Following Alexander the Great to Thessaloniki

💗As my cruise ship docked at dawn, the White Tower stood proudly near the pier—perhaps the most convenient port stop I've ever experienced. 🌈Within five minutes, I was already stepping onto the marble pavement of Aristotle Square. 💗This city is brimming with historical Easter eggs: the stone carvings on the Arch of Galerius vividly depict scenes from Persian battles, while candlelit 5th-century mosaics glow in the crypt of the Hagios Demetrios Basilica. 💦 If Athens' energy comes from the fusion of ancient Greece and modern Western influences, Thessaloniki's vitality stems from its Byzantine legacy. 💦When I reached the top of the White Tower at sunset, the city was bathed in golden hues. The distant outline of Mount Athos hovered on the horizon, while the ruins of Byzantine walls stood silent nearby. 💢 Suddenly, I understood why Greeks call this place a "living Byzantine museum"—the echoes of the Eastern Roman Empire, 🌈unseen in Athens, are hidden in every weathered brick. #Thessaloniki #GreeceHiddenGems #ByzantineLegacy #CruiseTravel