Oranges in Aristotle Square

This time of the year brings out incredible color on Aristotle Square, and various other streets with beautiful orange trees!! They add so much to the Christmas atmosphere - reminding us that we live in a Mediterranean culture!! With mid 70's weather it the orange trees are something to get excited about as December approaches.

The only advice I can give you though is not to eat them.... Apparently they taste like dirty street.

A Sunday afternoon coffee

Hey guys,

Sorry for the absence this past week... it's been a crazy one!  I was working a conference and throwing a thanksgiving feast with my American friends.  (Those of you who are Americans in Greece can relate to the difficulty of making those foods in this country!)  I was out and about plenty of times, but I am just now having the chance to upload some photos.

This afternoon my girlfriend Maro and I went out.  I tried Mongo's (the Mongolian Barbecue place) for the first time and really liked it.  You don't see a lot of Asian food around here, so it's nice to have once in a blue moon.  I like the concept of throwing a bunch of stuff into a bowl for your ingredients...it's so American to choose EXACTLY what will be in your meal.  Makes me homesick for Subway!  Anyone agree that this franchise needs to come our way??

But I digress.

The point of this entry is that Maro and I stopped at a great little cafe for coffee afterwards.  It's called "To Mikro" and it's one of those places that would be good anywhere, but what makes it awesome is the location.  There are some side streets near Agias Sofias church that have a really special atmosphere.  They are central, yet quiet.  You feel so posh and European sitting on the cobblestone, sipping a cappuccino...even if you're just out of college and 4 euros is all you can spend.  "To Mikro" is located right around the corner from the Agias Sofias courtyard, across from the school.  The area is called "Iktinou".  They've got a nice set-up with outdoor heaters and their filtered coffee is one of the best, says Maro.

koulouri

It does not take long living in the city to enjoy a koulouri. It is a bread-ish piece of goodness that can be found on virtually every busy street corner. They are cheap (typically .50) and a nice morning snack.

However, if you want the best and cheapest you need to go down the Egnitia near Antigonithon. At the Antigonithon bus stop you can find them slightly warm, .40, and sold with pizzazz. But you need to buy it before 10 am or the bus exhaust will taint the taste......

My favorite place to eat in Thessaloniki

I can't stop telling everyone how fabulous Greek food is.  Picking a favorite is tough - but in the past 6 months I have fallen in love with the Delicatessen.

You can find this gem at two locations in the city: The Mediterranean Cosmos food court, and right around the corner from Everest on Tsimiski (Kouskoura Street).  There are a lot of great options at the Cosmos food court (including what my friend Tony claims to be the best burger around - Simply Burger), but I choose this Cypriot souvlaki joint every time.  In Greece, it's easy to tell where the good food is.  Just look for a place swarming with people.  That definitely describes the ντερλικατέσεν.  And even though the place is chaotic, the people working the grill are always joking around with me and keeping the mood pleasant.  Here are my recommendations for a great meal:

- A few chicken/pork souvlaki
- A Haloumi cheese souvlaki
- Tirosalata (theirs is the BEST)
- Pita bread, onions, and tomato
- Fries topped with cheese or one of their famous baked potatoes

The original Kouskoura location

This sign cracks me up... 364 cm?

When my boyfriend came to visit me, this place was his favorite by far... even though we also went to some nicer tavernas.  He still talks about it, and I try to make him jealous, but he can always get me back with Taco Bell or Chipotle.  Even though I miss some of the food places from home, I will really miss this place when I'm in the States!

Where to stay on a dime

Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki on a budget for yourself or visiting friends?  Here's your answer!
 
I have lived in several continents over the past few years, and it never ceases to amaze me how expensive lodging can be in Europe.  I remember the good 'ole days in South America when I could find a great hostel for $5 a night.  In Greece, you are lucky if you can find a good room for 50 or less.  Although Thessaloniki has many tourists and backpackers that come through, the city never caught onto the hostel idea like most other major cities have.  Thanks to RentRooms Thessaloniki, things are changing.

For the low-maintenance traveler who has no qualms with dorm-style or shared bathrooms, the price is great: 19E per person for a dorm room (6 beds) and a selection of breakfast options is included in the morning.  If you want a private room, the price goes upto 39E for a single or 49E for a double.  Both prices include breakfast as well. Wifi is available. 

Krystal loving her hot chocolate

The Backpack Cafe

View from the Backpack Cafe

The nearby seafront is a great place to ride

The location of RentRooms and the Backpack Cafe couldn't be better.  It's nestled right in between the Rotunda (providing a great breakfast view) and Aristotle University.  If you're walking up from the Egnatia to the Rotunda, take a right at the Rotunda and follow around the side until you see the painted hostel wall.

My friend Krystal and I sat and had a coffee at the home-y cafe in front.  Krystal raved about her hot chocolate and I had a great coffee.  Aris runs the place and he is friendly and helpful, as well as the rest of the staff.  Even if you don't need a room, it's worth going to this unique spot just for a drink or breakfast.  RentRooms has a helpful website with more information here.

What lies beneath the Egnatia

For those of you who walk the center streets everyday, have you wondered what lies beneath these simple roads? If you walk to the top of Aristotle Square you can clearly see ruins that pre-date the Apostle Paul, yet this is one of the few ruins that date back to the Antiquity period. This mystery can be solved in the most recent months near the McDonald's on Agias Sophias. As the Egnatia shifts with the metro construction anyone can peer over the barriers and view ancient city life. A few months ago I snapped this photo while workers carefully un-earthed the ruins. Ironically, after the ruins were carefully preserved a concrete ceiling was placed so the road could once again take its position. So during these construction months take time to peer over the barriers while history sees the light of day once again.

The Tea Route (Ο δρόμος του τσαγιού)

When I first moved to Greece, my friend Jamie introduced me to this adorable little tea shop.  For the past six months, I have brought all of my visiting friends to this place and it has been a big hit.  


Let's face it - Thessaloniki is a coffee-loving city.  But there is something so fabulous about tea, aside from its health benefits.  It is comforting and classy.  Today I spoke with Katerina (pictured on the left helping a customer) who informed me that the shop has existed for about 9 years.  Originally, the French owner used to bring tea over from Paris and other parts of Europe, and eventually decided to go into the tea business here in Greece.  At this time, tea was considered by Greeks to be mostly a remedy for sickness and not much more.  Now, Katerina says that Greeks have changed their mentality towards tea and credits Ο δρόμος του τσαγιού for helping to open people's minds to tea as an every-day drink.  Their most popular teas are of the green variety.  A favorite blend is the Μυρωμενος Θαμνος, a sweet and spicy tea.  I ordered a chai tea today called Τσάι  μυρωδικών that smells like Christmas.  I can't wait to try it!



I recommend that my visiting friends buy a bag of tea with a decorative tin in silver or gold.  For just 4E, it makes a great gift for somebody at home.


The Tea Room has a great website here with English translation if needed.  You can even order tea online...but visiting the shop itself is something you shouldn't pass up!  It's conveniently located at Χρυσοστόμου Σμύρνης 12 right off Nikkis by the White Tower.  If you're walking East along the water, take a left at Mangio and the shop will be a few blocks up on the right. 

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