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 == Hitching Out Hitchhiking out ==  === West to East towards Kavala and [[Istanbul]] ([[IgoumenitsaTurkey|TR]] ) {{E|90}} ===Hitchhiker This route is widely perceived to be difficult. If you are lucky it can be easy if you get to a Turkish truck. Take bus #27 from the centre (e.g. Kamara) until the very end of the line. [UPDATE: bus #83 no longer starts where bus #27 finishes. Instead ask your #27 bus driver where to get off for bus #83] Switch to bus #83 and go a few stops until you see the motorway . Get off at Filothei (Φιλοθέη) when you see a BP Oil in green colour rest area on the other side of the motorway. Just follow the bus and go under the motorway to reach the other side. Once you are there, rally the petrol station personnel to help you . Show them your Istanbul (or Kavala or whatever) sign and ask them to tell you if they notice someone going to Turkey. Be prepared to convince the paranoid drivers that you are not wanted by the police and show them your passport. Getting a ride can take anything between one minute and five hours. If it just does not work at the petrol station see the options below (thumbing up on the road etc). Also, there should be a toll station (peage) about [Userhttp:Liva|Liva//hitchwiki.org/maps/?place=6374 15 km east of Lagynas]] hopes someone will help , near Analipsi (where bus #83a is supposed to go). When you get to the border you might want to switch to a passenger car because the truck could be stuck in customs for a while. Bus #83 goes all the way to edit Lagkadas (Λαγκαδάς). If you stay on the bus until it reaches this because she small town, you can try hitching out in the direction of Kavala, Istanbul, etc. Update (July 2022): the options listed above are extremely outdated and not very helpful. This route is still difficult, but there are better options. 1) with bus number 83 you can get to Laguna from where there's about 20 minutes walk to the knot that ties local road 2 and highway 2. Here you can get directly to the entrance of the highway for Kavala where you filter out any cars not going your way. The traffic is very slow but the cars canstop and they get a good look at you. There's a gas station about 30km down before Evangelios 2) The highway entrance after BP near Megalohare kantina is still very local, but there's enough traffic so it's possible to hitch longer rides. Since Greeks don't really remember everything stop often we opted to go for the first ride which brought us to the 3rd option 3) 40,7214723, 22,9740939 or the spot right after the exit for Laguna is risky. The cars drive fast so be careful and there's a high probability the highway patrol tells you to get off. However we hitched a ride within 5 minutes with a Kavala sign as there are a lot of Turkish truck drivers going from Athens to Istanbul.  None of these options are perfect, but they seem way more likely than the BP station since 4-5 hours of hitchhiking there yielded only 2 rides going to Kilkis. Since we changed strategy we only needed about an hour and a half in total. Good luck! === North-West to [[Skopje]] ([[North Macedonia]]) === Option 1:Don't bother to hitch hike to the border! There are free busses from the city centre which belong to the casinos across the border just before Gevgelija. You can find these buses on Tsimiski street. They are easy to recognize (the name of the casino is printed on the bus numbers , and it is written "free shuttle"). The buses leave at 17:00 and 21:00 so only useful for arriving in Skopje at night.  As of May 2024, it appears that the free shuttle no longer exists. Option 2:Take a Bus to Agios Athanasios. From "KTEL Macedonia Bus station" lines 81A, 89B, 89K go there. You can hitch on but she wrote the nearby junction to Highway A1/E75 to Skopje. Option 3:Actually hitch hike. Highway EO2 effectively runs down the center of Thessaloniki to Edessas. It's a normal road (called "Monastiriou", "Egnagia" and others) up until the junction with the ring road (A2/E90). You can walk down what she remembered: it (going north-west) while hitch hiking. There are gas stations along it where you can hitch hike. Just past the ring road there is a stop light before the ramp where you can hitch hike. Just beyond that there is a very big shoulder where you can hitch hike. Continue following EO2 from there for 10km (in a car by now ideally) and you are at Agios Athanasios as in option 2 above. Take the exit to A1/E75 to Skopje. === South to [[Athens]] === Take Buses #31, #12, #8 or #78 to the bus station called KTEL. From there take bus #80 or #80A to the village called ''Malgara'' (some of these buses don't go all the way to Malgar). You can go out on the stop "''25 Martiou''" which is the closest to the tolls but on the bus , it's announced differently (in Greek ''Ikostis Pmptis Martiou'' ask the driver). There you can ask and find the Malgara Toll Station toll station (#13in Greek ''diodia'') on E75 easily. You'll have to walk about 2 km to find it, but then there is a possibility to get a ride even straight to Athens. Before you enter the motorway where the toll station is, you will have to go through some fields. If it's night be careful, just before the motorway there is a small ridge that is a bit steep and there is water flowing down, you need to find your way around it. If it's day, from the fields you can see a small canteen on the motorway, 52head to that direction, N78you can bypass the ridge there very easily and also you don't need to jump the fence (easy to jump though) because there is an entrance/exit for the canteen. From the canteen you will see the tolls, they are less than 50 m away.  For those not wanting to take a bus or want to hitch closer to the city (and aren't scared to walk) , go to the the A1 motorway going towards Athens. It runs right beside the city centre. Starting from near the train station after walking 2 km you will arrive at the international bus station. From there it's a 6km walk along the motorway to where the E90 highway joins on to the A1 road to Athens. This is a good spot due to the high amount of Turkish trucks coming straight from the border and bypassing the city as well as any traffic coming from the north. Stand at the end of the onramp where there is a shoulder for traffic to pull over and say that you want can get a ride to Larissa or even Athens. === West to go [[Igoumenitsa]] {{E|90}} === Go to the train station, which is also the inner-city bus station. At From here, take bus 8 KTEL (the KTEL are the blue and white buses) to Makedonia bus station . From there, you will see can catch the bus #80 to the end of the line, then follow motorway going in your directionsigns walking (approx. 2km) to the [[toll station]]. Just Or rather than taking bus #80, just walk across the road (roundabout) till you come to an [[on-ramp]] where, according to Liva, is a a pretty good spot to stop cars.

=== North-east East to [[Sofia]], ([[Bulgaria|BG]] ) ===It's really easyTake bus 83 (any of them will get you there, even the express) from Aristotellous Square stop (on Egnatia Street). Take You want to get off at the Kombo Gerokomeiou exit (Google maps doesnt show the bus #27 from stops this far north, but on the opposite side of the center to it's end highway is a gas station called ''Platia Stavroupolis/Stavroupolis square''Derveni Gas S.A.). Then take MAKE SURE you explain to the bus #85 driver you want to get off at this exit. Otherwise, he might not get off the highway here and you're already the next stop is too far to walk back from. Stand on your waythe shoulder of the ramp. Almost any stop There is not a lot of this bus leaves traffic here, so it might take you on up to an hour to get a good hitchhiking pointride, but I use think its worth it because most of the cars going as far as Bulgaria will get on the 19th stop, called highway here. Good luck! Update (August '22)Don'21st kilometer/ 21o chiliometrot take bus 83! You have to take bus 83B to get to the right place! Taking bus 83 will make you walk for a long time until teaching the ramp. Also, I wasn't so lucky there. I waited a total of 4 hours before I gave up.I think it' which is right on a petrol s better to go to the Shell gas station at 40°41′01.72″N 22°56′28.28″E and ask people. Thumbing on ramps is pretty difficult in Greece.You can take bus 53 until Strophe Oraiokastrou to get to the way gas station.  === North to [[Kilkis]] ([[Greece]]) === Basically you need to Serres and take 2 buses. Very similar to the Bulgarian border (above direction to Sandansky, Blagoevgrad, Sofia). The road But this time it is E79 bus #27 / #27a and it's not a highway, especially after the borderbus #84 / # 84a. You can change buses in two different places. These city bus tickets cost only 50 cents (that  This way is faster as you don't even have need to pay) stay on bus #27 so long. Take bus #27 or #27a and take get off at Minerva stop in Oreokastrou suburb. If you quite walk some kilometers out hundreds of meters from the bus stop where you get off, in the city towards all destinationsdirection the bus was going, you will reach a crossroads and on your left you will see another bus stop. From there you can take bus #84.

Im not sure if my advices will direct This way is easier because you don't need to the same placechange bus stops, but I will try. Once you jump into it is the bus number 85 watch way mentioned in the village LitiNortheast to Sofia section. Cross Take the village and keep going. The bus will be going straight way all #27 or #27a from the way long. Once you notice a sign leading you to the right to centre the highway towards Serres, Bulgaria scream to the driver to drop you offfinal s top ''Platia Stavroupolis'' (Stavroupolis square). Pass Then at the turn, same place take bus #84 / #84a and stand just behind it, because cars have to slow down to take this road. At this place it took me about 10 minutes to get a ride to Bulgariayou're already on your way.

=== South to [[Athens]] ===This is not so easy to find but not so hard either. You must go to the Stay on bus station called KTEL. Buses #31, #1284 whilst it passes through 2 villages, #8 Liti and #78Melissochiori. Then you'll take When it is out of Melissochiori, at one point the bus #80 to the village called ''Malgara''. You can go down on the station "25 Martiou" which is will cross the closest road going to the tolls [in Greek "ikostis pemptis martiou" if Kilkis and you wanna ask the driver]will see signs for Kilkis. There When you can ask and find are at the toll station (in Greek "diodia") easily. You'll have to walk about 2 km to find it, but then there is a possibility to get a ride even straight to Athens. Before cross roads you enter can press the motorway where stop button on the toll station is, you bus and it will have to go through some fields. If it's night be careful, stop just before after the motorway there cross. There is a small ridge that is a bit steep and bus stop there is water flowing down, you need to find your way around it. If it's day, from the fields Then you can see are at a great spot for hitching a small canteen on the motorway, head ride to that directionKilkis, you can bypass Gallikos or even North Macedonia (but not the ridge there very easily and also you don't need most common way to jump the fence (easy to jump thoughSkopje. it is a different border) because there is an entrance/exit for the canteen. From the canteen you will see the tolls, they are less than 50m.

We Some have had luck asking the good people at Mikropolis/Micropolis Social Space, (see [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=40.6360852&lon=22.939539&z=17&l=0&m=s&v=9&show=/13098671/Mikropolis ]). They were very friendly and could advise on where to squat for the night.

=== Camp in the city center ===The university campus in Thessalonniki Thessaloniki is just in the city center centre and it's the seems to be a perfect place to sleep in your van/tent/sleeping bag, but IT IS NOT!  It's '''NOT SAFE THERE''' ''(upd.2022)''. Why? Because The drug business moved there, as unbelievable as it sounds. People selling drugs and fighting over things related to them, passerbys get attacked. If someone has a van maybe it's okay. But sleeping in a tent or sleeping bag is an invitation to get robbed. It's the only green worst place in to sleep, really. Plus, starting from 2019 it is a place where a lot of immigrants sleep. Police has no right to enter that area because of some tragic past, i.e. it's ideal place for drug sellers and crime. ====Forest Recreational Center==== Forest Recreational Center near the Zoo (''Neapoli-Sykies, 554 38'') which is located on the hills above the city can be a solution. However, depending on your choice of the "height" of that forest (!after highway it becomes more wild, before highway it more like a park) and because the police there can be pack of stray dogs which is not allowed a good gift.  Homeless animals are a big problem in the big cities as Thessaloniki or Athens, so you better have something to protect yourself from them during the night (get in there! There some long sticks near you). Normally they are few guards but don't have scared of "throwing a rock gesture" because some greeks do that against dogs. So, if you see an unfriendly dog try to pretend taking a rock from the right ground - it should work for lonely dog. ====Airport==== Place to touch stay for a short term. It is not closing for the night, so youcan always overnight there. About common criminality ====Other==== We slept at a deserted camping space by the beach in Ag. Triada, which is really worth a visit. We even made a big fire at night and itdidn's generally safet disturb anybody. This place is about 30km south of Thessaloniki and you can reach it within 1,5h by bus. From the famous ottoman tower take the bus to ikea. Maybe not suitable At the last stop ask for the bus to Perea and Ag. Triada. The last bus will pass by the airport and enter a girl alonecupple of villages before you get to Triada. Ask for the old camping at the beach, but in general nothing to be afraid oflocals will guide you.

Google maps doesn't really know how buses work, so they are unable to get you directions from point A to B in the city. So, if you want to move inside the city using a public transport download special application (''in 2022 there is an application called "Moovit"). The tickets for the buses in the city cost 0.80€ and sometimes 0.90€ (0.40€ for students). 2€ for airport route. '''Blackriding''' is possible. It's risky because there is no chance of recognising controllers before they enter the bus, however the very control is rare.  Controllers are cheapusing civil clothes (they doesn't use a special clothes, they just unzip theirs jackets with controllers badges in the middle of the road, only 50 Cents. Still so they already know if you absolutely dondidn't have to payvalidate your ticket). If you speak to the controller in a foreign language (showing that you're a tourist, not an illegal immigrant) they'll just leave you alone. If not, they first ask 30 Euros euro for the tax, in that case you can say you don't haveone. Then they ask your id an ID card, you say that you don't have it with you and then they'll just give you a paper to note your name and address, where you can write any fake name. Or even simpler you can give your real passport and they are supposed to send you the bill to your country. It's 100% SURE that they will not. There were big movements in this city about not paying for public transport. Many people don't pay and controls are rare. [[User: HHer-Vert|HHer-Vert]] was living in that very city 5 years, and got controlled only 2-3 times. == Shower == One even safer option is the student residence. Noone here checks who enters. Ever. Even if they see you like a complete stranger with a tons of baggage and ask you anything, just tell them that you are visiting a friend or whatever. After you enter, go upstairs to any floor and you'll find common baths everywhere. It is located near the swimming pool at the city center. You can enter 24h. Location on map: https://goo.gl/maps/H8WZU  

 Thessaloniki is maybe perhaps the only place in the world where you can eat everyday for free so easily..!  ===Fititiki Leshi (Φοιτητική Λέσχη) upd:2022=== Next to the campus of Aristotles universityAristotle University, Egnatia street, after the crossroad with 3rd September street there is the university canteen. (''Address: Egnatia, Thessaloniki 546 36, Greece''). Ask anybody for "''fititiki leschi/φοιτητική λέσχη"''. There you can find a free full meal twice a three times per day: 8. 00-10.00, 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-20.00. These free meals are provided for the university students, but even if you're not one, ''you don't have to pay and you don't have to show a student ID or any document(but due to cobtrol re-enforcement you could be asked for your ID).  To avoid control you need to be a part of a big crowd which is hard to control, therefore try to be there during the most crowded time (normally the beginning of opening) and you won't be controlled. Another 'life-hack' that you can use if you have been asked for your ID is to tell that you just started to study greek language for university and you don't own by now any proof of that (there are a lot of foreign students who really study greek for that reason, and yes - they don't have any proof in the beginning). It is harder during the weekends (or holidays) because there are less people and have no crowd, so if you look suspicious you can be asked for an ID. You just  Just follow the queue, take the food and eat it. There's never any control. There's nothing to be afraid of, just try to look more or less like a student. I mean if Only disadvantage is that it is closed on weekends, summer holidays and not-working days for the university in general. Picture of the building [http://www.makthes.gr/filestore/modules/news/68918/lesxi.jpg here]. Alternative entrance: when you're 50 years old with are there look to your right. At the end of the grass there is a huge backpack and two dogsstair case, maybe somebody will notice that youcan go up directly to the dining hall (if it's opened, if it're s not supposed you can knock or wave through the door to be thereanother student, normally they will let you in). Otherwise  ''There is another option (easy in the morning, otherwise is more difficult):'' ===Alfa foititiki estia (Α' φοιτητική εστία):===Your aim is the same - free student food from student canteen, however now you are going to search itdirectly in canteen of student's absolutely dorms. There is no problemcontrol at the entrance of student's dorms. The restaurant is located on the first floor, I have brought myself more that 20 times my guests at the left side from abroad the big marble stairs. The doors are opened at the meal time.  You can find it by following ''address: Stilponos Kiriakidi 17, Thessaloniki 546 36, Greece'' The best way is to eat be hosted there by any student through hosting application or ask some students living there to help you get the dinner (regularly even if you cannot get main dish they provide you orangers or apples which no one takes). If you cannot find a student helping you, you can try get some food by your own, follow this instruction: - They are controling IDs only during day time and nobody noticed themevening time, so it's very easy to get there in the morning (8 a. Only disadvantage m - 10 a.m). In the morning there are almost no people eating, so staff is that it really bored of checking IDs or is closed even absent. - Take the trey with food and go eat as all do at the table. Don't be suspicious, you are a student now. Many students doesn't really eat there, they are taking food away which they can physically take out and leave the dorms. You can do the same. - Normally control-staff are crossing out the numbers on the paper. Each student has his own number on weekendsID-card and he tells it in the moment of entering. It's another strategy of pretending to be a student: you tell random number in greek language (p.e. 103 = ekato tria, 25 - ikosi pende, 207 = diakosa epta, etc), so they will cross it out. Don't worry, students rarely take morning breakfast, summer holidays and so you are not"eating someone's food in his place". -working days for In the university end, if you did not get any food, you are desperate and frustrated, you can try to tell staff that you are an adventurer, they are pretty understanding. They will give you food anyway if you came in generalthe restaurant's closing time (10 a.m; 2.30 p.m & 9 p.m). There are always extra food, which they give to random people. Just ask.  == Trashwiki & Nomadwiki == [[nomad:Thessaloniki]] [[trash:Thessaloniki]]