Visiting
Modern Day Thessaloniki by John Hilde
 If
you are taking a trip to Greece, then probably the second most visited
city would be Thessaloniki. A city of great historical significance, the
modern day city is a bustling location full of historical sites and modern
day conveniences.
It's a good idea to stay
in a hotel near downtown or the Aristotle Square. This is the main area
of the city and there are many sites to see in a relatively short distance.
Aristotle Square is a big concrete park for pedestrians only. At the northern
end of the square there are ancient ruins for you to walk through and explore,
including a Roman Amphitheatre.
Going down the south side
of the square you'll come to a wide pedestrian only street with many shops,
restaurants, and nicer hotels. Here you'll also find American establishments
such as Starbucks and McDonalds, which may ruin the Greek mood.
Continuing down the street
you'll come to the Aegean Sea or the Gulf of Thessaloniki. This is a very
peaceful and beautiful walk. It's a great place to take a jog in the morning
or take a romantic walk with your spouse. At night, this place comes to
life as there are many cafes and coffee shops along the sea. There are
many 20-30 year olds that go out every night and it's a great place to
hang out to meet new people or just get the experience.
There are also some great
specialty shops in Thessaloniki as well. You'll see many shoe shops and
women's clothing stores. While some of the prices may be a little high
(especially with the Euro to dollar exchange rate), you'll still find some
good deals. They'll also be tourist shops with everything to Greek armor
and Greek helmets to statues of famous persons in Greece history. It will
take a day or more just to walk around Aristotle Square and the sea walkway.
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