The second biggest city in Greece, Thessaloniki, was a mouthful on the first day. But it has been a great introduction to some necessary basics in Greece.
When I saw ancient Roman ruins and archaeological sites casually spread around the city center, I remembered reading about the city being the capital of Macedonia. I spent some time refreshing my knowledge on the ancient kingdom, trying to put together patches of memories from documentaries and movies. On one hand, it was emotional to be in such a place with a long history where many great civilizations had flourished and perished. But on the other hand, it is hard to deny the fact that there is a strong disconnect between the way modern people live and what matters to them as opposed to those of the ancient counterpart. But for those who believe, the stories of their ancestors must be playing an important role in shaping the Greeks’ identity.
@ Thessaloniki, Greece, February 19, 2020
Acrocorinth or the acropolis of ancient Corinth is a monolithic rock formation and it houses a fortress, which had been used as the last line of defense from enemies entering the Peloponnese peninsula. The way the walls follow the ridges and the way they are getting old seemed like the whole site has become part of nature.
An afternoon around the site was almost a summary of the best feelings I had in Greece – being caught in lots of sunlight, having a view of the sea, and being overwhelmed by traces of so many stories.
@ Acrocorinth, Greece, March 3, 2020