Jun
18
HCHC Senior Trip 2011 – Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki was a good chance for us to settle down a bit. On the other hand, we’re still touring around twice a week. Plus, we’re taking Greek classes. These classes are just shy of awful. I taught language for 10 years and I’ve studied a language, so I know better than anyone just what we’re not getting. Plus, the air conditioner remote keeps getting locked up and the room is hot and stuffy. Plus, there’s a lot of homework. I’m just short of giving up all together. I could barely pay attention today at all.
Now we’re going on twice weekly tours with a lady who is supposed to be famous and keeps referring to films she’s made and books she’s written. She gives highly, highly detailed tours that go on for hours. She also talks about aliens meeting ancient Greeks and how ancient civilization was destroyed by a nuclear blast.
The rest of my time was sent fixing my laptop, developing my pictures, and trying to study for my thesis.
A small Orthodox chapel on our ship from Crete to Athens.
Vinnie and Elleni watch Mastermind on the bus from the port to Thessaloniki.
Mt. Olympus, not that impressive as mountains go.
The Church of St. Demetrius, patron of Thessaloniki.
Part of the wall of Thessaloniki from my hotel balcony.
An old priest outside his church.
The tomb of King Phillip II of Macedonia.
A spring outside a monastery we visited.
The right hand of St. John the Baptist, the hand he would have used to baptize Christ. I had already venerated the arm on Mt. Athos.
A cave where some saints of the monastery, including St. Gregory Palamas, dwelt.
Inside the chapel built into the mountain near the cave.
An old winepress on the monastery grounds.
We next took a trip to see a place where St. Paul is reputed to have preached. These steps are all that remain, there were once 13. St. Paul would have preached at the top.
Our first Sunday in Thessaloniki, we went to the metropolitan cathedral to see the ordination of the first native Fijian priest. Another was ordained the next day.
There have been frequent demonstrations in the city. At least three have gone by the hotel.
Wednesday we visited the crypt under St. Demetrius. This had been a Roman bath. When the church was built over it, it was used as a place to bury the dead.
View of the Rotunda from the city wall's fortress.
