City of Thessaloniki gets its moon back

It first appeared on the Thessaloniki waterfront in 1995 during the northern port city's Dimitria cultural festival, in the location now occupied by George Zongolopoulos's iconic Umbrellas sculpture.

It then traveled to Sani in Halkidiki in 1998, where it remained for two years. It returned to Thessaloniki in 2000, where it stood in front of Aristotelous Square. It also visited Saint Tropez for a year.

In 2010 it was positioned opposite the Makedonia Palace hotel on Thessaloniki's New Waterfront.

Three years ago it was damaged when unknown vandals ripped it from its base and threw it into the sea. Divers were able to salvage it, but the process of getting it back on display it got stuck in red tape.

All in all, 40 approvals were required from ministries and various departments in the municipality's quest to reinstall it.

This small odyssey...