Day 77 – 7th August, 2012- Skopje to Thessaloniki, Greece and from Thessaloniki to Istanbul (Turkey)

I got up at 4.30 a.m. from a phone call from Nishi and then the alarm.  Receptionist also knocked at the door. I was not feeling alright and had puked. It was again acidity of too much tomatoes and Raki. Two times vomiting cleared the burning sensation. I was ready after taking shower and at 5.15 a.m. left the room. Bus Station is 5 minutes walk and I reached Platform No.1 from where the Bus will go. Bus came a little late and at 6.10 a.m., we left the Bus depot. There were 14 passengers in the whole Big bus. The Bus journey was scenic and beautiful. It was through the mountains where the road was built with maximum bridges and on the same level of the road. Some villages and a fairly large town of ‘Veks’ came. After that there was a  passport check at the Macedonian side. Then at the Greece side. 

I had schengen visa and so faced no problem. So our passports were taken by the immigration officer and in 20-25 minutes brought back. Now the land is plain and the road is also not that good like Macedonian side. We reached the border in 2 hours and from there is another 2 hours to Thessaloniki City. Bus stopped somewhere in the city and the driver asked everyone to get down. It was not a Bus stand. I asked the driver where I will get the Bus for Istanbul.  He showed me a board of a travel agency across the road and asked to contact them. I went up to the agency office and the girl there, was very helpful. She gave me a Istanbul ticket for 35 Euros and bus will go from here at 9 p.m. I asked her where is Railway Station where I can keep my baggage. She offered her courtyard and I kept the packsack over there. She also gave a map of a tourist bus to see the city. I thanked her for all the help and came down.  Everything was done in another half an hour of reaching Thessaloniki. 

This was again traveller’s good luck.  Now is the problem of spending 10 hrs or so. I came down and found bus No.39 standing there.  At the tourist agency, the girl told me to take 39, 12 or 21 for the place which is court house.  I bought 1 Euro ticket from the machine in the bus. I thought of getting down at Aristotle square but   the bus had already gone ahead. I got down at the Archeological Museum and White Tower which was just nearby.  It was hot and I thought of entering the museum. Ticket was of 8 Euros but I saw for those above 64 years of age, it was half. I bought 4 Euro ticket and spent 2 hours there. The museum is just like museums in Athens or British Museum, London which has best Greek Collection. Then I came out and sat in a park and ate a piece of burger which hostel Restaurant has given me. It was not good. I ate half and rest one and a half threw in the dustbin. In the morning, I filled up water bottle with water from the big bottle but somehow could not close it tightly and the small rucksack became wet from the bottom.  Fortunately passport was on upper pocket. I came to the White tower.

There is one bus No.50 for 1 Euro (discounted ticket for Senior Citizens) and it takes 40 minutes to go through all old and cultural places with running commentary and you can hop in anywhere. It was nice air-conditioned bus and I took full round and again sat in the bus and then got down. Now the heat was maximum. I saw a park at a distance. There I sat on a concrete small bench. On the way, I found a good sandwich selling shop. One patty was for 1.10 E of green onion and orange juice 1 E with plenty of ice and a bottle of water for 50 cents was a good bargain. I could eat half patty only. I was feeling very sleepy but there was no place to sleep except grass where some shade was there. I resisted for half an hour but ultimately, I spread myself on grass and slept for a few minutes. Of course there were many people here and there. Then I tried to complete the diary.  After quick nap, I felt better and since that time was walking here and there upto the sea side. Evening is cooler now. Finally I boarded Bus No.12 at 7 p.m. and came to courthouse. Our street is on the backside. I sat in the restaurant below the travel agency and asked for a toast and orange juice. I have finished juice but toast I will take later. It is 8 p.m. and I will go up and bring big packsack down.

11.45 p.m.: I boarded the bus and it stopped somewhere for break. There is a good restaurant for fast food. I bought one cheese patty and a small bottle of Yoghurt lassi. I’d nearly missed the bus.
Greece time is one hour ahead than the rest of the places or Europe. I did not know it and did not change time in the watch. So when I said 8 p.m., I went up to the travel agency, it was 9 p.m. and they were closing. Bus was standing on the road and passengers (not many) were in the bus. The girl whom I met in the morning asked me to collect the rucksack and rush down. I went down quickly and kept the rucksack in the luggage room of the Bus than came running to the restaurant and went for bathroom. I had already paid for the toast but instead collected a small bottle of water. Bus started as soon as I entered. It was very comfortable bus with all facilities. Ean-De-Cologue was sprinkled on hands of everyone. Then a cup of hot tea was served. After one hour, the bus stopped and then a number of Turkish families entered in the bus.  They were all going to Istanbul. Bus stopped at another place and more passengers came in. Now the bus is full.  Wherever it was stopping, there was a good restaurant and shops.