Saturday, August 18, 2012

Olympic Makers: Addiction or Just Another Job?




When I first saw my name among the Greeks to have gained the scholarship
 and be involved at the planning and organization
of the Sydney Olympic Games in mid 1999,
I felt very lucky and proud.

I also felt an imperceptible fear..
and it was not fear of moving to another continent on my 22...
although I love my country,
my age and my personality did not allow space for those kind of restrictions.
Years later, I realized that this fear
was nothing more or less than the inner feeling
that once you do the step then it will be difficult to go back...
and I tried a couple of times - without success obviously -
I may even try again in the future - who knows -
but now 13 years later it is clear to my mind:
 It is like the "joker" in playing cards games.
Once you draw the joker,
no matter if it changes your plans or does not really match with the initial
thoughts in your head, you just do not throw it back.


And then, after a while,
you realize that you can not reply to the simple question
 "and you, where do you live?",
so you reply "I am a citizen of the world",
which is half true, half convenient.

You may forget your jacket or your wallet,
but you never forget your Accreditation,
you see familiar faces that you do not really know
but it is always a pleasure to meet them around
and you see some others that you pretend you did not see..
-come on, you have done it at least once ;)
- you get to know drinking games from all different cultures of the planet,
your vocabulary is enriched with some strange words like "pigeonholes",
 "mixed zone" and "post event depression",
you hate all kind of uniforms, 
and when you go back "home" suddenly you notice
those orange barricades at the side of the street
and you are not wondering anymore why your old schoolmates believe
that you are a little bit "strange"!

But also, you make lifetime friendships,
you feel the excitement of creation,
you witness the outcome of your job -
 often at the same time with billions of people across the world -
and you experience the respective judgement on the spot,
you feel the agony of the athletes,
you experience world records,
you get to know new cultures and habits,
you plan recovery trips after the Games,
you hear your National Anthem in the Olympic Stadium,
you cry, you laugh,
and then you say goodbye and..."let's go one more" - or not!


Either way you feel blessed and you are!

Friday, July 13, 2012

America - New York - The city that never sleeps..

"Start spreading the news, I am leaving today
I want to be part of it, New York, New York.."

Now I know Franky!
I know why you "want to wake up in that city that does not sleep"


There is a feeling that you miss something.. Amazing..
I could walk all day long around Manhattan without specific destination,
just to feel the vibe of the city! To be part of it!

The land where you feel that your dreams will come true!


Feel the vibe and dare to dream!



                                                                                 
     
     


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

America - New Orleans - Life is Art...

New Orleans is unique and authentic..!
At the city, where one of the most popular drinks is named "Hurricane",
people prove that life is funny..
and that life is beautiful,
full of colours and music!
Loved the fact of trying to sleep under the sounds of Jazz!


 
 






Friday, June 29, 2012

America - Road Trip - Pacific1 and the Deserts

Full tank, GPS and ready to go!!
Driving along Pacific 1 and getting a sip of the inland deserts of California,
the trip was worth it more than the destinations themselves...
Pictures, diverse landscapes,
people from every part of the world, rare animal species,
music, colours and perfumes...

I can not start describing what we tasted and experienced during all these days,
I have not even realized myself yet,
but I will try to keep a photo diary,
indicative of the route and the itinerary,
trying to capture and share some moments.







San Francisco
Napa Valley - The Wineries
Calistoga - Double Rainbow and
 confrontation with US cops!!





Monterey - Together with its neighbour Pacific Grove and posh Carmel,
have attracted famous writers and artists of the last century



Big Sur - more a state of mind than a place you can pinpoint on a map...

Santa Barbara -Carpinteria Beach - "The American Riviera"


Santa Monica - Pier


Malibu

Los Angeles - Hollywood Boulevard

Huntington Beach - The Surf City

Del Mar - Laguna Beach




La Jolla



San Diego - Aroma of Mexico...


The Road the less traveled...



Grand Canyon






Wednesday, May 23, 2012

America - stop1 - Van City

Vancouver is definitely one of the most beautiful cities I have visited until now.
Although the sun was hiding behind wet clouds most of the time,
we still had the chance to stroll around the city a
nd visit some of the most popular neighbors and spots.
Ame, thanks for the hospitality..
 it was definitely the best way for my first landing at this continent
and this side of the world!
 I leave the ride along the seawall for next time!







Around Stanley Park




 Granville Island



 West End..