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Serres - Thessaloniki - Easter 2013 - Part 1

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Living 1204 km away from Serres, Alkis' hometown, doesn't often allow us to spend time with friends and family there. This is why we decided to spend yet another Easter in  Serres and Thessaloniki. It was one of the greatest Easter trips we've ever had. Here goes!

DAY 1 - THURSDAY, MAY 2

Having packed everything the previous day, we had time to go to church and take the Holy Communion before  catching our flight to Thessaloniki at 11:45 am. Cyprus Airways took off with a 15-minute delay and safely landed at Macedonia Airport - Thessaloniki 90 minutes later. I greatly appreciated the lenten snack on the plane as I always fast during the Holy Week.

Thanassis, Alkis' youngest brother, picked us up at the airport and drove us to Serres situated at    71km from the city of Thessaloniki in Macedonia -  Northern Greece.  Check-in at Philippos Xenia Hotel  was really fast and efficient.  We had a splendid room overlooking the back yard.

philippos xenia hotel
Room with a View

At 3:00 pm, we were all starving so soon after check-in at the hotel we had lunch at what I call the best ouzeri tavern ever!  Ouzomagies was the taverna Thanassis recommended and, I must admit, we had a huge lunch at very reasonable prices. Most importantly, the food and service were great! At 6:00 pm we went back to the hotel to get the car we had rented. It was a small, red car which proved to be very reliable and very convenient. In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel's roof garden restaurant with Alkis' niece Zoe, her husband Stratos and their two beautiful girls.

 

Soon after breakfast, we enjoyed our morning stroll in the park and later drove to Ai Yiannis - Alkis' haunts as a teenager.  The area there is a haven of peace. In the evening, we attended the Epitaphios Church Service  at the Church of Ayii Anargyri near our hotel. In Greece, unlike Cyprus,  people eat and drink after the Epitaphios service. All taverns and restaurants are packed. In Cyprus, we consider Epitaphios - the burial of Christ - as a day of mourning. Most restaurants are closed.

 

Serres
The Archaeological Museum in Serres

Serres
Serres - City Centre

Serres
Serres City Centre

Serres
Ai Yiannis-Serres


 

 

Serres - Greece
Ai Yiannis

Serres-Greece
Ai Yiannis

Serres-Greece
Ai Yiannis

 

To be continued

 


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