Last week of october

My last week of October was more of a learning experience than a regular working week. Monday, tuesday and wednesday was almost completely free days. We also went to Athens the week before so I will tell you all about that. I will also talk about some work I did. 

Lets start with what happened on monday, which was the 26th. That day it was the feast of Agios Dimitrios and the city Liberation day. It’s Thessaloniki's biggest and most important local holiday. It marks the feast of Saint Demetrius, also known as Agios Dimitrios. The protector and patron saint of the city. This day also acts as a double celebration because of its anniversary of the city’s liberation from the ottoman rule in 1912 during the first Balkan war. So what happens during this day? How is it celebrated? Since it is an official local and mandatory holiday for the city, public services, banks, local business and schools are closed. And city hosts grand religious processions with the saints relics, official state ceremonies, and a festive atmosphere centered the beautiful basilica of Saint demetrius. So that is what I learned that day.

Now for tuesday isn't exactly a free day since we did some work but it is a day where many schools, offices and workers take the day off to create some sort of extended break with some parades. It is called the bridge day.

Now for Wednesday it is a major national holiday celebrated across Greece. It is called ochi day. Ochi meaning no in greek. It commemorates the historic moment on october 28 1940, when the greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected the ultimatum demanding axis forces to occupy Greek territory, leading to Greece going into world war 2. In my opinion was the most interesting to learn about and see how it is celebrated. But across the country. Big and famous military as well as student parades are taking place everywhere. Here in Thessaloniki it was along the Leoforos Megandrou Alexandrou. The nation honors this act of defiance with flag raising ceremonies, parades and nation pride.

During these days I did not just sit inside but I went out and saw all of this happen which was really interesting. I believe I have been repeating the word interesting about all of this but right now that is the only word I can come up with for this. Cool? Learning moment?

For we actually did something we haven't really done before and for me at least it was exciting. So what did we actually do? Me and Fantine got handed a bunch of flyers and got dropped off in the middle of the city to hand them out. Well what is so exciting about that, well firstly I’m happy that I didn’t have to design the flyers, im not the best poster/flyer designer. Then it was raining which I loved. But also we got to promote an event that we ourselves enjoy. We ended our flyer-handing-out-walk at little cinema that had some event. We weren’t really sure what it was. We dropped off the rest of the flyers that we had there.

Also right before that there was a four day trip to Athens. It was my first time in Athens and my first impression was not the best if im honest. We started off in a bad neighborhood and quickly booked a different hotel and walked for 40 minutes in the Athens heat with heavy backpacks after a 6 and half hour bus ride. But after getting to the hotel that we then spend our nights in(except for one). Later that same day that we arrived on we went out and climbed a hill and saw some historic ruins as well as seeing the beautiful lit up acropolis at a distance. So second impression was a lot better.

The second day we went sightseeing and went to the acropolis museum, and then up to the acropolis which was beautiful that as well. I am in general a big fan of greek history and mythology so seeing all of these sites was really cool for me and I was practically in awe the entire time. And in the evening I met up with my good friend David from Spain who is volunteering in Athens. He took me to a lesbian bar and we met some of his friends there. Now a lesbian bar in Athens is just a regular bar but with lesbians but also some gay people so its more of LGBTQ+ bar and more expensive drinks. Athens is just more expensive than Thessaloniki which is one reason why I prefer Thessaloniki. A beer in Athens is 7 euros and in Thessaloniki it is usually around 5 euros. Public transport in Athens is 1.2 euros for a simple ticket and half the price in Thessaloniki.

Anyway the difference is not too bad honestly. After the lesbian bar we went home pretty early to get some sleep so that the next day we have enough energy to party all night. The day after we went on more sightseeing and ate some good food. And in the evening the girls from Xylokastro came to our hotelroom!!! Very fun! David also came and I met some new people. One of them being a girl that is half russian and we got along very well... We had a pre party there, or as they call it, pregame. And then we went to a club and danced all night. The day after. Or should I say later that same day. Me and Fantine were really tired and we went to the bus station and changed our late night tickets, because we initially were supposed to leave at 23.59 but we left at 18.00 instead.

In general it is a very successful trip in my opinion and I don't see a reason to go back unless it is to meet our very nice friends there. But how I see it is their turn to come to us here in Thessaloniki.