I have noticed lately that a number of "runners" from back in the days stumbles onto my blog...it it would be so nice if they would take the chance and contact me... it might not have know them but I would point them in the direction of some of their old friends (if I know them).
For me personally, there are a few I would like reconnect with...actually anyone who stumble upon this blog who lived/spent time in Athens in 1989/1991 I would love to hear from you.
Some folks are of course remembered more than others... but still it would be nice if you got in contact...
Showing posts with label Diethnes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diethnes. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Thursday, 19 March 2009
My dream 40th party
This year as I am turning 40th I have decided to start planning my birthday already, not much to plan anyway. My flatmate Sue and I are thinking of going to Athens, as I am already planning to going back at least once more this year.
As there is only one thing I really want for my birthday - and that would be to meet my son and for him to wanting to have some sort of relationship with me, I do not intend to do anything major.
However, it got me thinking who from my Athens days would I like the chance to meet again. As there are so many but I thought I make a "wish list" of who I would like to catch up with from back in the days. Some of the people on this list I saw as my family but for all I know I was just a ship in the night for them.
1) Mana - the main person from my days in Greece I would love to meet again, she was my Greek "mother" and I cannot think of any person who ever met her would would not remember her with found memories - she must be in her eighties if she is still around now.
2) Takis - one of my two Greek "brothers" and one of my bosses, but we did have some fun together discussing PFO's and he did get me hooked on Super Bikes for a while.
3) Nikos - my other "brother" and my personal Nicky Rourke - he was obsessed with Mickey Rourke (pre-surgery days).
4) Lino - one of my best friends ever, listing to Pink Floyd always reminds me of our sessions on the roof of Diethnes Hotel. In February when I was in Athens I got a chance to check out this old haunt but now when Christos has turned the roof into a bar it was not the same (but then it was the daytime).
5) Scoogie & Lisa - the rest of the foursome who often ended up on the roof listening to Pink Floyd, we would be laying there gazing at the Athens stars or be downstairs booging to Lino set at Jakie O.
6) George & Bindy - my two Australian blood sisters who introduced me to TISM. The funny thing about these two, is that we became friends because I caught George in bed with my so-called boyfriend. So after a quick introduction to Takis and Nikos they moved out of Zorba's Hostel and in to Joy's and our winter 1990 was born. We had converted the bar into a lounge with a massive "bed" in front of the TV where we would either chill out watching movies or eating pizza's. (I think the pizza place was still there in February).
7) Wilma, Manolis and little Elisabet - my other bosses and the rest of my "family". It was Manolis and Wilma who upon realising I was pregnant helped me in finding a decent doctor and ensuring that when I decided to give my son up for adoption everything was above board and he went to a decent family. I wonder if Wilma got her way and the family moved to South Africa and if they have had more kids.
8) Andreas, Kostas, Spiros - criky I have forgotten how much fun I had in Athens during the winter of 1990. Picnics, kit flying being taken out for family trips by Manolis, Wilma, Takis, Mana and their friends.
9) Anderas, Jonas, Sam, Said, Matthew, Crazy Patrick, Viking, Stephen, Thomas, Claus and so many more of the runners and hostel staff from back in the days, it is impossible to remember all - also just realised most of my friends back then was blokes!!! I have always been a bit of a tomboy.
Why did one of us not have the foresight to say: "I have an idea, lets all meet at Oinio Station at this date twenty years from now". Can you imaging how much fun that would have been? It would have been fun to see what have become of us all, had any of the hippies become straight laces and any of the straight laces become hippies??
Now that might have been a fun party, also as a lot of us are turning 40 this year it would have been great - hindsight is a wonderful thing - but in relity the chances of me meeting up with any of the folks from back in the days are slim. But the two runners who are around will be invite to join Sue and me in Athens.
As there is only one thing I really want for my birthday - and that would be to meet my son and for him to wanting to have some sort of relationship with me, I do not intend to do anything major.
However, it got me thinking who from my Athens days would I like the chance to meet again. As there are so many but I thought I make a "wish list" of who I would like to catch up with from back in the days. Some of the people on this list I saw as my family but for all I know I was just a ship in the night for them.
1) Mana - the main person from my days in Greece I would love to meet again, she was my Greek "mother" and I cannot think of any person who ever met her would would not remember her with found memories - she must be in her eighties if she is still around now.
2) Takis - one of my two Greek "brothers" and one of my bosses, but we did have some fun together discussing PFO's and he did get me hooked on Super Bikes for a while.
3) Nikos - my other "brother" and my personal Nicky Rourke - he was obsessed with Mickey Rourke (pre-surgery days).
4) Lino - one of my best friends ever, listing to Pink Floyd always reminds me of our sessions on the roof of Diethnes Hotel. In February when I was in Athens I got a chance to check out this old haunt but now when Christos has turned the roof into a bar it was not the same (but then it was the daytime).
5) Scoogie & Lisa - the rest of the foursome who often ended up on the roof listening to Pink Floyd, we would be laying there gazing at the Athens stars or be downstairs booging to Lino set at Jakie O.
6) George & Bindy - my two Australian blood sisters who introduced me to TISM. The funny thing about these two, is that we became friends because I caught George in bed with my so-called boyfriend. So after a quick introduction to Takis and Nikos they moved out of Zorba's Hostel and in to Joy's and our winter 1990 was born. We had converted the bar into a lounge with a massive "bed" in front of the TV where we would either chill out watching movies or eating pizza's. (I think the pizza place was still there in February).
7) Wilma, Manolis and little Elisabet - my other bosses and the rest of my "family". It was Manolis and Wilma who upon realising I was pregnant helped me in finding a decent doctor and ensuring that when I decided to give my son up for adoption everything was above board and he went to a decent family. I wonder if Wilma got her way and the family moved to South Africa and if they have had more kids.
8) Andreas, Kostas, Spiros - criky I have forgotten how much fun I had in Athens during the winter of 1990. Picnics, kit flying being taken out for family trips by Manolis, Wilma, Takis, Mana and their friends.
9) Anderas, Jonas, Sam, Said, Matthew, Crazy Patrick, Viking, Stephen, Thomas, Claus and so many more of the runners and hostel staff from back in the days, it is impossible to remember all - also just realised most of my friends back then was blokes!!! I have always been a bit of a tomboy.
Why did one of us not have the foresight to say: "I have an idea, lets all meet at Oinio Station at this date twenty years from now". Can you imaging how much fun that would have been? It would have been fun to see what have become of us all, had any of the hippies become straight laces and any of the straight laces become hippies??
Now that might have been a fun party, also as a lot of us are turning 40 this year it would have been great - hindsight is a wonderful thing - but in relity the chances of me meeting up with any of the folks from back in the days are slim. But the two runners who are around will be invite to join Sue and me in Athens.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Back in Athens after 18 years
After spending years wanting to go back to Athens, I final bit the bullet and booked my trip.
Arrived this morning to the my "hometown" and its new airport to discover that the metro from the airport to Central Athens was closed for refurbishment. Having met some Kiwi's no the airport at least have some company on my way to Larrisa Station (you from back in the days will recall our fun there).
However, our train takes us to Ago Lision, which I cannot remember at all, when we finally arrive at Larissa Station or as it is now called Athina get out and do not recognized a thing.
Finally, I find myself on Lission and start walking toward Platiea Vathias where I'm staying. Soon, spot Mikael Vola Street and finally have know where I am.
After checking into my hotel Aristotles, not to bad for being a 2-star, I wander Arharnon Street toward my old "home" at Ferron Street, and find to my shock and horror that Joy's Hotel is still there but is now an apartment block.
Then decide to wander up to where Iokastis used to be, that appears to have been converted to a bank.
At least there is still a patisserie at Platiea Viktoria and a sandwich shop by the underground station. I end up, after craving solovakies for years, in a place which promises me that they have done slovakies since 1969, thinking it must be proper slolvakies. But no, no pita bread, no tzatiski but they tasted good and the place served Amstel Beer.
Decide to check out Hotel Zorba's and find despite google, that they are apparently no longer a backpacker hostel, if they are my current hotel is more backpacker friendly.
Even, Athens Connection which thanks to Claus I know is no longer a hostel has changed beyond recognition.
On a plus note my hotel serves Amstel beer (cans at 2 euro's a pop) and a local shop does the 500ml glass bottles at 88 cents.
Tomorrow, is another day, I am checking out Monestraki and will check out Aphrodite and Diethnes hopefully they are more recognizable. Hopefully, I can also upload some photo's which I cannot do from my hotel.
Arrived this morning to the my "hometown" and its new airport to discover that the metro from the airport to Central Athens was closed for refurbishment. Having met some Kiwi's no the airport at least have some company on my way to Larrisa Station (you from back in the days will recall our fun there).
However, our train takes us to Ago Lision, which I cannot remember at all, when we finally arrive at Larissa Station or as it is now called Athina get out and do not recognized a thing.
Finally, I find myself on Lission and start walking toward Platiea Vathias where I'm staying. Soon, spot Mikael Vola Street and finally have know where I am.
After checking into my hotel Aristotles, not to bad for being a 2-star, I wander Arharnon Street toward my old "home" at Ferron Street, and find to my shock and horror that Joy's Hotel is still there but is now an apartment block.
Then decide to wander up to where Iokastis used to be, that appears to have been converted to a bank.
At least there is still a patisserie at Platiea Viktoria and a sandwich shop by the underground station. I end up, after craving solovakies for years, in a place which promises me that they have done slovakies since 1969, thinking it must be proper slolvakies. But no, no pita bread, no tzatiski but they tasted good and the place served Amstel Beer.
Decide to check out Hotel Zorba's and find despite google, that they are apparently no longer a backpacker hostel, if they are my current hotel is more backpacker friendly.
Even, Athens Connection which thanks to Claus I know is no longer a hostel has changed beyond recognition.
On a plus note my hotel serves Amstel beer (cans at 2 euro's a pop) and a local shop does the 500ml glass bottles at 88 cents.
Tomorrow, is another day, I am checking out Monestraki and will check out Aphrodite and Diethnes hopefully they are more recognizable. Hopefully, I can also upload some photo's which I cannot do from my hotel.
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