After a fallow January, I’m back. Four reasons for the silence. First, I was in London and Ireland for Christmas and New Year. Secondly my subscription to Write-Away-Salonika expired. Third, a bout of the Winter lurgies struck. It was bad enough to force the postponement of reason #4: surgery. My time in London convinced me... Continue Reading →
25/017 Life in Northern Greece – Metroballs
Three weeks short of its 1st anniversary, the Thessaloniki Metro has shut down. Is there anything worse than having a benefit withdrawn, even if temporarily? Apparently, it should last for around 30 days while the extension to Kalamaria is being completed. Also, they are bringing in new rolling stock. The idea is for passengers to... Continue Reading →
25/016 Life in Northern Greece – Feast and Femicide
26th October. The feast of St. Demetrius and the 113th anniversary of the retaking of Thessaloniki from the Turks. It’s not a national holiday but it is a quasi-public holiday in our co-capital. As today is a Sunday, the schools are closed tomorrow, and again on Tuesday for Greece’s second National Day, Όχι Μέρα. In... Continue Reading →
25/015 Life in Northern Greece – Family mobilisation
As reported in 25/019 Greek Word, my nephew has been offered a place in a School of Medicine here in Greece. Getting his transcripts from the UK was one problem; Getting everything translated, signed, sealed and delivered was another. At a time like this, who ya gonna call? Nepobusters or, maybe Mesobusters, the web of... Continue Reading →
25/014 Life in Northern Greece – Autumn is here and femicide continues.
The temperature has dropped and it’s raining. I think we can kiss summer goodbye. The one-a-month femicide average is not abating. Earlier this month in our fair city, a brother strangled his older half-sister with a supermarket plastic bag. I say ‘strangled’ and not ‘suffocated’ because he did not put the bag over the victim’s... Continue Reading →
25/013 Life in Northern Greece – In the land of Pyrrhus
A complete change of scene. Every summer we take the mother-in-law to her native village. In recent years, due to her age, she has been spending less and less time there, but this year she stayed for seven weeks. It is literally at the end of the road, a stone’s throw from Albania. From the... Continue Reading →
25/012 Life in Northern Greece – Femicide
In my last post, I suggested a bar (actually a CAFÉ-ΟΥΖΕΡΙ) called Το Κάστρο might no longer host Greek musicians playing Greek music. I stopped there this morning to ask. My suspicions were correct. I sometimes address the issue of spousal abuse here in Greece. Unfortunately, I have two more to report. The more recent... Continue Reading →
25/011 Life in Northern Greece – Overtourism
The UN's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines overtourism as “the impact of tourism on a destination that negatively affects the quality of life for residents or visitors. This impact can be environmental, economic, or sociocultural, and it's often characterized by overcrowding and strain on resources.” Let’s look at the adjectives more closely with reference to... Continue Reading →
25/010 Life in Northern Greece – Licence to be killed
Well, it arrived – eventually. I received a call to tell me if I could submit my UK licence by Wednesday, July 16th, I would receive my Greek driving licence on 17th. Trouble was it was already 16th July and I was 120km away in Halkidiki. I wanted to get it over and done with,... Continue Reading →
25/009 Life in Northern Greece
9th July 2025: I went to London on 10th June. The UK is almost completely cashless. I didn’t use any coins or notes in the 19 days I was there. And I didn’t see anyone else use cash either. Greece seems to be going the same way. Since returning on June 29th, I have used... Continue Reading →
25/008 Life (and death) in Northern Greece
Miracles do happen. ΚΕΠ (the Centre for Public Services) has returned two of the παράβολα I submitted to get my Greek driving licence. I am due a refund of just over €100. Luke Prodromou. Luke was a well-known figure in the TEFL world, especially in Greece. In the 80s he was first one of my... Continue Reading →
25/007 Life in Northern Greece
Oh to be in England now that April’s there, said the poet. I don’t normally miss April in NW Europe, but the weather has not been particularly good here in Greece. In our communal garden we have a lovely Japanese acacia which still hasn’t bloomed. Scrolling through the pics on my mobile, I note that... Continue Reading →
25/006 Life in Northern Greece
I have to begin with a correction to 25/005 LinNG. The harbour lights shine on the harbour wall rather than in the direction of moored boats. Still, the lighting does not illuminate the side of the wall where all the damage is. And the damage is still there. No warning tape or barrier to protect... Continue Reading →
25/005 Life in Northern Greece
February 28th 2025. A sombre day, the second anniversary of the Tempe rail accident when 57 people were killed. There were huge demonstrations in every town and city in Greece. Amidst calls for the truth and for the guilty to be punished, I picked up a few indications that there may be a growing awareness... Continue Reading →
25/004 Life in Northern Greece – The family that…
I concluded a previous post by a reference to Apostolos Tzitzikostas, son of the late George Tzitzikostas, and I added that I might finish a text I had started about nepotism in Greece. After a search, I haven’t been able to find my earlier document, so I guess I’m back to Square 1. I am... Continue Reading →
25/003 Life in Northern Greece – Ice Station Zebra
Only in Greece! Only in Greece would an Irish band be invited to an Ice Swimming Event in the north of the country. Yet, there we were last Saturday evening playing at the opening festivities in Mount Cholomon in Halkidiki. Details here: https://iceswimming.gr/ As there was Irish participation, one of the organisers, George Mathas, approached... Continue Reading →
25/002 Life in Northern Greece
12th January: Yesterday was a bright and sunlit like a May day in north Europe. Overnight, cold, wet and wind have taken over. Violence against women is in the news again. This time perpetrator and victim are described as elderly. The husband stabbed his wife in the throat while she was helpless in bed. She... Continue Reading →
25/001 Life in Northern Greece
6th January 2025. I drew attention to two femicides towards the end of the year. On Christmas Day, there was a news report of another incident in West Thessaloniki (code for poor and a high percentage of immigrants) where a man from Sierra Leone attacked his wife in front of their three kids. One wonders... Continue Reading →
24/010 Life in Northern Greece. Metro, dying & murder
30th November. It has finally happened. We have an underground railway, 9.6km long with thirteen stations. I switched on the TV to watch the opening ceremony expecting a quick 20-minute speech from the PM followed by the pressing of a button. It did happen except that there were about six speeches and a religious blessing... Continue Reading →
24/009 Life in Northern Greece – Metroballs
16th November. I can’t believe I haven’t written anything since late summer. Politically, the shenanigans within Syriza have dominated the news. I wonder if the madness is spreading to New Democracy. This morning I said to my wife that the only thing that can undo the governing party is the party itself. Then I wake... Continue Reading →