: http://www.greatlatedeals.co.uk/Hotels/HotelCriteriaEstab.aspx?EstabId=289152&mkid=35857883&aid=1 . Finally Hotel Akrathos is probably the cheapest amongst the hotels i suggest. I think it's a 3 star hotel. For more info: http://www.bookhotels.gr/hotel_card.asp?id=229

There are numerous hotels in the other two penninsulas of Halkidiki, Kassandra and Sithonia. In Sithonia the most famous hotel is Porto Karras that offers pretty much everything (from golf, horse riding to casino). Again one of the most luxurious hotels in Greece. The EU leader summit was held in this hotel a few years ago. If you want to spent a bit more it really worths the money. For more info: http://www.portocarras.gr/

In Kassandra again the only hotel I have visited is Sani Resort. Similar to Porto Karras it offers all kinds of amenities. For more info http://www.saniresort.gr/page/

However in my opinion you could find a self catered room/studio in any place in Halkidiki that will cost you around 60 euros/night (for a double room). Unfortunately most of these places you have to see them by yourself to decide if you like them. Most of them are quite nice and good value for money. They can be booked on the day, and usually in most of the villages you will pass or even on your way between villages you will find signs that advertise self catered rooms.

If you are more adventurous you could try camping. There are many organised camping sites in Halkidiki, with the most famous in Sithoni: Armenistis and Kalamitsi. Armenistis is the most famous one it is very organised, clean and fun! I 've been there a few times and I enjoyed always. Amazing beach as well! For more info: http://www.armenistis.com.gr/. Kalamitsi has a diving centre so you could join a diving trip. Furthermore it has bungalows for those that don't like tents! For more info: http://kalamitsi.com/

I hope this is of some help. If you want suggestion for a place to visit in Halkidiki, please send me an email and I will try to help you with the accommodation.

That's all for now.

Sorry for not updating the blog sooner!

In this post I will give some information about the most popular sea resort near Thessaloniki Halkidiki. Halkidiki is a peninsula southeast of Thessaloniki. The penninsula itself consists of 3 other peninsulas (Kassandra, Sithonia, Athos) that resemble a trident. Kassandra is the westernmost and closest to Thessaloniki peninsula. It is also the most popular and densily populated area of Halkidiki. It attracts lots of tourists and is full of hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants. Places to visit in Kassandra are Kalithea, Pefkohori, Fourka and Nea Fokea. Sithonia is the second peninsula and it appeals more to the nature lovers and holiday makers that want to escape from civilization. Sithonia is the perfect combination of mountain and sea. In Sithonia you can find a variety of beaches deserted or crowded, full of pine vegetation where the sea and the sky make you relax. Areas of Sithonia that deserve your attention are Agios Nikolaos, Vourvourou, Neos Marmaras (were you can find Porto Karras hotel, one of the best in Northern Greece), Sarti, Pirgadikia and Nikiti. I would recommend either Agios Nikolaos or Neos Marmaras.

Athos (or Mount Athos) is the the last and most historically significant area of Halkidiki. It is the location of Agion Oros (Holly Mountain) which is the home to 2o Eastern Orthodox monasteries and is considered a self-governed monastic state within the Greek state. In 885, the Byzantine emperor Basil I, proclaimed it the exclusive domain of monks and hermits, and it retains this state till today. The number of visitors is restricted and all are required to get a special entrance permit before entering Mount Athos. Only males are allowed entrance into Mount Athos, which is called "Garden of the Virgin" by monks. For more information check this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos. However, there is a small part of the peninsula, before the borders to mount Athos, that is accesible to everyone (men or women). This is the part of Halkidiki I spent most of my summers and it has some of the best beaches in Greece (at least in my opinion!). The only island of Halkidiki, Ammoliani is also located in the area. Sites I recomend are Ouranoupolis (very picturesque little village where you can arrange a boat trip around mount Athos), Ammoliani (small island with amazing beaches), Ierissos and Olympiada.

The central part of Halkidiki is mountainous and is has many traditional villages that you can visit. It is very good for hiking or just driving around and exploring the various small villages. Arnea is a small traditional town that really worths a visit (http://www.halkidiki.com/arnea/index.htm). On your way to either of the 3 peninsulas don't miss Agios Prodromos, a small village that is very famous for its food. Very higly recommended!!!

Halkidiki, as you can see by the photos is really diverse in its scenery and I would suggest to rent a car from Thessaloniki and try to travel to all 3 peninsulas. There is plenty of accomodation (hotels or self catered rooms) that you can book on site. Also for the more adventurous you could try camping as well. I suggest Armenistis camping in Sithonia( http://www.armenistis.com.gr/index?lang=en).

You could also travel by bus, but this is quite restrictive because Halkidiki is a large area and it needs a car to really enjoy it. Of course you could book an all inclusive hotel and just relax for a few days.

I will post on Friday a a few hotels that I recommend for Halkidiki.

That's all for now!!!

Thessaloniki part 2-sightseeing (continued)

To finish the posts regarding sightseeing in Thessaloniki I will introduce you to the Upper Town (or Ano Poli in Greek ). This is the part of the city where I grew up and it's my favorite. This part of the city is totally different and is characterised by narrow streets, old houses and gardens. There are a lot of small squares where children play, people are just relaxing having a coffee. At some parts of Ano Poli there are tavernas with delicious food and traditional cafes, called 'kafenia'. You can easily get lost in the narrow street and you can catch some of the best views of the city. The Upper Town contains many of the city's most historical sights. The city walls and towers are intergral part of the Upper city and religious structures, like the Church of Osios David and Saint Aikaterini and the Vlatades Monastery worth the time to visit.

That is some of the sights that I would suggest to visit in Thessaloniki. I will post soon some more practical information about transportation in Thessaloniki and food (!!!!).

I found this article in the online version of New York Times about Thessaloniki. I think it's a more objective view than mine and can give you an idea about the city.

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/17/magazine/uncovering-history-layer-upon-layer-in-salonika.html

Thessaloniki-Part 2 Sightseeing (continued)

I will continue a previous post for places you could visit in Thessaloniki.

Finishing with churches you could visit in Thessaloniki I shouldn't forget to mension Panagia Acheiropoietos. It was build in the 5th-century and is the only church from Thessaloniki's early Christian days to have survived pretty much intact, without the restorations and renovations that have changed the characters of Ayia Sofia and Ayios Dimitrios. There are mosaics of floral and vine motifs interspersed with birds and 13th-century frescoes showing some of the 40 Martyrs. The missing martyrs were probably obliterated when the church was converted to a mosque in the 15th century after Salonika fell to the Turks.

But appart from museums, archeological sites and churches there more relaxing things you could do and visit in Thessaloniki. Probably one of the most famous landmarks of the city is the waterfront, with Nikis Avenue being a particularly famous promenade here, stretching along the waterfront and heading in an east-west direction, between the port and the White Tower. Nikis avenue is lined with an enormous number of bars, restaurants and cafes and it lines the city's main square, Aristotle square.

Aristotelous Square is probably the largest square in Greece and appears rather like a bottle in its shape, as opposed to an actual square. This area is the heart of the city, and all big events are happening here. There are plenty of open cafes and restaurants that you can visit (however the prices in Aristotle square and in Nikis avenue are very expensive; for example a coffee is around 6 euros, a beer is 7-8 euros (330ml!) and a glass of whiskey is 9 to 12 euros!!)

A block away from Aristotle square is Modiano market. The roofed market was built in 1922 by the wealthy Jewish merchant Eli Modiano, whose handsome family mansion (at 68 Vas. Sophias) is now the home of the Folklore and Ethnography Museum of Macedonia. You can easily spend a morning in the glass roofed market that covers an entire square block and happily wandering from stall to stall admiring the fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, flowers, spices, and baked goods on sale. If you get hungry you could get a bite one of the small tavernas that are based in the maarket (Unlike Aristotle square and Nikis, food and drinks are quite cheap in other areas of the city). Next to Modiano are many flower shops that give a special colour to the area, and the Turkish old baths Giahoudi Hamam.

If you like shopping the major shopping district of Thessaloniki are Tsimiski, Venizelou, Agias Sofias, Ermou, Mitropoleos, Egnatia and M. Iossif St. All these streets are in the centre of the city and in a couple of hours you can walk around them (taking your time of course).

That's for today. I will update the sights of Thessaloniki section again because I have quite a few more to list. Here is a link with the position on the map of some of the sights I listed (unfortunately it crashed halfway and couldn't list everything-I will do this soon).

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109377790766201484878.0004679fdf63b844b527f&ll=40.639423,22.943702&spn=0.015468,0.038624&t=h&z=15

The Parthenon

One of the world's most famous buildings, this temple was begun in 447 BC. It was designed by the architects Kallikrates and Iktinos, primarily to houe the 12m (40 ft) high statue of Athena Parthenons (Maiden), sculpted by Pheidias. Taking nine years to complete, the temple was dedicated to the goddess in 438 BC. Over the centuries, it has been used as a church, a mosque and an arsenal, and has suffered severe damage. Built as an expression of the glory of ancient Athens, it remains the city emblem to date.