Thessaloniki Train Station, the largest train station in Northern Greece and the Balkans. The transfer station of the municipal buses in front of the big entrance of the station and the signboards in the languages of the Balkan countries in the huge buildings opposite are vivid examples of visual pollution.. Mediocre hotels are waiting ready for the accommodation of immigrants or passengers.
A feverish metro work continues around the station.. The metro built in Greece for the Olympics did not stop at any city other than Athens.. In fact, the Athens-Thessaloniki conflict has exactly the same characteristics as the Istanbul-Izmir conflict.. The Municipality of Athens is from the party representing the government, while the Municipality of Thessaloniki is the opposition…. It is still regarded as the Ottoman Thessaloniki.. Just like our Greek city, Gavur Izmir…
Almost all of the Thessaloniki people say, “Did you like Athens or Thessaloniki?” they ask why. If you answer “Thessaloniki”, they are so happy that I can’t describe it.
There is a journey from Thessaloniki, Greece’s Thessaloniki, to Athens.. When you come to Greece, you can’t do without seeing the capital.. In addition, it is impossible to go back to a city where the first Olympics were held and claimed to be the cradle of civilizations.
After buying our train ticket, which is the choice of poor people and immigrants in Greece, we get on the train.. Train tickets are numbered and 6 people can travel in each compartment.
After finding our compartment with my Greek friend, we settle in.. Lucky for me, I came across it by the window.
We are warned against Albanian immigrants who are not very popular in Thessaloniki. “Take care of your belongings so that you do not become a victim of theft!”
Really, Albanian immigrants display a very bad image. They talk loudly and spit on the ground; at the same time, they don’t look very sinister because of their dressing style.
The other passengers of the compartment are coming slowly.. 2 Greek girlfriends come first. They are very friendly and outgoing.. They came to Thessaloniki to visit and they are returning to Athens.
After the two girlfriends, a Saudi Arabian person comes. Young, typical Middle Eastern. He was traveling the world. He came to Thessaloniki after Istanbul. Next stop is Athens.. He doesn’t speak much English.
The last passenger is a Greek male.. He was also living in Athens.
As the train moves, I watch the vast fields while looking out the window, accompanied by a view resembling the Anatolian steppes. We start talking to each other.
When I learned that I was the last Greek Turk to arrive in the compartment, “Re Re Re Ra Ra Ra Gassaray Gassaray Champion!” shouting. When he came to Istanbul, they took him to the Galatasaray match.. After this cheering, he starts to swear in Turkish…
When Turkish people find a known foreigner, we first teach them to curse.
The two girls watching our conversation and laughing couldn’t help but get into the conversation.. The conversation, which started with the girls’ thoughts about Turkey, continued with the race to teach swear words in Greek.
As I cursed, they laughed, as they laughed, I cursed.. They were amazed by my pronounciation and my pronunciation.
While “Magapas” is a nice Greek word to say to love, “Malagas” is blasphemy with a very bad meaning.. As I said Malagas, the level of laughter increased as well.
The Saudi tourist quietly watched what was happening around him.
After a 2-hour journey, we arrived at Larissa Station. it was time to sleep. I was covered with my shirt after it slowly leaked. The photos taken make me realize that I am covered.
Even though the movement of the train on the rails and the sounds it makes may seem like torture at first, it turns into a lullaby you are used to over time.
Before we land in Athens, we arrived at the end of 6 hours. We don’t forget to take lots of pictures of each other and get their e-mail addresses.
My exploratory adventure in Athens, where I set foot for the first time, was just beginning.