On our way to Greece!

Thursday, January 07, 2016 blogged January 8

Hello!

Thursday morning dawned very, very wet, and somehow, the prospect of walking in the rain to the Porte Maillot bus station wasn’t a very pleasant one.  We actually had breakfast at the hotel, to stay dry.  Finally, we decided to just do it and get it over with, so we headed to the bus stop about 8:45 am. 

At tiny Beauvais airport

Flying over Serbia

I, at least, was able to use my umbrella, but poor Robert has two towable bags and didn’t have a hand free for an umbrella!  He got soaked.  [Not really soaked, just a bit damp around the edges. – R  ]

Once we were at the station (which is entirely out of doors, I might add; a cover over the top, but nothing enclosed), we got our tickets and a line started to form, so we got in it.  Then, about 9 am the first bus pulled up, and we were able to get on it.  The ride definitely took longer than the usual hour and 15 minutes, just because of the weather and the corresponding traffic.  Traffic coming in to Paris was totally stopped.  Fortunately, as we were going in the opposite direction, albeit slowly, but eventually we got to Beauvais. 

We were among the first off the bus (surprise!) and Robert was an absolute genius to get our bags off of the bus so quickly (he is very clever!).  We just grabbed them and were gone – and even reached the airport check-in WAY ahead of the rest of the bus.  So, instead of having to wait in another long line, we checked in, shot through security, and were set to go!  I had also paid a bit extra for front row seats and priority boarding, which worked out well.  In all, there were only three priority boarders – and why more people don’t use the system, I have no idea.  The line behind us snaked on forever!

Our Junior suite

Stunning pool decorations!

As we were waiting for the plane to arrive, the sun actually came out, and blue sky appeared overhead!  How nice!  Our plane was about half an hour late into Beauvais, but they turned it around in record time.  Apparently they had terrible headwinds coming in to France, but those same winds helped us make up the time and we arrived in Thessaloniki just about on time.  The 2½ hour flight to Greece was very pleasant.  We flew over Croatia and Serbia and were able to see wonderful coastlines, dozens and dozens of islands everywhere as well as snow covered mountains and interiors. 

Our luggage came very quickly, and then we were off to find the rental car company.  AutoUnion is a first for us, but we were able to find their shuttle van on the departure level.  Their offices were about five minutes away from the airport (which Robert has carefully marked on our GPS, as we have to return the car there!)  Signed all the paperwork and the gentleman walked us out to show us the car, and pointed ahead and said “Yours is the white one…” which was hilarious, as the entire parking lot was filled with white cars!  We did get a very nice Nissan, which drives very well.  Robert asked if it was a diesel, and he said no, regular petrol.  But, he added, don’t say “petrol” in Greece, because that means diesel here…instead, we are to say benzene.  I am VERY confused.

Me at hotel restaurant

Starting with olives ... what else?

R's beef carpaccio

So, out of the parking lot and into rush hour traffic heading into Thessaloniki.  Also, as it was now about 5:30 pm it was getting dark, and I do have to say that entering a big city for the first time is much easier done in the daylight hours.  However … we made our way into town and found the beautiful Les Lazaristes Domotel.  We have a junior suite on the 5^th floor – 510 – which is just lovely.  It’s really one big room with bed, couch, chairs, tables, etc.  Lots of room to unpack and get organized, which is good.  I did that while R set up the computer.

Finally, decided to eat in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner tonight, as their room service menu looks good.  Certainly was a good decision.  Somebody in the kitchen here really knows how to cook!

We were seating at a lovely table in their restaurant, and for starters, R ordered carpaccio with truffle oil, and I ordered their bresaola salad with mixed greens and feta.  I’ve never had bresaola with feta before, only parmesan, but it was good.  Then, for meals, I had their spaghetti boulognaise and R had their chicken breast marinated in honey and herbs and served on a bed of mashed potatoes.  Robert definitely won that round, as his chicken was outstanding.  Maybe I’ll have that tomorrow night.  For dessert, we had cheesecake, which was a bit over the top, but good.  Everything was washed down with a lovely bottle of dry red Greek wine from somewhere here in Macedonia, which I will never be able to pronounce.

My breasola salad with feta

My spaghetti

R's fabulous chicken on bed of mashed potatoes

Really didn't have much room for cheesecake

I was fading fast by that time, so up to the room, and prepped for bed, but for some reason, suddenly not sleepy, so I am taking this chance to get caught up on today, as we have lots to see and do tomorrow.  As it turns out, we’re behind already on my spread sheet of “things to see” as I had hoped to get to the Archeological Museum this afternoon.   Oh well!  We’ll see what tomorrow brings!

Lots and lots of love, from Greece!

m

xxx