LinoRulli.com Lino at Large

Acropolis | Agora | Athens | Delos island  | Meteora
Mykonos | Oracle of Delphi | Philippi | Santorini | Thessaloniki
Lino's Extras
Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is another one of those cities that's mentioned in the Bible:
There's Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians. And, of course, the sequel, Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians.

And whenever I arrive in an old "Biblical" town, I'm always hoping to see it like it was back then. And I'm always disappointed.

But to be fair, the people usually seem genuinely disappointed to see me, as well. So it's a draw.

Thessaloniki is actually Greece's second largest city (after Athens), and it's a happenin' place.




The ancient ruins of Thessaloniki next to oddly-colored buildings

But continuing to walk in the footsteps of St. Paul wasn't the only reason I came here...

Remember back in the day, I used to host a tv show called "Generation Cross"? Well, you could watch that show over the internet, and back in like 1999 a woman emailed me saying she watched the show in Greece! I still remember being stunned that:
a. Someone actually watched the show. Over the internet no less.
b. Someone in Greece actually watched the show.

She was an American, who now lived in Greece, and happened to mention in the email "If you're ever in the area, stop by!"

So imagine her surprise when I actually contacted her, years later, to give her my flight information.



Anyways, she was nice enough to take me out to lunch and even bring me to a Sunday Mass at her church in Thessaloniki.

That's right - I had Mass with the Thessalonians. Sounds very Biblical, doesn't it? And it's a reminder to not ever invite me to hang out...because one day, I may be knocking at your door. No matter how far away you live.