Halkidiki - Sithonia -Kavourotripes Beach

If I had left last Friday as originally scheduled I would have missed:
1) A couple of breathtaking views on the way along the Sithonia Coast.
(nor the driver neither the copilot were actually 100% sure about the way to get there ;) )
2) Stunning Kavourortipes Beach.
In day-light (http://www.gtp.gr)
3) View to inaccessible Mount Athos on the Agion Oros peninsula.
4) Lazy dining in a cosy taverna in Nea Moudania
5) Chance to take this picture...

Busy busy

I am too busy to write a decent note about this amazing place - Halkidiki Kavourotripes! Patience.

And this is my temporary office in the kitchen ;) I am so NOT USED to working all day anymore :((. How was I capable of doing that for 8-14 hours a day? I wonder...

Mr Small-Talk-Master

How many words can you exchange at a pharmacy from the moment you hand your credit card to the guy behind the counter till you sign the receipt? Today I was astonished at a really smart chat by Mr Small-Talk-Master even though it started from the least 'sexy' line: ' ...and here is your Tampax - 2.20Euro'.

Sunday in the city

I detest crowds and persistently avoid them. That is why despite inhuman temperature I love Sundays in the city. Deserted streets, a mere clientele in coffee shops, lazy and relaxed. I wanted to go to Halkidiki today or at least to the near beach for a dive but just a thought about all the city being there made me not to.
It is so hot that I would not be bothered to carry any extra weight, including my camera, so today no pictures from Moni Lazariston and State Museum of Contemporary Art.

Back to school

The nature does not stand vacuum. Therefore having finished with my 'formal' Greek classes I was eager to get busy teaching myself (as an afternoon hobby-activity). (Well!) paid of course - otherwise I would not jeopardize my free time! It was by pure coincidence that now I tutor a German official my mother language. I need to adopt a completely new approach to Polish - more.. aware.

The good thing about being up at 5am due to f... mosquitos:

Modiano Market

The Modiano market is just in the heart of the city: a noisy, smelly (sic!), colorful place offering all you can imagine from fresh octopus, cow's liver, weird herbs to kitsch plastic cross with flashing lights in place of the nails (anyone interested?). Screaming sellers are one of its unique charms that make me get most of my groceries from there. And from there we started sightseeing during Marta's short visit:

A, re Turkia...

I am against Turkey's accession to EU.
For several reasons, one of them being stubborn denial of what seems to be a well researched historical fact and limiting ridiculously freedom of expression. Example: 'A Turkish publisher has been sentenced to five months in prison for publishing a book by a British author about the mass killing of Armenians in 1915.' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7459729.stm
I have read only 2 Turkish writers ever and both were accused or threated to be accused of"insulting the institutions of the Turkish republic (article 301)''. One of them is Elif Shafah the author of my favourite reading in last 2 years: 'The Bastard of Istanbul'.
According to BBC ' The justice ministry recently revealed that 1,700 people were tried under Article 301 in 2006 alone. '
No comments.

Savvopoulos (still a)live

What an evening...

Went to see Dionisios Savvopoulos - a major Greek (NOT rock) star - live. First time I saw him in Cyprus and was really impressed. He's been forever on stage so neither teens nor pensioners are rare among his fans.

The concert was fantastic- a bit of everything, incluing rembetico and bouzouki in a rocky style (no, no, I do not have the greek music savvy - I was enlighted by my companion, who does:)).
Plus the santa-clause-like star- Savvopoulos himself (pic taken in Cyprus, Nov.2007):

Plus the place: Theatro Dasou - an open-air amphitheather on a pine hill, overlooking the city, with a stunning view to the lit city and just the sky above.
Plus surprises: apparently for those who cannot stand the heavy-aged rock'n'roller for too long there was an interlude of Tom Waits' pieces (not in person obviously!).
I even excuse utter lack of hearing and voice of one of the performers. Let's say it was not his day;)

Till July

I do love it here. A lot:). Recently I've been even considering extending my stay, but wasn't sure it would be the proper thing to do.
And then Sunday came. Reading a newspaper in a cafe, I heard scraps of conversation of some tourists passing by:

- Pity it's the last day. I wish we didn't have to leave.

- Yeah, I would do everything to stay a couple of days more.
And it clicked: you poor all-inclusives cannot do it but, yes sir, I can!

Actually nothing but MYSELF stops me from doing what I really want to do. The myself is just finding excuses related to 'what is proper'. Furthermore, unlike most of the population I am not tied to one place and practically can stay undefinite time where I wish to. And I should aprreciate it and enjoy. So the return ticket has been rebooked:)
I'm really looking forward to the month to come.
...Why? That's another story :) .

Agion Oros

One finger of the 3 of Halkidiki peninsula - Athos - hides an independent religious state within the Greek state -Agion Oros. For a millenium Athos has been a home for orthodox monasteries only and has been inhabited only by monks (2 000!). Any female beings are not allowed on its territory. Free tourist access is possible only from the sea at 500 m distance.

The holyness of today's cruise along the coast of Athos was spoiled by the weather -it really sucked (rain, wind and cold).

Veria

A town west of Salonica...not much to be excited about ...

maybe except for the old district:

Plus the weirdest urban bus system. Buses with a certain number (e.g.5) do not have fixed routes. Before a bus departs to a given destination an operator announces through loudspeakers which bus number will take this route. So if you see on the street a bus nr 10 you have no idea if you should wave on it since you have no idea where it is going. ???

Polytheismos

Holidays away from esthetics

• What happens with some people's sense of esthetics when they turn tourists for 1-2 weeks a year?
• Apparently most common pieces in the suitcase: sandals, white socks, tight leggins on cellulitic tights, kiddish, pink, much too short shorts,cleaveges uncovering too much of not too young breasts, obese bellies in much too small t-shirts in intriguing colours, bright cotton baseball cups (borrowed from a son/grandson?), flashy beach bags...
• What makes some people - when on holidays - put the most ridiculous clothes they whould never wear in their own city and in front of their friends/neighbours?
• Why do they decide to be photographed in pyjama-like clothes? These pictures they will later view endlessly and show proudly to family.
• Doesn't a beautiful city deserve decent clothes?
• Don't its inhabitants deserve a bit of respect, shown also by the way you dress when being among them?
  I am really disturbed;)

Typical pics from the beach will follow...