| Sonntag, November 12, 2006 |
| Thessaloniki reunion |
ELA MALAKAS!
Back from the city of Thessaloniki, I'll tell you the story of my stay.
I took the evening Swiss plane from Zurich leaving at 22.35 which unfortunately (for both Chrysta and me...she had to pick me up in Thess. at 02.30 instead of 01.30; I was without sleep for almost 24 hours due to an early shift the morning before) was 1 hour late. Well, flying Business Class is not too cool, as the staff on the airplane keeps you awake asking you for some wishes every 4 minutes.
Arriving in Thessaloniki at night, getting out of the plane. Feeling: Did I take the wrong plane?? Temperatures as in Sibiria. Being cold. Being very cold. Bus driver waiting for f... wheelchair passenger to get out of the plane (doors open). Chrysta and Jannis waiting. Hugs and off we go. Driving through the city, small detour in order to see White Tower and other sights. Jannis being our tour guide. At Chrysta's home, very tired.
Woke up at around 10 am due to noise from the living room. Get up and being welcome by big fat greek family. Very nice even if unfamiliar at first. Everybody being very very nice. Greek hospitality. Going out. Still cold. Walking a lot in order to explore Thessaloniki. Getting a rest in the illegaly built bar at seaside (reason for not being sanctioned: owner having many many friends). Everywhere noisy. Crossing 6 laned-streets even with red-light (stopping in the middle for a second). Visiting olympic football stadium. Jannis picking us up and driving up the hills. Very beautiful view on the city/sea. Wow! Eating out delicious Greek food (Soufflaki, Tsatsiki, Gyros). Going out with a whole lot of people as Chrysta told them I was on visit. Meeting Catherina, Despi, Nicky, Xanthi, again Jannis, Kostas with his girlfriend and hmm..I forgot his name :( Drinking sambucca and listening to good music. Very nice.
Again woke up even if still tired the morning after as Despina jr. made a lot of noise. She wants to play. Well,ok, at least I can say Kali mera now when I see all the others (Dimitra, Kostas, Greg, Despina, Despina jr., uncle and other guests). A little bit warmer today, waiting for Eli's (!) late arrival (but it was ok as it was only 5 minutes late and Greg parking on a 5 minutes-parking. Greek time). Meeting Eli, very nice! Going home to Chrysta's and eating even more delicious home made Greek food with all the others. Learning that uncle is responsible for Chrysta's parents getting married. Learning that I am not supposed to talk about relationships at table (it was, I can say, some sort of "being part of the discussion-question" so I stopped speaking at all from this minute..). Im sorry! Walking through the city with Chrysta and Eli, took some nice pics at seaside, drinking coffee in a nice bar. Eli leaving only having stayed in Thessaloniki for a few hours (Thank you Eli!! It was so nice to meet you there!). Chrysta organizing evening programme going to the Aris Thessaloniki vs. AEK Athen football game. No guest fans (except Chrysta)....why? see picture! Referee being very very bad so fans shouting and screaming at him all the time (objectivity not possible as only being surrounded by frenetic Aris-Fans..even Chrysta clapping her hands the time Aris went on lead 1-0). AEK playing much better second half and winning 3-1. Leaving a bit earlier in order to catch the bus before all the frenetics take a seat. (we came to the quite old and f...-up stadium --> very rigorous security control...thanks to a attentive taxi driver, having two free seats in his cab...strange habit but ok). Eating at Goody's and shaking back home (bus).
Next day without 5-minute-guy-interruption (parking car in front of store and being back in 5 minutes....bus waiting) into city centre. Buying souvenirs, getting a "Tsourek" from Dimitra (bought by Chrysta) and walking around. Chrysta telling me a lot about city history thanks to help of her sister. Interesting! Going back to Chrysta's one last time. Getting the rules of backgammon for the very first time (Id rather not). Preparing to leave. Getting AEK hat and scarf by Kostas. Warm goodbye by Greg and Despina (Chrysta's parents). Dimitra coming by to say good-bye. Chrysta calling taxi, everything happening so fast. Packing all the things (including "something to go" by Despina), saying goodbye to Chrysta and getting into taxi. Driver trying to beat his personal speed record on the way to airport ("Kanguras"). Waiting very long at airport as lady at counter says "plane is very booked". Smiling and say "Yes sure". Getting boarding card at 4.25 (dep. 4.40) even if there are more than 5 free seats in plane. Very rude lady now as she is very much stressed..."can imposssible be my problem" translated word-to-word from German...remember Chrysta?:) Being very very tired once again. The cycle has been closed.
PS: Thanks for wonderful hospitality to: Greg&Despina, Dimitra, Kostas, Despina jr., uncle&aunt, Eli, Jannis, Nicky, Xanthi, Despi, Catherina, Despina the German, and all the others.
But: Many many many more thanks to:
CHRYSTA!!!!!!
Love u all
Andres
PS2: my Greek travel vocabulary that helps me through the day:
Kali mera! (in the morning)
Efcharisto! (after eating lunch cooked by Chrysta's mother)
Malaka! (at football game)
Pfff....Kanguras! (on the way back home)
Cu! (due to Blogger problems I can not upload pics...yet) |
posted by schinkae @ 8:46 PM  |
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| 6 Comments: |
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> :)))) GEIL!
>>Zaf, the name you forgot was Zaf.
>>>Oh, come on, there was no problem with the referee at all!
>>>>Call it tsourekI ;)
>>>>>What I actually said to the taxi-driver was "Get him to the Airport. On the departures side. He has already seen the city sights-so, no reason to go through the city center-drive at the high-way, please!" (so, i guess he was afraid of my threatens and drove you as fast as possible there!)
>>>>>>PICTURES NOW!
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Wow, that was a nice time-out on this bloody Monday at work, reading about Thessaloniki.
Sounds just great!
Andres, thank you very much for the "massive" party on Saturday! I really enjoyed myself. My personal highlight was the "public viewing" of ttallou's clips. I was really moved and couldn't think of anything else than of Hamburg and you all for the rest of the night. When I got home from the club we went to afterwards, I just had to watch the movies again.
Yesterday, I went to see my parents and had lunch with them (yey, Fondue AND Raclette :D) My sister, my brother-in-law, my grandma and my aunt from the states were there as well. We watched the films together and so director ttallou is now even known in the US and my family got an impression of how Hamburg really was...
Ttallou, thank you so much for the films, the beautifully framed picture and the Pony Bar CD...one song of it serves as my motto for today: Je ne veux pas travailler...
You are all so nice and I'm in a complete "I miss Hamburg"-mood at the moment...gotta drink an "ASTRA" after work, I guess :-)
Looking forward to hearing from you and welcoming Greece to Switzerland in February.
And, oh well, Vienna is just around the corner, Andres...
Hang in there, hugs and kisses
cheers,
Matt
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so director ttallou is now even known in the US and my family got an impression of how Hamburg really was...
>I can also send you autographs, in case you need them for my fans...;)
Astra? Zum Wohl!
Viele L.G.!
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Blogger still not working. Sorry, Yannis (and Zaf)! Don't worry about the referee, can't you see the irony?:) lg, andres
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ach ttallou, ich liebe deine dvd
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> :)))) GEIL!
>>Zaf, the name you forgot was Zaf.
>>>Oh, come on, there was no problem with the referee at all!
>>>>Call it tsourekI ;)
>>>>>What I actually said to the taxi-driver was "Get him to the Airport. On the departures side. He has already seen the city sights-so, no reason to go through the city center-drive at the high-way, please!" (so, i guess he was afraid of my threatens and drove you as fast as possible there!)
>>>>>>PICTURES NOW!