Highlights of Greece

This is the trip around Greece that I went on with a friend back in college.Both of us are more interested in the culture and history of Greece than its beaches so we didn't bother going to places like Naxos or Corfu.After a summer of traveling,we had little money and time left before going back to college.If we had more of those two we would have definetly visited other places like Mount Olympus,Yoannina,Delphi,Thermopylae,Epidavos,Kastria Cave,Santorini and Rhodes.

Day 1:

We arrived in Thessaloniki via plane and took a taxi to the hotel in order to check-in.We booked 3 nights for the price of $20 a night and the hotel was near the Vardari Fortress.We had some pasta at the nearest restaurant,Sempriko,and then we took a taxi to see some of the city's main sights.We started out at the White Tower,the city's most famous landmark and then we walked to the statue of Alexander the Great,the most famous leader of the notorious Macedonian Empire.Afterwards,we headed over to the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki.The museum holds a very large collection of statues and other artefacts from the classical period,both greek and roman,not only from Thessaloniki but from the entire province of Macedonia.

The next museum we visited was the Museum of Byzantine Culture.The ticket was $10,and the museum is very well-planned with a large collection of eastern orthodox icons from the medieval times and pottery as well.We spent the rest of the day wandering around the place,before getting back to the hotel to end the day.

Day 2:

In the second day we went to eat at a Gyros place and then we took the bus to the outskirts of the city to see the Heptapyrgion of Thessalonica,a byzantine era fortress.The entrance fee was cheap and we had the chance to see an old prison.The view is incredible and I bet it looks even better at night.From there we took a taxi to the Monastery of Vlatadon,which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is located in the Anno Poli and it is one of the only monasteries remaining from the byzantine era.

From there I took the bus to the Folk Life & Ethnological Museum of Macedonia & Thrace,without my friend as he wanted to spend more time at the monastery,so we decided to meet up after I visit the museum.The museum showcases the traditional ways of life from Macedonia and Thrace and I enjoyed it very much.

After the museum I met up with my friend at the Agios Pavlos Church,one of the most beautiful churches in all of Thessaloniki and then we called it a day.

Day 3:

In the third way we had a coffee and then we took a cheap and short bus ride to Vergina,the first capital of Ancient Macedonia.There we visited the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai,which holds the tomb of Phillip II,Alexander The Great's father,along with an impressing collection of golden artefacts.The entrance fee was about $15 but it's definetly worth it.