Taelynn Comes to Visit!

Taelynn came to visit for about 10 days! She and her friend Julie arrived after some pretty crazy flights on February 15 at about 12:30AM. I have to be honest, I almost didn't make it waiting up for them...but the wait was worth it, because it was a super fun week. Funnily enough, it turned out to be the coldest and rainiest week in Greece for the whole year, but we made the most of it for sure!

We made sure to make the most of the week they were here, even though I had work and Miller had school. The first day they arrived, we gave them the tour of Thessaloniki so they could see the all the best sights and plot out their days exploring while I was at work. 

Taelynn and Miller at our lunch stop.

On Monday after school, I took Taelynn rock climbing with me. This was especially fun for us, as we used to go rock climbing almost every Friday during college.

Warming up on the short wall.

Me showing Taelynn a few of the routes on the large walls.

The rest of the week mostly consisted of Taelynn and Julie exploring during the day (they even took our advice and went on the Vergina Pella tour we took in August) and us playing lots of board games or checking out some traditional Greek food in the evening!

Playing a game around the tiny table we have (yes it is a coffee table...that's all we have 😛).

Going out for Greek salad and souvlaki 

Friday was Miller's birthday. Since Rome was Miller's official birthday celebration, we kept it low-key and just went out for dinner, ate special cookies, and opened his two birthday gifts (a Pinewood sweatshirt and the 4th Harry Potter gift-our birthday tradition is for him to get the Harry Potter book associated with his age).

Miller with the 4th Harry Potter book, as he turned 14 this year!

Blowing out the candles on his special birthday cookie.

Posing with his gifts and card!

Our big splurge for the week of Taelynn and Julie's week visit was Sunday: we planned a tour to see the Pozar hot springs and Edessa (the city of waterfalls). Unfortunately, Ben got a respiratory infection and had to spend his day at the hospital getting antibiotics instead of touring with us. 😢 Thankfully, he is on the mend and feeling MUCH better now. 

Because we had booked the trip through a company and Julie and Taelynn were leaving the next day, we ditched Ben at the hospital and went on the tour (I know...mean of us...but he did say he was okay before we left 😏).

Our first stop on the tour was the Pozar hot springs. They are mineral springs and are naturally heated to a wonderful 100 degrees! Thank goodness they are, because it was a COLD day for Greece when we visited. The temperature in Pozar was a cold 30 degrees when we arrived (very unusually cold for Greece) and it was actually snowing! The changing rooms were just a small shack that was sectioned off with swinging wooden doors (no locks). It was not heated and was co-ed. Miller and I have never changed into our swim suits faster than we did that day! 

There are three possible pools to go in at Pozar. The ticket we bought paid for one. We picked the second natural spring for many reasons: 1. It was less busy than the first one, 2. It had a beautiful waterfall next to it, and 3. The third spring had the natural water but was a regular swimming pool and that seemed boring. 

The first pool at Pozar.

Miller and I enjoying the warm water.

Me, Taelynn, Julie, and Miller in the second spring of water.

The beautiful waterfall near the second hot spring.

We stayed in the hot pool until we were prunes and our skin was wrinkled. If we thought it was cold changing into our swimsuits, it was NOTHING compared to how cold it was in the changing shacks once we were wet and trying to change back into regular clothing! We were so cold after changing, we had to stop at the nearby coffee shop to get hot cocoas. 

All of us trying to warm up with hot cocoas near the third hot spring that is more like a swimming pool.

After the hot pools, our tour took us to Edessa, known as the city of water. Edessa is important in Greek history, as it is believed that Caranus established the first capital of ancient Macedon there. The Greek word Εδεσσα (Edessa) means tower of water. This is because Edessa has seven waterfalls right in the center of its town. It is the only city in Europe to have this!

The river that feeds into the waterfalls of Edessa.

There were lots of cool trees, and Miller wanted to hide or make homes in all of them!

Posing by Edessa's smallest waterfall.

A view from the top of the biggest waterfall in Edessa.

Miller posing by the cool view of the area around Edessa.

The biggest waterfall in Edessa.

The view behind the largest waterfall.

Miller thought being behind the waterfall was the coolest part.

A couple of the smaller waterfalls in Edessa.

I made a dog friend. He followed me around for a large portion of the waterfalls. We discovered that he only listened to Greek. 😜

Taelynn and Julie's visit went so fast. It was incredibly fun to explore where we live with people we love. We cannot wait for our next visitors. Any takers? We love to host!