23/09/2026
DAY 20 — FOKAS BEYOND — GREECE FREEDOM JOURNEY 2026
20 DAYS IN… AND TODAY WE WENT FROM THE ROMANS, TO CHRISTIANITY, TO THE KINGS OF ANCIENT MACEDONIA, GREECE!
Breakfast conversation this morning had one common theme… Everyone CRASHED after yesterday's thermal springs!
But today? They were all rejuvenated and ready to go again.
After reviewing our trades, everyone had some free time to explore Thessaloniki while I spent the morning doing one on one training with our local students.
At midday, 42 of us boarded the bus and our first stop was...
THE ROMAN AGORA OF THESSALONIKI.
Built mainly during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, this was once the social and religious heart of Roman Thessaloniki. The complex included a large public square, an Odeon, baths, a mint, registry and underground galleries — all sitting today in the middle of the modern city.
Then we walked to somewhere very special to Orthodox Greeks…
AGIOS DIMITRIOS — THE PATRON SAINT AND PROTECTOR OF THESSALONIKI.
Saint Dimitrios was a 3rd century Roman military officer who became the patron Saint and protector of Thessaloniki. Arrested for his faith, he was locked in a local prison bathhouse and while in prison, Dimitrios blessed a young Christian named Nestor. Nestor then defeated the fierce imperial gladiator Lyaeus. Enraged by the defeat, the Emperor ordered Nestor's ex*****on and sent soldiers to run Dimitrios through with lances/spears in his cell on 26 October 306 AD. Instead of blood pouring out of his speared body, white liquid came out.
Christians buried his remains, and a fragrant, healing holy oil called myrrh began to flow from his tomb, earning him the title "Myrrh-Gusher" (Myrovlitis).
The Holy Church of Saint Demetrios, a grand basilica was built over his crypt in Thessaloniki, which remains a major pilgrimage site today.
During our free time, Pam and I had a special moment speaking with one of the priests and were blessed with a small sample of holy myrrh to take home. Something we'll treasure.
Next stop was Thessaloniki's famous White Tower, where something completely unexpected happened.
While taking our group photo, we met former Thessaloniki Mayor Sotiris Kouvelas, who was elected in 1986 and served until 1989. He came over, spoke with our group and expressed his appreciation that we'd travelled to experience this incredible city.
Then along the waterfront to the monument of ALEXANDER THE GREAT before boarding the bus for one of the historical highlights of this entire journey…
AIGAI — VERGINA.
This was the ancient royal capital of the Kingdom of Macedon and home of the dynasty of Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Beneath the enormous burial mound are extraordinary royal Macedonian tombs.
And the showpiece?
THE UNLOOTED TOMB OF PHILIP II — FATHER OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
Discovered in 1977, the tomb contained extraordinary grave goods, including gold, silver, armour and weapons. Beside this tomb, identifies another of the unlooted royal tombs as belonging to Alexander IV — Alexander the Great's son.
You don't simply look at replicas. You descend underground and stand before the actual tombs while seeing treasures that remained there for more than 2,000 YEARS.
For me, as a Greek, this was powerful. UNESCO describes the ancient Macedonian Greeks of Aigai as a Greek tribe whose kingdom helped carry Greek culture across the Hellenistic world. And to see tombs with Greek writing proves MACEDONIA IS GREEK!!!
After all that history… IT WAS TIME TO EAT!
I took everyone to a tiny village where the locals looked completely confused when our massive bus arrived and 42 PEOPLE jumped out!
Local kids and adults were asking who are we and where did we come from... and why did we come to this small village...
Then came beautiful fresh, local, farm to table Greek food. Mostly meat, then more meat and meat after that. This is not a place for non meat eaters.
And once again… WE ROLLED OUT OF THE TAVERNA!
But not before turning the place into our own little Greek party.
Greek music, Dancing and then... some ABBA to finish the night after eating so much.. and loukoumades, kormo and ice cream for dessert...
Back on the bus I became DJ for the night — classic Aussie songs mixed with a few love song dedications for the lovebirds on this journey.
Markets in the morning.
Roman Thessaloniki.
Orthodox faith.
Alexander the Great.
Philip II.
A tiny Greek village.
Food. Music. Dancing. Friendships.
THIS IS MML — MONEY. MARKETS. LIFESTYLE.
Because wealth isn't only about what sits in your account.
It's also about having the TIME AND FREEDOM TO EXPERIENCE LIFE.
LEARN. INVEST. TRAVEL. LIVE.
FOKAS!
