Hello everyone, my name is Demetriana Matsangou, i’m 20 years old, and i’ve had an unexplainable connection with Thessaloniki for as long as i can remember. It’s one of those places that slowly becomes a part of you without you even realizing it. Some of my earliest memories of the city are from going there with my parents taking those carriage bikes and me sitting in the little basket infront riding around the seafront, while also becoming obsessed with a horse that was always infront of the white tower called Aliki, named after the famous actress and singer Aliki Vougiouklaki because the coachman was apparently obsessed with her.
Those trips felt simple at the time, but looking back now, i think that’s where my love for the city really began. the long walks , the sea, the random streets we would end up in with each their own individual beauty, the amazing food, the atmosphere. Everything about Thessaloniki always felt warm and alive in a way i cant fully explain.
As i got older, that connection only grew stronger. Now a lot of my friends study in Thessaloniki so i find myself visiting almost every month. Every trip feels different, but somehow the city always gives me the same feeling of comfort and excitement at the same time. Some days are planned (typical student days) , while others turn into completely random adventures: walking around for hours, finding hidden cafes, getting glammed up and going out at night, discovering small places you’d never notice unless you were really paying attention. That’s what i love most about Thessaloniki, its not just about the big landmarks or famous spots, it’s about the little moments and unexpected places that make the city feel so personal.
This blog is basically my way of sharing that love for Thessaloniki. The places i keep going back to, the food spots that feel more like comfort food than my own mothers cooking, cafe oino and going back home to get dressed and hit every club at ladadika till morning, and all the random experiences in between. Its not meant to be a perfect guide, its more like a collection of memories, recommendations, and small pieces of a city that somehow keep pulling me back every single time, and most importantly, my friends which have become my chosen family keeping my heart there every single time.
