This is Halkida. One of the nicer cities we went to. Actually, probably the only nice city we went to unless you count some of those northern towns as cities. Halkida has a very nice beachfront that is full of life. They also make a wicked kebab.
The view from our hotel was very nice. We were right by the shore and all the restaurants there. The parking garage for this place was right under the hotel and was only slightly bigger than the car. We had to have the manager park it for us because we were terrified to do it ourselves.
This island was a fortress during the Middle Ages. I can see why since it would be pretty easy to defend against intruders.
The shorefront was lovely. It had trees and flowers and was relatively clean. It was quite obvious that they put effort into maintaining this place, which was a welcome change. Watching the nightlife here was entertaining too. A large number of kids spending their time here and it was really fascinating to watch the teenage boys strut. Anyone who hasn't been to the Mediterranean won't know what I mean. I thought I'd seen cocky boys before when I was growing up in New York, but the kids here are something else. They stick out their chest and act like they own the world. It is extremely blunt with none of the "subtlety" of the west. I can't believe that I just used that term in relation to teenagers, but it really is distinct. This is a very machismo culture so anyone who doesn't meet the required level of manly dominance will be derided endlessly. It's funny to watch but I find it kinda sad.
This is the main bridge in. I don't know what they did before this was built, but they must have had something here. On the other side of this bridge to the left is what remains of the port of Aulis where Agememnon and the Greeks left for the Trojan War. There's a giant power plant there now so they don't like people wandering around, but there are a few ruins remaining.
Aristotle gets a lot of statues in Northern Greece. I get the feeling they're trying to emphasize that the great philosopher was a Northerner despite the high cultural pretensions of the south. Aristotle wasn't actually from any of these towns, but from a little place called Stageira east of Thessaloniki. A tiny little place which nobody has ever heard of.
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