We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Why We Visited Greece

Elena, our service dog Ned’s trainer at 4 Paws for Ability is from Greece. We learned that Elena visits Los Angeles, our home town, to sing at Greek festivals and special events every year. Since Ned came home with us 4 years ago, Elena has visited with us each year. Elena invited us to visit Greece but a trip of this magnitude took several years to plan. Thessaloniki – a must-see city in Greece was our destination

Working Vacation

During Elena’s visit in October, we saw her performance at the Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral LA Greek Fest. This Cathedral is spectacular and a taste of what we were to experience in Greece.  Miss Bee, Ned,  and my nephew Max traveled to Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece to visit Elena.  In addition to partaking in tourist activities, we assisted her by making public appearances for her nonprofit Nina Service Dogs. We were honored to present a service dog team from 4 Paws for Ability to Greek audiences.

Thessaloniki Tourists

In addition to our service-oriented activities, we were eager tourists enjoying the sites of beautiful Thessaloniki. Elena, her Mom Irene, and Vasilas were our tour guides. Irene was on a mission to visit every island in Greece and she recently accomplished her grand adventure. She has motivated me to add a similar adventure on my bucket list. It was a treat to see Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas with knowledgable lifetime residents. This lovely city is not to be missed on a visit to Greece.

Peraia

We rented a private home in Peraia, a lovely seaside community located about thirty minutes outside of Thessaloniki. During the summer, this town is teeming with tourists. Our apartment was about a mile from the sea. Staying in the city center of Thessaloniki was not possible with Ned. We needed an outdoor fenced-in space. The home was located in a quiet community during the offseason. We had a kitchen and made some meals and snacks.  There was a bedroom for each of us. Having her own room gave overloaded Miss Bee space to decompress.

Found a Dog-Friendly SUV

Most cars in Greece are tiny however, Elena located a small rental SUV with just enough room for Ned in the back. my years of experience driving on crazy busy LA freeways I was too chicken to drive SUV for the first few days. Thank goodness Greece is a right-sided drive country!

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece after Athens. It has the busiest port in the country. The heart of the city is located on the Aegean Sea and this area is a shopper’s paradise. Downtown is comprised of several districts that are a blend of old cobblestone streets, beautiful hotels, historical landmarks, and trendy coffee shops.

• 

• 

• 

White Tower

Elena took us on a tour through the downtown and surrounding areas. Thessaloniki was once a fortress surrounded by over 5 miles of walls constructed of cubed stone and bricks built during the 4th century. The walls were fortified with towers and gates. Some sections of the wall still stand today. White Tower is a popular tourist spot. This tower was built in the 12th century and it was used to fortify the waterfront. The tower also served as a prison. Today, White Tower is a museum housing displays about the history of Thessaloniki.

Shopping for Mac Makeup

We visited a shopping mall and felt right at home until we made our way to the food court. The Greek food was delicious. Not a Panda Express, Subway, or Aunt Annie’s in site. The pastry shops were a visual delight. During another shopping trip, we visited a MAC Cosmetics counter. The sales associate treated Miss Bee like a queen. She suggested mom-approved make-up recommendations.

We brought Ned and Wall-E, a Papillon from 4 Paws that moved to Greece a couple of years ago, with us. They are as opposite as dogs can be. They attracted an even larger crowd than when we are out and about in LA. Wall-E is tiny and adorable with a huge personality and Ned is huge and chill. It was fun to watch the shoppers’ reactions.

• 

• 

Alexander the Great

Along the Aegean Sea and close to White Tower is a monument of Alexander the Great. The monument is an incredible 20-foot tall statue that was erected in 1973 and depicts Alexander the Great riding his horse Bucephalus. Alexander the Great was born in 356BC in Pella Macedonia and he was educated by Aristotle.

Alexander’s strategies and military tactics are widely studied today. The monument includes eight Macedonia sarissa (long spears) and shields that depict in iron relief the Battle of Issus. A professional photographed Miss Bee, Ned, and Elena for a magazine article in front of this fantastic monument.

Turkish Market

The first stop on our tour with Irene was the flower market. The flowers were a visual delight. Beside the flower market was a Turkish bath. The architecture was beautiful. Next, we visited the Turkish Kapani market. This fascinating market is comprised of indoor and outdoor shops. The vendors sell everything from fish to Ouzo.

We purchased spices, olive oil, and Greek candy to bring home. Miss Bee found a pair of boots for a bargain-basement price. She was in shopper’s paradise. I have learned to give her opportunities to shop while traveling even if we can make the same purchase at home. I bargain shopping for historical sites and museums. The deal includes no “are we done yet.” This is Miss Bee’s currency and I work it!

• 

• 

• 

Aristotelous Square

The city center is called Aristotelous Square. We enjoyed traditional gyros that blew our taste buds away. After our walking tour of the Square, we visited the Ladadika District. I loved this area. The streets are lined with colorful taverns, restaurants, and cobblestone roads. The holiday decorations were lovely. We stopped in a coffee shop to try Greek coffee. This coffee lover enjoyed every drop.

• 

• 

Church of Saint Agios Dimitrios

Our last stop in the city was the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Agios Dimitrios. The church was built in the 4th century AD.  It is known for its spectacular mosaics. The ancient crypt is a museum. Over the centuries, the church has been plagued by fires and rebuilt. St. Dimitrios or James in English is the patron saint of Thessaloniki.

Peraia and Michaniona

We left Thessaloniki to visit the seafront in Peraia (where we were staying). It is easy to see how enjoyable this seaside town is in summer. Next, we headed to the seaside harbor town of Michaniona. Irene brought us here to try delicious loukoumades from the best place in the area – Margaritis.

Loukoumades are crispy and look like donuts but they have a taste that is all their own thanks to honey, cinnamon, and nuts. We stuffed ourselves silly. Our dessert ended up being our dinner! Margaritis has a fantastic view of the harbor. We enjoyed our loukoumades while watching the sunset over the Aegean Sea as it fell behind Mount Olympus. Spectacular!

What a perfect ending to a wonderful day. As we drove out of Michaniona, we stopped to admire the Church of Saint Mary of Michaniona. Thousands visit in August each year to seek Saint Mary’s blessing.

• 

• 

We Will Return to Greece

Returning to Greece during the summer to visit the islands is in the works. We loved Thessaloniki and all the friends we made. Stay tuned for posts about how I planned international travel with a service dog and a teen with invisible disabilities and a post about our service activities. I left a piece of my heart in Thessaloniki – Must-See City in Greece.

You Might Also Like

Volunteering Vacation in Greece