Greece

19 th of September ,2023.  We are now in the beginning point to realise  my brother project  ın Greece lands, together Melike, my brother and I. We earlier wake up to cross the border between Turkey  and Greece in the summer house , Altinoluk.  Distance about 230 kilometers till Ipsala gate, also has a crossing the sea in the Çanakkale Bosphorus. We reached to the ferry in time which had remained  only a few minutes  to leave from harbour by my brother's driving.  My brother, Nusret fulled the car tank before the exit from Turkey in a fuel station in Ipsala. While crossing the Greece gate very easy  the "heaven" had remained back  also  playing to Greek music at the radio...

Alexandroupoli- Dededağaç- the first destination . While sunrise we are walking at the coast. This art product welcome every Turks traveller which  no knowing where to go at the coast in Alexandroupoli.

It is not possible to not remember similar examples from Turkey.  Only a pile of  iron . I don't remember where is it.. 

Komotini- Gümülcine is a small town which has so many Turc inhabitants . We visited Turkish Youth Union's Cafe there.

Kavala is a popular city among Turks . First of all its cookie is a tasty gift for relatives and friends.  For those interested with history, it was a city of Mehmet Ali Pasha who was a rebel toward Ottomans. 

We bought a few small boxes cookies from Cehf Konstandinos in Kavala. According to I remember per box was 6 Euros. The store of Konstandinos is on the street where can reach to Mehmet Ali Pasha mansion and sculpture..The store of Konstandinos is on the street where can reach to Mehmet Ali Pasha mansion and sculpture..His cookie products are handmade not  factory , contained almond and cinnamon. He had offered to taste for us. Thanks Konstandinos...

We don't overlook the prices in Greece.. The liter of benzine was 2,029 , diesel fuel 1,81 euros..

Kavala public park..

Imaret was founded by Mehmet Ali Pasha in the early 19th century. It served muslim population as a madrasa, mesjid, school, imaret (soup kitchen) . We observed only the main entrance of Imaret where is opened to the street.. It has quite largely view that from the  side of harbour..Nowadays it using as an hotel..

Mehmet Ali Pasha mansion is on the high point of  Kavala where see the Kavala harbor and Aegean see. He was died in 1849 who considered founder of modern Egypt. Very interesting to learn for me that he came from East Anatolia, area  of Ilıç-Erzincan to the Greece lands. I had learned on close times that my friend Mümtaz's aunt received a notification about Pasha's heritance. 

It is confirmed a simple rule  here too.. He is my friend who is an enemy to my enemies. Greece state glorify two Ottoman governor in their lands. Mehmet Ali Pasha in Kavala and Ali Pasha in Ioannina who revolt Ottoman State.

How can you stop yourself when you see like this waves? I couldn't do, of course..I went down  thanks to the steps . Swimming felt comforting to me after  tired.

20th of September 2023.. We are in Thessaloniki..We accommodated two night at the Ifos apartment which had booked from the Booking application. Its location so good, close the center, useful and comfortable. We generaly liked Thessaloniki..

Ataturk house is the most important sightseeing place in Thessaloniki for Turcs. I could not visit this house much before in 2012 due to renovation. This time, I caught visiting possibility. 

The population change between Turkey and Greece may be the most important sadly event .. This changing completed from the end of 1923  to 1930. Local people dismantled and thrown away from their lands mutually.  The cultural features were carried to the new lands.  Thus, we listened to very very familiar folk music at the radio as if we were in Blacksea coasts while driving along Greece lands. 

We were sitting on the bench in the yard of Ataturk House after visiting..

The Saint Demetrios Church that is in Thessaloniki had not impressed me the first looking from outside. According to read ın the internet, "the first church on the spot was constructed in the early 4th century AD, replacing a Roman  bath." My mind may fill  with dome forms..The  Inside of church was full with  chairs for  christians in the main mid hall . There was a side division where was chairs in the church that is no connection directly with main hall. I couldn't solve its function.

Another important ancient building in Thessaloniki is Rotunda is a structure of the 4th century. Immediately you can see the similarity with Pantheon. Firstly it was used to as a polytheistic temple, after than as a church, than as a mosque, nowadays church. Ottomans added a minaret from outside..İmpressive building..

The sculpture of Great Alexander had erected on the band of coast in Thessaloniki by Greeks. The art work of the nowadays doesn't compete to the ancient similars..Already Greeks of the 21th century are not look like  them either.. 😃

One of the most popular activities in Greece is to go to a tavern for dinner. My brother's choice  was Rouga Taverna where was very close to the Aristotelos square, on the narrow street. This taverna  has 4,5 rating by Tripadvisor . 

 We had ordered grilled sardines, Greek salad and drank beer. My brother paid totaly 48 Euros. Affordable price if yo compare it to the similars in Turkey.

We stayed two night at the Ifos Apartment in Thessaloniki. My brother paid 90 Euros as cash. We left there after breakfast to go to Athens. 

Athens..21st of September,  early morning we left from Thessaloniki to go to Athens.  Distance between Thesselanoki and Athens is about 500 kilometers. We had considered to spent 7 or 8 hours at the road due to we didn't have  prefered  highways. Thuse  it has been darkness when we found the apartment in Athens that I booked , " σπίτι ιδανικό"

We wouldn't have liked to miss the opportunity for visiting Benaki Museum as free. This private  museum would stay  open till midnight. After eating fish canned fish in the apartment we came out to find the  public transportation, train or bus to go to Benaki Museum. The train was not working.. Bad chance. If we wait the public bus in the stop  point  it would be venture no reach out on time to the museum. My brother took a risk to no find a free parking near of Museum and drove his car. Anyway, everything went so normal.  He parked the car  at the street where is close to museum. 

 

It is not necessary to say that Mr. Benaki was a rich man. He was a collectionner of art works. You should visit his museum if you have time...

It was no small pleasure to catch the Benaki museum before it closed.. To sit on the chair where placed by me in front of the poster of Poet Byron or take a selfie on the stairs could be a type reflection that emotional sprade situation? This sentence  can  be  an explanation about momentary cases..No connection to the context? May be true..

22 nd of September, the second day in Athens, We were going to see Corinth Canal. A small detail..We had crossed on the railways several times which way intersection with road . We finally had realized that they wer not used since long years. 

There Was a platform for bungee jumping on the Corinth Canal. We watched youngers that jumped down for a while..  

Corinth canal connect two sea , Aegean and Ionian sea each other. It is construction began in 1881 while other important canal  Suez Canal construction was completed in 1869.

Nafplion... Our travel in Greeks land has contained to following historical mark of Ottomans.  Nafplion is a coastal city that located in the  Peleponnese in Greece. "During the Greek War of Independence, Nafplio was a major Ottoman stronghold and was besieged for more than a year. The town finally surrendered on account of forced starvation. After its capture, because of its strong fortifications, it became the seat of the provisional government of Greece."

The sculpture of Teodoros Kolokotronis.  He was a general and hero of Greeks during the independence war against Ottomans. They captured the Nafplion in 1822 and this city remained the  capital of Greece until 1834. "Kolokotronis achieved his greatest success at the 1822 Battle of Dervenakia, where he routed the Ottoman forces under the command of Mahmud Dramali Pasha." There is no need to say that he murdered thousands Turks. This is  life..

23rd of September, 2023. We were the close distance to the Acropolis to visit it. We separated this day for Acropolis visiting. By the way we sat on the stone wall for resting while climbing Acropolis . I was informed by the ticket office that free ticket would have offere after 4 pm. It would be no meaning to wait there. We left there for come again after 4 or 5 hours

The Zappeion mansion was devoted from Evangelos Zappas to the Greek civilization. He devoted his life  to revival of the Olimpia Games and Greek , Hellenic culture. Zappeion is a great complex.  We didn't wander inside of it. We wouldn't able to spend money for every museum.

One of our efforts was related to finding a supermarket to buy a bottle water while wandering on the streets of Athens. That'is moment. We sat on the entrance stair of the  house for resting which was in front of the supermarket "Bazaar" .

Finally, time over . We climbed again to the Acropolis.  Acropolis meaning is a highest point in Greek language. Parhenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis.  For me,  this visiting was the second times. Of course,  Parthenon  is always amazing building whenever you want visit.. According to we read on the information plate , Ottomans had added a minaret to this temple and used as an arsenal  at the last period. What is the association with Mosque and  the pagan temple ... There is no the end in absurdity..

After visit Parthenon we walked toward the Plaka . At teh place that no far away from Acropolis, we encountered Agora This place was a place that free people joint to the ıssues of state.

A good reason for stop and thinking about our life that we have for a moment  on the narrow street of souvenir sellers..

on Sunday, 24th of September 2023. We caught the opportunity to watch the traditional units Evzonoi of Greek army during the ceremonial show  in front of Greece Parliament in Sintagma Square..

One of free visiting places was Army museum in Athens. The important figures of Greek independent had placed in the museum, Theodoros Kolokotronis, Yorgos Karaiskakis. Priest Makarios and other Cyprus military leader,  Grivas.

The ordinary case that liveable in the wars, probably.. 

A Turk starboard captured by Greeks exhibit in the museum.

There are so many museum in Athens . One of them,  Art museum  is in the centraly point which  is close to the army museum   in Athens. You can visit this museu  as free too..

Lord Byron and independence warriors of Greeks..

Acropolis museum is quite modern . There was forbidden to take photo and video in some departments.

Arachova....25th of September, 2023. We left Athens to go to Kastoria. We encountered a small, cute town on the road. As if an Italy town with its small stones houses.. Arachova is this town.. 

About 150 kilometers from Athens. The firsrly today, We will see the the mansion of Tepedelenli Ali Pasha in Ionnina. 

Arachova streets...

 Ther is an important harbour on our way.. Patras.. We crossed this place from its environment without to see it.. We took a photo of only one suspension bridge visible in the background. 

To see the place of Lepanto "İnebahtı"   was quite interesting for us.. Beceause we only heard its name in the history lessons until now. It situated on an important point that conrolled access to the Gulf of Corint, north of Patras. We remember it in a naval disaster  that happened in 1571. Lepanto was an important naval base of Ottomans and thuse remained until 1829. 

The visible mosque is Aslan Pasha Mosque. This mosque had become a museum by Greeks. There was a  woman employee  in the office to sel ticket to visitors.. It was enough for us  to look inside of mosque from the main entrance. When we left there, woman employe and mosque had stayed into  previous silence again.. 

Ioannina... Finally we arrived to Ioannina.Firstly  we got around the surround of Lake by car. The mansion of Ali Pasha is at the small island in Lake . Ther is only small boat for transport to this Island. The clouds was marking that storm approaching. Even so we paid five Euros for each person for transport for that we had hoped to visit the mansion . But, after arrival to the mansion, we had been warned from other visitors that we had to return to boat to return back due to aproaching storm.. I took a few photos while running hury there..

Tepedelenli Ali Pasha is an Ottoman vizier who was the Governor of Yanya Sanjak between 1787 and 1820.

According to I read about him, he was an ignorant but clever and brave. Due to his helping to the Greeks rebels, the struggle indepences of Greeks had gather speed. 

Yorgos Karaiskakis , the famous hero in revolt of Greek was a member of guard unit of Ali Pasha. He preferred to support Ottomans During the war between Ali Pasha's army and Ottomans .. Life .. very strange 

Probably a love story stayed in every visitor mind like me. Ali Pasha got married  with very  young a local woman, Kıra Vasiliki.. The end of revolt of Ali Pasha ,  he was shot in his Island that he had escaped to there. Ottoman commander Hurşit Pasha send the head of Ali Pasha to Sultan Mahmut II, İstanbul.

Very interesting that the picture reflect an ugly man, Sultan Mahmud II. He was a pioneer of innovations in last period of Ottomans. During his period a new fashion started among public to weare like western people. 

We stayed one night at the apartment of Vasiliki in 25th of September, in  Ioannina.Her  rental house name is Stis Kyra-Vasilikis in Bookingcom. We didn't like this apartment , there was not internet and useful kitchen. Old woman Vasiliki that owner this apartment  only know to receive money. My brother paid 40 Euros for one night. I didn't take a photo from this apartment  cause of its discomfort conditions. 

                   At the same day we came to visit Meteora. It is a good place for taking shelter and praye..

Our accommodation place in Kastoria. The apartment name is Nimbus Guesthouse.  We arrived there in the evening in 26 the September. This place on the hill that Kastoria town  was seing down, about 5 kilometers distance .. Nice apaartment.  We only didn't find internet connection . My brother paid 55 Euros for one night. The employe of apartment,  Chris  prepared a breakfast to us that was perfect. We stayed there only one night. 

Kastoria has so beautiful nature. The coast of Kastoria lake is surround houses. We saw so many local people that walked along at the coast of lake.. Peaceful, calm environment  and clean air are unforgettable features in Kastoria. Before leave Kastoria, my brother filled  a small package with Kastoria soil by his hands as a memory. 

                  The last accommodation place in our journey was the house of Tania that was close to Kozani city on the direction to return road to Turkey. We had not receive the entrance instructions by Tania cause of no internet connection when we arrived Tania's house. Lazaros who is  neighboor of Tania helped to us to open the door. Tania's house was quite large and we found everything we want. Accommodation fee was 35 Euros.

                  Our impressions not only these, of course.. There were so much moment we remember them while talk about Greece to each other. It is not possible not to tell about we harvested  ripe fruits from the branch of fig trees on the road. The life in tavernas in Plaka, Athens or in Thessaloniki is still in our mind. Greeks had found to have delight from  life...06 November 2023, 23,48 Ortaca/Muğla