greece lightening.

 

back on the bus. panos had some couch-surfing girls coming to stay with him and popi's sister and boyfriend were going to corfu for easter to visit giorgos. plus we had more greek sites to see and popi to visit. 321 kilometers across northern greece from ancona to thessaloniki (i'm still learning the metric system) on a road that took nearly 10 years to build - and you could tell why. there were rolling green-shrubby hills that reminded me of northern california/nevada spotted with little villages that reminded me of the alps, fantastically deep valleys that the bus could slide off and down into at any wrong turn, snow topped mountains,  vast blue skies, interuppting tunnels with dimmed lights and escape route signs that reminded me of the movie independence day (yes? with the fire in the tunnel? and the dog? always a dog) this high way would kick I-95's butt. and the sunset. even the pictures taken from the back seat through dirty windows of a moving bus couldn't prevent these from being a spectacular sight.

 

we arrived in thessaloniki, the second largest greek city besides athens - and a lot nicer i must add, to a smiling popi, and met her boyfriend ari and his friend michael (well, the english version of greek michael for which arina adopted michael jackson.) we drove through the bustling city, bright with lights, every restaurant and bar with their doors open onto the streets and early spring air with young people streaming out, home for the holiday. the parking in greece - and the driving too i suppose - is ridiculous: anywhere you can fit your car, even if its double parked (just leave your number) you can park there. popi took us to a quiet greek tavern (it was only 930, it was packed when we left) and she ordered the most delicious greek food for us: hummus, tsatiziki, tahini, chicken paillard-like, oregano spiced fries, asparagus with herbs and olive oil, braised knettles with lemon, shredded salad of cabbage/beets/carrots, minced meat stuffed inside intestines (i dont know, but my fav), warm pita, dolmades and golden beer. deliciousness.

stuffed and happy, popi drove us to the old city where we stood outside the old city walls and saw thessaloniki at night, shining with city lights, couples enjoying the view, huge barges possibly contemplating visiting portsmouth, and mount olympus hiding in the dark across the bay. we were thrilled to be sleeping at popi's sister's apt: a real bed, a washing machine, a shower that doesn't need 30 minutes to heat up the water, a sea view (#4 after jammin' party hostel, the ferry, and panos' place) and an electric kettle.