Ok well we are currently in Thessaloniki for a little unplanned stop, heres what happened:

We stayed in athens for a night and on tuesday afternoon we packed up and left to get the train to belgrade, with a change-over in Thessaloniki. Being the organised, punctual travellers that we are, we arrived at the station with 10 minutes to spare, and were horrified when we found out the train was full and the next train in 2 hours would miss our connecting train to Belgrade.

So we buy some cheap tickets for the next train, go to the platform to sulk and realise the first train hadnt left yet so we jump on and congratulate ourselves on being clever little cookies! Next thing the ticket inspector comes up to Jane and demands the tickets - after 10 minutes of acting dumb, recruiting a translator and some helpful batting of eyelids the man let us stay on with a little fee. So we kicked up our heals and felt pretty smug that our plan was on track. Next thing, its past the time we should be arriving for our changeover, we ask a man and he says, no this train doesnt get to Thessaloniki till 7.10pm - the EXACT time our train left for Belgrade.

Cut a long story short, we sprinted our hearts out at the station, only to find we missed our train to Belgrade and we would have to stay in Thessaloniki for the night and catch the train the next day. So here we are, living it up for the last 24 hours in the hotest town ever, right on the water but a shipping port therefore no swimming; the dirtiest smelliest hostel (WITH NO SHOWER) and a loooooong train ride to serbia ahead of us.

Now i see why everyone loves travelling!!!