Eastern Europe: Alexander the Great

Day 6 - July 20th, 2012
Thessaloniki, Greece - Kalambaka, Greece
After another free breakfast we headed back to the White Tower.  It was closed the day before so we thought that we ought to go inside.  The tower was once a bloody tower but was whitewashed to clear its name (and to free the convict who traded freedom for the job of whitewashing the tower).  Six floors inside the tower, and they have now been filled with Thessaloniki's history.  There are projections of the city's urban planning over time, and artifacts of various sorts.  At the top of the tower you can walk around and admire the view; and what a view!

The White Tower

Looking Out

Inside the Tower

Thessaloniki's Waterline

Top of the White Tower

In what seemed like no time we were checking out, hauling our bags to the car, and then trying to escape the city.  We did, escape the city I mean, and it was only a short drive to Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great.  Pella was once the heart of the Macedonia empire, and it was once a coastal city.  It is now 25 km from the coast due to the growing river delta.  The old city is in ruins, but there is a large museum dedicated to Alexander (UNESCO!!!).  We toured the museum and marvelled at the mosaics, the relics, and the story of Alexander the Great.  After the museum we drove to the archaeological site where work is still being done as the ruins of ancient Pella are being discovered.  It was enormous, it was advanced (full wet plumbing), and in its day it must have been glorious.  I would like to make a side note here... when we arrived at the archaeological site we saw what appeared to be archaeologists (~10 I'd say) and many of them appeared to be wearing hats that were exceptionally fashionable... they looked exactly like my Tilley hat!

Mosaic... Riding a What?!?!

Mosaic... Griffin vs. Deer (p.s. Predictable Outcome...)

A Game (Bones = Dice, Block = Board, Glass = Pieces)

Bronze Armour and Weapons

Treasure

Jewlery

Pen and Ink

A Curse...

Translation of the Curse

Golden Circlet

The Macedonian Phalanx

The Many Faces of Alexander III

Alexander's Kingdom

Alexanders

Alexander the Great

Alexanders the Great

Pella

Pella Archaeological Site

Ancient Pella

A Pillar in Pella

Ruins

On the road again, and then on the highway, and then lost.  Our GPS couldn't find where we were going so we had to rely on signs... well... we missed the sign on the highway, and then when we asked at the toll booth the woman said we had to turn around.  We did manage to turn around then were on the right path.  We drove down a mountain... then we drove up a mountain... then eventually in the distance we could see our destination: the rocky spires of Meteora.  It was not long before we reached Kalambaka (at the base of Meteora) and then navigated our way through the cobbled streets to our Hostel (Koka Roka).

A View on the Way

Arrival in Kalambaka

Big Bug... In Our Room...

Looming Rocks

Meteora

Between the Rocks

Our room opened up to the rocks leading to Meteora (like a walk out basement), and the view was spectacular.

We made our way down to the town square and found a decent looking restaurant.  We enjoyed a quiet meal and then headed back up to bed.