Lots of Womens in Thess

This last week I had the amazing opportunity to escape work for a few days and spend some quality time with women from all over the Balkans. The post about the retreat will come soon. I wanted to go ahead and post the photos from our day trip to Thessaloniki. We took a train in and spent most of the day wandering around the city (and shopping!) with our fearless tour guide and leader.

This was taken as we were receiving instructions about how long we had to shop at the market. The market was much like our Serbian Flea Market, except that it had a large food section as well. Those pigeons you see were very affectionate and aggressive. Also, huge.

This fish section of the market was Randi's favorite part. I could've taken a million interesting photos, but every time I stopped I automatically signaled that I was interested. The fish guys were shouting and offering to bag up whatever was in front of you. I managed to snap a few photos without having to buy anything.

I wish you could see the scale of this fish. It was huge. Probably about three feet or so. And he had massive, massive teeth. I don't know that I'll be swimming in Greece anytime soon.

This is fairly typical. In Serbia, they'll roast meat like this on spits. There was a guy cutting meat on a wooden stump fairly close by as well.

See the wooden stump and cut meat below the case? I also like how they leave the eyes in the skull. Extra flavor.

This is the White Tower, one of the more famous landmarks. Randi and I walked all the levels and I translated as best as I could.

I've convinced Randi's kids to pose by quite a few random things. Its only fair to get their mom in on it too.

Greek graffiti. Just like my Belgrade. It felt like home.

This is the temple complex of Galerius. It was also full of sleeping cats. Greeks love them some cats.

More of the complex. Its remarkably intact. Many of the mosaics are well preserved.

After a trip to Starbucks, we checked out the ancient sites.

I think the is the first time I've seen heart mosaics in Greece. I loved them.

This graffiti was behind bars, below street level, and in the middle of an excavation.

The other Randi was so very nice and took a bunch of women all over the city and let them shop to their heart's content.

Galerius' arch that celebrated his defeat of the Persians.

Its also known as the Kamara.

Some of this graffiti could have been at home any where in the world.

Excavations of the agora.

We also went up the hill to see Paul's gate. This is the gate that many people believe Paul entered the city through during his travels.

Randi and I being Paul like.

This is a second gate right next to it...in case the other was crowded?

The view of the city from the gate. Also a few of some of our great Arkansas ladies.

A view of the wall, from the gate. The wall used to encircle the city.

 So there you go. We also had lunch at a wonderful Italian place. (odd, right?) And bought a ton of souvenirs and managed to mentally scar quite a few of the ladies during a bus ride that involved a very drunk and frisky man. All in all, a great day in a great city with great people. You can't ask for much more than that.