A brief glimpse into my "Carnival-Weekend"

Petra (my boss) and I

Chris Ninos

Writing their own lyrics unfortunately in Greek :(

Last week was sort of busy - I mean not really - since I am still filing data, but every now and then I get a pretty cool assignment or tiny project in between. So this weekend was "different". On Friday night we had to go and see a venue in Loutraki where three rockbands performed. The first one YesterGaze started at 7pm (with covers of Red

Yiannis, Giorgos, Ben

Hot Chilli Peppers, Metallica etc.), however, we were already there at 5pm and just stood there, talking to the other band and trying to kill time... it was an outside venue and the sound check and the rest of the set up was dealt with by a local technician. ORAMA was the band we had batches for and came to support. Basically they consist of five band members aged 17 and 18 years - all very humored and funny. The last artist Chris Ninos perfromed another 40min with more Pop and Rock, but nice to listen to. Afterwards we went again to Waves with my boss, two other women and Benny. From there Giorgos picked us up and we went to Kenzo another great cocktail; the bartender really knew what he was doing.

"HihiHaha"

Saturday, we had to start working at 10 am to help setting up a performance from two artists from Athens. A children's play "HihiHaha" in the Cultural Center of Agoi Theodoroi dealing with two teenage, naïve girls taking a journey in a hot air balloon. The audience (about 40 kids) got so anxious and excited when they are actively included in the play that it was really fun to watch - again I just wished I could have understood it, but besides the body language I didn't. Shortly before the play started I had to run to the office an create a song list for a dance contest after the play, I think this will be something very nomral in my future - to arrange things very last minute. It might seem small to you, but even the smallest missions give an adrenalin kick :)

Yeah, I am wearing a pink WIG

Now - yesterday was rather interesting.  From 11am until 2pm we had to face paint children - well actually another woman and I did and Benny taught children how to juggle. On the square in front of the church we simply sat on the wall with a few paints and brushes, sponges and glitter. I totally lost track of time, since I was so focused on children's faces and the design they wanted. I have only done face painting once before and it only involved small flowers and some girlie designs. So there you sit with very excited kids, who actually never sit still and always want to look in the mirror or want to show the progress of their beauty (that's at least what they think...) to their friends or parents. Nevertheless it was great fun and I would always do it again. The smile of every kid afterwards is so worth it!!!

After 2 pm we rushed back to the office (just 5min walk) and had to get dressed into our clown costumes. Again we were a group of about 12 people which had to get their faces painted - here we go so I wasn't done yet. Around 3.30pm we took a march to the beginning of the carinval parade where we had spot to walk. For about an hour we slowly walked through the main road of Agii Theodoroi and enjoyed the crowd (there were a couple of thousands of people, which felt like the village would explode since it is usually so empty). One more thing I gotta tell you (Ben don't hate me now ;)): The son, 14 years old, of my boss, thought it was a good idea to help Benny find a girlfriend. So he drew a sign, which said in Greek: I am Benjamin and I am looking for a girlfriend, call me *and then his number*. He really held the sign in front of him and we cracked some jokes about it!! :)

Our walking group

Compared to the German Karneval it is very different though. There is a parade with different walking groups and also some trucks, which carry big figures or just signs, but no alcohol or candy is distributed to the crowd and instead for throwing confetti to the people, they throw it at you! In the middle of the parade were two girls with mics, who announced every group and said something about them (also not happening in Germany). A small concert took place when the parade finished, again with ORAMA. However, because we wanted to go to Corinth  Ben and I only saw a little bit of it and then left to discover the "leftover" from a slightly bigger parade in Loutraki (a lot more people and parties in clubs and bars). Another nice night out! :)

# Fun facts for today #
1. Yesterday 17 degrees sunshine, today 7 degrees and rain
2. Today is Clear Monday a holiday (nobody works) celebrated because it is 40 days before Easter

Είμαι είκοσι τέσσερις

Dinner party

... means in Greek "I am 24". This way I want to thank everytbody for giving me a thought, dedicating a post/letter/call/text or some personal hours. After work we went to Korinthos and went to a very nice restaurant. Just to describe it real quick: when you enter there is a big room with a high ceiling and woooden floor a well as the bar; if you turn to your right several steps (more like a half-round amphitheater) lead down to a second seating area with a fire place. It felt strange when we came in, because everyone from the lower level was looking up at you, but as soon as I was sitting next to the fire place and other people came in, I felt how I looked up automatically. This might sound irrelevant and strange to some of you, but just a crazy feeling I had (not sure if the owner thought of the psychologic side effect when he built it).

@ OR

Giorgos invited some people, so about 10 people showed up and we enjoyed some fun hours together, sharing food (typical Greek vegetable apparently - which I am still convinced was just Spinach ;)), getting a very nice birthday cake *yummy* and laughing together. The day ended at a bar called Or. What a cool place - let me tell you: completely white, about 100 degrees in the there (more like a living room feeling) and 4 people including the DJ. The inside walls were round-shaped and had several niches in the room, which created corners where you just talk. The place was not big, but because it appeared like an igloo it had style and was rather trendy. Even with not many people I had a blast!
Thanks to everybody who was there that night!

Again: Stupidity @ train station

Ok, what else? On Friday we joined a gym in Korinthos, called Vibes, great fitness center, not too big, very nice people, no anabolic bricks and a great atmosphere to work out close by the sea. We paid 140 Euro for 4 months - not too bad after all, since it includes also a sauna and very new machines. The downside is that it is in Korinthos in the Center (meaning first taking the train then walking about 40 min and the same back), but oh well - keeps you active and there is something to do after work. Speaking of work, we are still filing data, a little boring, but in a few weeks we can organize are own event, so Benny and I are very much looking forward to that. :) This weekend we have some Carneval events coming up in our little village (so yeah it is not going to be Cologne or Mainz...) with face painting, a carneval parade and a small rock concert, will see how that goes. Of course I will keep you posted.

# Fun fact for today #
When Greek people sit in the train or even in a café they play with something that looks like a string with several pearls/marbles and they swing it back and forth over their index finger and it makes clickclickclick. Pretty annoying if you keep paying attention to it - an the other hand also fascinating when you see three people talk and each of them doing this. I guess it goes for relaxation or multitasking ;)

Observations

Unfortunately, the Internet in our apartment stopped working since the beginning of the week; meaning I could not post earlier. Apparently, it has to do with a "power failure" and according to my employeur's son the connection will work again, when there will be another "power failure", very logical! ;)

Since we already talking about logic, here is what I observed about the Greek way of driving cars or parking. When a Greek driver wants to park, instead of using the turning light, they use their emergency lights. Why? I don't know. Next: when they come to a crossroad and have quite some speed, they just quickly honk, so that the other car knows that they are coming, in case the person to the right has actually the right of way. - Well, it's a way of driving, I guess. Oh yeah and a speed limit basically does not exist (cap driver on a country road drove 160km/h without moving a muscle, I just closed my eyes and prayed) --> Sorry Mum, but I am fine!

What else? Oh, the trains. In general, I think, the DB (German train company) should learn a thing or two from the company here, because if they are not striking (no wonder with the current politic situation) they are  always on time. Weird are the prices: for one stop, about 7 min ride, it's 3 EUR, but going to Athens airport, about 1hr10min, it's only 8 EUR.

Getting ready to look all business

Ok enough observations for now. Last weekend we had to attend a presentation (Saturday). Not so easy if you don't understand one word of Greek. The average age of the people was probably about 60, but they were nice, well at least that is my assumption since I did not understand their language. The presentation was given in a hotel, totally stuck in the 80s and freezing cold, but apprently it is running quite well during the summer months (not quite sure about that).

Too much coffee leads to INSANITY

On Sunday we went out with Yannis, a very good friend of Giorgos. He showed us more cafés and bars. A very cool place was Waves, located right next to the casino in Loutraki. We played UNO at Café Deluxe at the Korinthian Gulf and had some nice Iced Cappuchino. Other than that we went to watch a soccer match in a German pub called Allemania. The owner, German (husband Greek), was very nice and they had many German beers, which makes you feel a little bit at home. Their Schnitzel was incredible, I have probably not eaten a better one in Germany. After that Yannis invited us to his house, a very nice and cosy place, where we watched first a basketball game (Olympiacos against Panathinaicos) and then a volleyball game.
Thanks for the hospitality, great time/FUN! =)

More pictures will follow soon (I first have to wangle off some of Benji's pics) ;) So keep in ttttooooooouuuuch!!!!!

Thanks to "Couchsurfing"...

@ Agoi Theodoroi train station

... I finally met Giorgos. Well actually Couchsurfing was the first connection, because I wanted to meet new people here as soon as possible. On Saturday it was time to meet in person (we took the train for 3 euros one way for a 8 min train ride) and to be honest it is strange to see somebody for the first time and having the feeling to know him all you life. Giorgos is a great person, he showed us several bars in Korinthos, the closest bigger city from Agoi Theodoroi, about 20km away. We started of in a lounge Como, which just opened a couple of months ago and one of his friends was the DJ there that night. Then we moved on to a bar called Soul Kitchen which had some very tasty sparkling white wine (I think Muscato) and a sort of triangle bar in the middle of the room; I think this was my personal favorite that night. After that we went to cocktail bar Lemon, where

Giorgos, Benny and I at Como

Enjoying the snacks

I had the best White Russian in my entire life (sorry Flo, but you really have to try it, WOW). In every bar they serve water and snacks with your drink, which is good and makes you enjoy everything even more. I must say, I very much enjoy the lifestyle here. People love to talk, enjoy their nights without getting deliberately wasted, doll themselves up (the girls a little too much, but it is nice to watch). The Greek tend to go out a lot later than in the Netherlands or Germany. Here, they usually start their Satuday night's out around 12.30. The same counts for dinner, which is usually taken around 8 pm (half of the time, I would probably starv until then ;))

Fresh homemade bread :)

Between sun and rain *Gorgeous*

Today we slept in and enjoyed a good first lunch in our apartment and went to Korinthos again in the afternoon. First, a little walk along the sea and some interesting facts about the Greek history. Then we went to a quite exclusive café/bar in Loutráki packed with styled and posh people.

Benny trying very hard

A free outside gym, great idea!

We spent some hilarious hours with two other friends of Giorgos which where a pleasure to meet. So much fun!!! By the time we got out of there it was probably almost 7.30 when we discovered the outside gym right in front of the café. Of course we had to try all machines, seriously what a great idea, I have never seen this before.

Sushilicious!!! :)

Afterwards he showed us the biggest Casino in Europe the Club Hotel Loutráki. We did not gamble but enjoyed a free buffet (just to kill our appetite and not to waste the coupon we had) and an even better Sushi dinner afterwards. YES, I did eat Sushi, Mum, no idea what made me do it, but it was good. The waitress was amazing and had us try so many dishes and desserts that we almost rolled out of there. :)

The night ended with a birthday party in a pub called Jimmy's. A friend of Giorgos turned  30, so we spent the last hours celebrating with her. Just another great day :) I am very grateful to have learned again more about the Greek culture and its people! In general I think I have never met somebody who knows so many people and has such a big network. Within two days Benny and I have met so many new people and seen many fun and interesting places.

THANK YOU for sharing these experiences with us!!! :)

When you start with a 120 Euro cap ride, you know Greece needs money...

@ FRA

Benny arrived at my house Thursday evening fom Berlin, stayed over for one night and we started our journey at 3 o'clock on Friday. Arriving at Frankfurt airport I was pretty nervous, because I knew my luggage was overweight: 20 kg for checked-in bags and 8 kg for carry-ons would have been normal. We had both 23 kg, but the man was nice and did not say a word. However, my backbag had 13.5kg, fortunately I could store the rest in Benny's carry-on. *Uff* on problem solved.

Living Room

Next, we heard that our plane was half an hour late. Actually not too bad, but we only had one hour in Athens from touch down until our train would have left, so half an hour was kinda crucial. Indeed we missed the train by 4 min and it was the last train. After double-checking with our boss there was no othe solution than taking a cap. The taxi driver was insane. His driving skills led to driving between the lanes and not knowing his way in Agioi Theodoroi. Finally, we met Petra, our future employer, who brought us to the apartment.

Kitchen

Toilet No1

Laundry Room

Bathroom No2

My Room

The moment I feared most had come. When the door opened my sight fell into a very clean living room and a big kitchen. My room has a huge closet and we have two bathrooms. Different than expected we DO have a washing machine and do NOT have to go down the street :). The funniest thing is, and I really still do not understand, we cannot flush the toilet paper!!! Anyway... we have a balcony which goes around our whole apartment which is great!! *LIKE* The office is located in the basement, so we literally only have to walk downstairs in the morning (my first working day starts upcoming Monday at 10.00).

Our balcony with ocean view :)

In general it looks nice here. This morning I woke up with the sun and it was 17 degrees, a thin jacket was absolutely enough to walk around in. Acceptable tread compared to freezing -20 C yesterday in Germany.

Since we did not bring much to eat (too much extra weight) we were starving today. Our boss told us yesterday that there was a bigger supermarket not far from here, so we took a walk and after 2km we found it. Inside, our mood went down immediately: the prices here are OUTRAGIOUS!!!! Forget, what I said about the Greek probably don't even notice their crises, just like we didn't when we had it. Bullshit. Frozen pizza for almost 7 euros, joghurt for 3 euros and 1 kg chicken breast for also almost 9 euros. Rediculous! I think there is a LIDL close by, which we have to find soon. However, it is not so easy to find things here, because most of it is in Greek. Oh, well...

<--- All this was 70 Euros, @ Appi Hein or any German discounter it would have been maybe 40 Euros :( 

The penthouse is ready, what about the rest?

Watch the shadows ;)

Tonight we will meet somebody I made contact with beforehand via "couchsurfing". He lives close to Korinthos and will show us around. I am very excited to meet him and am certain that he will give us a lot of inside knowledge to get around a little bit more efficiently ;)

Filakia (=kiss in Greek)