February 1st: I leave the United States on a plane headed first to London. The flight is good, no problems until we hover Heathrow and find they they are experiencing a bit of snow. Turns out they got the most snow they've had in 18 years.
And though it appeared to be only a light dusting of white by Iowan standards, it still turned the unaccustomed London upside down into one chaotic transportation mess and ALL the flights in the entire airport for the entire day were canceled. Which equals several hours of slow-moving lines (or queues, as they were referred to by the British), a nice English hotel complete with strong black tea, good free food, and two extra passport stamps for Ashley. Oh, and four days of lost luggage. But, really, it wasn't too bad except for the luggage part.
Week One:
30 some hours later than expected, I arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece, late on a lovely night and find my way to my new apartment. Orientation takes place the next few days, including a short trip to Vergina to visit the royal tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, and a finale dinner downtown where we are presented with a plethora of delicious Greek food. Over the weekend my luggage arrives, we enjoy a couple live music venues, take a run on the boardwalk next to the Aegean Sea, and classes start the following Monday.
Week Two:
I meet up with Marta's friend Katerina, who is on staff with Agape (European branch of Campus Crusade for Christ) in Thessaloniki at Aristotle University (which has 100,000 students!). Experience the big Saturday market near our apartment (pretty sweet), a little sale shopping in the center, and a stolen wallet. Enjoy free dinner in Athenos, a little part of downtown in which you always get bombarded with deals to coax you into their traditional restaurant (taverna).
At the Saturday market, you can find almost anything you could need, from towels and clothes and shoes and bags...
to delicious fruits and veggies...
to frozen peas, seafood, and octopus. Even cleaning supplies. It's got everything.
There are sales everywhere right now. :)
Shopping in the center...sea in the distance, H&M to the right, the locals walking in front of cars with their dark coats and tall boots.
Waiting for the bus to take us to Athenos.
Fried zucchini with tzatziki at I Parea in Athenos. Yum!Week Three:
I start volunteering at the Writing Center at school. Learn how to make τυρόπιτα (ti-RO-pita: cheese pie). Go to a carnival celebration with a Brazilian band and lots of people in masks. Enjoy movies with friends. Visit the archeological museum. Discover Harry's Spot, a coffeeshop where you can go and play lots of boardgames. I was surprised how full of young people it was on a Saturday night, but so fun! Find the church that I searched for the week prior and meet some super nice people.
Sarah and Megan hard at work...
the finished product...flaky and delish!
Some of the girls at our apartment before carnival.
The Brazilian band
Megan and I!
The Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki
