A beautiful small cafe

 

Coffee is an integral part of everyday life. 

This cute cafe is spotted in eastern Thessaloniki

A share a video from my YouTube channel as well if you want to see more from my city

Cityscapes

It has been the hottest summer in Thessaloniki so far. Walks in the downtown during the day are so hard. However, this doesn't stop me from taking some photos. 

If you are interested in youtube vlogs I invite you to my new channel 

Take care friends wherever you are

Zeuxidos

Probably named after the Greek painter Zeuxis, Zeuxidos is one of the most popular streets of Thessaloníki. A meeting spot for hundreds and hundreds of people, most of whom are students. Some would say that the fancy cafes which are located there, made this place so unique. But I am afraid this is not the true reason.

You see, there is an old tradition in Greece, where summers believe me are extremely hot, to host leisure activities  around sycamores. Yes, this perennial trees are the symbol of gathering and newer generations follow this tradition instinctively.

Have a great weekend friends. This sweet boy wants to say a "Hello''.

It's all about the sea

 

It's always about the sea, either you look straight into the blue, or you turn your head to the other side.

Leaving in a coastal city seams that everybody is attached to the sea. 

But has it been always like that?

The answer is, no. 

Citizens of Thessaloniki were not aficionados of the water in the past. 

Strange right? 

Not so strange if we take a look back in the history.

See that tall stone tower in the picture? 

This building used to be a prison during the days of Turkish occupation. 

Countless people till 1912 had been tortured and killed inside those heavy walls.

Moreover citizens were not able to see the sea at all. 

A gigantic fortress was running along the coast, isolating the city from the rest world.

Just during the past few decades locals managed to redefine their relationship with the water.

And believe me, despite of all the past traumas, this part of the planet is really peaceful.

You will never see those waters angry no matter how bad the weather is.

Only the fog will blur your sight during the rainy days...

Tsoukou tsoukou

House and home are two different things. House is a place for our body but home is place for our soul. Home is a nest of love and care. Mine nest is this small cafe. A place where a friend is always waiting for me!

In Thessaloniki's downtown at Alexandrou Svolou street 55, day and night, winter and summer, there is always room for warmhearted and friendly people.

Rock music, hot and cool beverages, tasty dishes and refreshing cocktails. Solo or with company, you will never feel alone and you will always make new friends.

Koralia with the pink hair, Anastasia with the black are the two sweet hostesses.

Stoa Modiano #1

  This is the entrance of Stoa Modiano, 

a commercial building that hosts 

the closed market of  Modiano.

note: To see the location click below the label

Harbor # 3

Some more renovated industrial buildings from the harbor. 

This is the front view of a cafe -bar called Kitchen bar(top)

and these are two cinema theaters (above)

Clean Monday

Today, i will introduce you to a Greek custom, the Clean Monday celebration. Clean Monday is the first day of the Easter fast. We call it clean cause we stop eating meat, fish and milk products and we start cleaning ourselves as well from every toxic behavior and emotion. (at least we try) For more information check this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Monday
On this day we use to organize some folk festivals with traditional music and delicious fasting meals. Some outdoor activities like picnic and flying a kite are in the day plan too. 

Each municipality organizes each own festival and i will show you some images from my township's events.

 Maybe you can recognize the maypole dance which is a very common custom in all Europe. 

And now a small taste of Greek folk music.

Harbor #1

 A small part of the harbor is public and lots of events take place there. Thessaloniki's film festival is one of them. 

The old industrial buildings are all now renovated and they accommodate cinema theaters, museums, exhibitions and cafes. 

To this point i want to thank all the people all over the world who demonstrated yesterday for Greece! 

Here's one view from our demonstration.