*Yia Sas*

The transition from Doha to Thessaloniki went very well. On my first flight, I sat next to a native Greek man that was a plane inspector and was very interesting... and may have explained why he was so finicky when they served us lunch (haha). As we flew, I saw mountains and islands, so beautiful. When I arrived in Athens for a two hour layover, I had a minor heart attack when I saw on the board that the flight to Thessaloniki (SKG) was labeled as "plane departed". But thankfully that was the wrong flight, and by 19:20, I was in the air flying again for the final leg of the trip. I flew on Aegean airlines and learned the word "Yia Sas" which means hey or hello. I also learned that "Nero" is water, YES, which was the only thing I wanted to drink... traveling makes me very thirsty!  

On the way to the airport... and the nerves set in!

Greece meets Vera Bradley: This is my laptop and carry-on bag. Athens
security thought this was the most hilarious thing and brought other workers over
just to show the cover and bag matched... Proud to be a Southern Girl!:)

The Aegean Sea and the coast of South Eastern Greece! 

After getting to Thessaloniki...

*Picked up my luggage from the belt

*Grabbed a cab from right outside the arrival gate

*Rode 15 minutes to the ABC Hotel to stay the first night

*Checked into the ABC Hotel and met up with my roommate Janice 

*We walked around downtown, and grabbed a little LATE dinner (22:00) at a Chinese place... it was the only restaurant  that was open with food... other places just had drinks at that time

*Time for bed by 11:30... SLEPT VERY WELL!

Night view from our hotel on the first night! 

Morning view from our hotel on the first morning!

The next morning...

*Wake up at 8:00 to shower and get ready

*Breakfast in the hotel lobby that overlooked one of the city squares (eggs, tomato and feta mix, crape, and coffee) Yes Nathan, the crape included Nutella:)

*Our advisor, Soula, meet us at the hotel and took us to our studio apartment as well as gave us a brief tour of the city 

*Met with our new studio apartment... WOW! THE VIEW IS AMAZING! Small and old and very Greek.

*Walked to the water front that is only 4 blocks from our place, who could ask for a better location.

*Had a sweet lunch of Tsoureki (a sweet bread, famous in Thessaloniki) and a latte. Yum... and ate right on the side of the street, overlooking the water. 

*Grocery Shopping at Carrefour (Doha friends understand how awesome it is that there is a Carrefour here) and lounged around the studio for a while

*Met up with Mom, Dede, and Bailey at the Electra Palace Hotel around 17:00

*Walked to Garcon for dinner... right on the water (Salmon pasta... could not read the menu)

*Took everyone to the apartment to walk around and look at the place

*Saw a GREEK WEDDING going on in the church right below our window! Bride came in as the crowd greeted her at the door

*Walked around the city and grabbed some gelato near Mom, Dede, and Bailey's Hotel (The Electra Palace)

*Sat near Aristotelous Square and listened to music as well as just chatted together. It is strange how back ground conversations sound the same in every language when you are not listening carefully

*Back part with the three travelers as Janice and I head back for our first sleep in our studio... with the door open... on the fifth floor... listening to down town hustle and bustle... This is SO AWESOME!

Thermaikos Gulf (Aegean Sea)... this spot is 4 blocks from my studio apartment!
Known as the waterfront.

Me and my roommate Janice on the waterfront! No beaches here,
but you can definitely hear the waves:) Cafes all over!

Location, Location, Location! The view from our studio apartment... at
Aghias Sofia Square. 

More of the view right outside our balcony... villages are more north
on the hill, while the more upscale places are towards the
water, so we learned.

"Ble": a bakery close by... beautiful pasteries... a staple in
Thessaloniki!

Aristotelous Square: Walking to see Mom, Dede, and Bailey. If you
ever wanted to protest, apparently this is the place to do it... very
lively at night!

Mom and Bailey at Dinner! Beautiful... don't they look alike??

Dede, Bailey and I on our balcony... yes pigeons are
definitely in sight!

A wedding going on at Aghias Sofia Church that
we could see from our room... My Big Fat
Greek Wedding Anyone??? Thought this was awesome!

Overview of the Wedding- the bride arrives (bottom
left) and is greeted by all the guests as she arrives
(on the top right section)

Bailey and I at Aghias Sofia square... Aghias Sofia=HOME!