Days 1-3
I landed safely, pretended to be Greek for a day and found out where to go next in the middle of the night from 2 to 3.
Day 1
I get picked up at the airport by a local friend. A nice reunion, as we haven’t seen each other for a few months. We then took the bus into town for EUR 0.90 and enjoyed a Greek lunch by the sea.
After checking into the simple apartment in the middle of a party district, I lay down on the bed for a short rest – and promptly fell asleep. After two hours, I woke up and unpacked a few important things from my backpack – most of it stayed inside, as I would not take the whole backpack with me into the city anyway.
I met up with my friend for a walk, followed by a private tour of the city. There were ancient ruins, towers, the sea, the food – I got to experience a lot on this first afternoon.
Day 2
Today is a public holiday, the stores are closed and the families are at home for a peaceful celebration. So I am also invited to lunch with the P. family. I am welcomed with open arms, supplied with cold water, served food and entertained in the best possible way.
The full table, another well-known southern phenomenon, is filled with over 20 small schnitzels, chips, sauce, an iceberg salad and a Greek salad. This blend proves that locals really don’t just eat traditional dishes – a popular thinking mistake.
The chatter from the table spills over into the living room over ice cream dessert, where the five of us have long conversations about all kinds of local customs, national phenomena and international politics – not a trace of any language barrier.
After a walk in the setting Greek burning sun, it’s already time to think about the next meal. My hosts take me to the sporty family cabriolet and five minutes later I feel the wind from my hair to my fingertips.
A hilly landscape spreads out before me. Suddenly we are surrounded by a contrast of dark patches on the heights and the sea of lights from all the buildings and street lamps of the bustling city that we are leaving behind us (and on the coast, the line of lights forms a beautiful border to the “real” sea).
We reach our destination at a swift pace, a traditional Greek taverna with a stone wall and bergula. Amidst locals who know their way around, I sit down at the table of our party, which, as I then find out, we have fortunately reserved in advance – the outside area of the taverna is full to bursting.
With a table full of exclusively Greek food this time, and lively sobremesa, the evening is the perfect icing on the cake of an already wonderful day. And as if the experience itself wasn’t enough, my insistent hosts also invite me to pay the bill. Oh you generous Greek!
Day 3
The third day begins with the second. When I got back to the Airbnb after our trip to the taverna, I was faced with the urgent question of where to go next, as I was due to set off on my journey in the afternoon of this still very young day 3. As I write this, I am still sitting at my wooden desk in Thessaloniki almost 24 hours later.
The reason for this is a quite remarkable flight that caught my eye in the night from yesterday to today. For about the same amount of money as my close by alternatives would cost me, I can fly to Manchester in England on day 4. As I remembered that a good friend of mine is currently in Manchester, this was a wonderful option. I also have the next stop after that covered, as I will be meeting some friends of mine in Glasgow.
After some deliberation, preparation and quick (re)booking, the next two destinations were decided: Manchester for days 4 and 5, then Glasgow. A few hours later, I was also able to make sure that my friend was actually in Manchester at the moment. He is gracious to put me up in his accommodation during his stay. We will also have fun and I am looking forward to our time together in Manchester. Tomorrow, I should arrive in Manchester at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon local time.
Day 0
The sun is shining and I look outside at the green-leaved tree. The leaves are barely moving, but I know that the calm is deceptive, because the next few days will look increasingly dynamic.
Tomorrow I’ll be on a plane to Thessaloniki, the city by the Mediterranean where my adventure will begin. I booked this outward flight, and since the day before yesterday I have an apartment in which I will spend two nights, nothing more. No return flight, no concrete travel plans, just the goal of being back in Switzerland by August 24 at the latest.
Where will the journey take me? Through the Balkans by bus and train, amidst a mixture of urban and rural landscapes? By ferry to Italy, to pizza land, where I’ll go from sole to tongue? These questions are still unanswerable for me, the only thing I have to say on the subject: Hopefully I won’t miss my next flight, because on August 25 I’m heading south once again from Zurich.
