Just off the International Exhibition Centre in Thessaloniki is Agelaki Avenue,
with these gorgeous, old olive trees lining one side of the road.
Turning left after a while you find yourself on Alex Svolou Street, a street we got to know quite well since we liked having lunch here.
The street is full of restaurants, cafes and bars.
Eu Mikro, looked particularly appealing and we kept saying we should come here, but we did not manage it somehow
I took this photograph early in the morning - all the other times we went by it was packed: mostly students as the University is near
most places have seating outside and are nicely decorated inside
Yok Balik is the reason why we kept coming back here. It has a lovely, lively atmosphere, and the food is exceptionally good - I became addicted.
The central library is housed here
gorgeous buildings
We ate at the Chriso Pagoni (Golden Peacock) twice - the food is very good, but not as good as Yok Balik
We sat outside and I was intrigued by this tree - the yellow band on the trunk is to repel insects that cause a disease - I know this because the same yellow bands are used on pine trees in our area in Greece
but it was the condition of the leaves that intrigued me - they have gone all dry and transparent.
The remains of the Palace of Galerius (there will be a post on this)
the remains of the Palace and the Rotunda in one straight line
political graffiti to be found everywhere, just like the rest of Greece
gorgeous Art Deco building
some new apartment buildings as well
the whole street is dominated by cafes and bars
We got to a square and the end of the street, and facing us, the back of the church of Agia Sofia
With its current structure dating from the 7th century, this is one of the oldest churches in the city still standing today. Its architecture is based on the church of Agia Sofia in Constantinople (Istanbul).
Very imposing, very grand.
The mosaic in the dome represents the Ascension with the inscription: 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?' The dome is ringed by the figures of all Twelve Apostles, Mary and two angels.
Various avenues lead on from this square
but on that day we went down Agias Sofias Avenue
Queues outside the Pinochio shop
This is a wide, pedestrian avenue where people shop, wander, window-shop or just relax
Eventually, it leads - where else? - to the sea .
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