My Images of SEE – 23:04, Sun 7th August

After our brief break we left the hotel once more and headed due south towards the sea. We noticed to our right a small square with numerous restaurants there. It must have been 20:00 yet only a handful of people were in each of the 5 or so establishments. We picked one that had ‘meze’ in its title. 

We sat down to an English menu that our waiter correctly predicted we’d need, and noticed a list of Ouzo. The price was rather steep, but it was interesting to note the wide selection. By 21:20 we had finished. We had a mint-like tasting meatball platter in tomato sauce; a pastry wrapped cheese and tomato roll; a potato, bacon and cheese lasagne-cum-shepard’s pie, and stuffed peppers. All fantastic. We had beer, water and to finish – fresh slices of watermelon. All reasonably priced. Again the street sellers were out, others had musical instruments now.

We then went for a walk along the front to the place where we ate today. The moon sent a shimmering reflection down to the bay water. An ever so light breeze blew, and the locals were out in force. It must be that with the heat so high in the day that the locals only come out at dusk. We reached the square that was now buzzing with life, and sat on high stools at one of the trendier bars. This was indicated by the price of the drinks.

We observed the atmosphere enjoyed by the locals. Some with families, some men on mobiles texting away, a gaggle of girls drinking cocktails and getting chatted up by the barmen. Also an older man swooning over his somewhat younger partner – and the occasional broken glass. After finishing the complimentary nuts and crisps, we headed off back up the hill to our hotel. What a pleasant evening.

This short diary entry is a hangover from the previous one, and just rounds off the first day in Thessaloniki. It does denote my first awareness of the different daily routines that people from alternative climates have, which dictate their work and leisure routines. It also describes the presentation of eastern Mediterranean cuisine – meze/tapas in its delivery, with pastry and meat as their staple. Again, not much more to add only that the area where the square with the restaurants on was the Ladadika. This was actually the old Jewish Quarter up to World War One, and in its small area contained buildings (whether actual or reconstructed) from that time, which made it stand out from the more post World War Two modernist style of the majority of the city.