This summer my family and I had a chance to do our first transantlantic flight and familiarize with some countries that we hardly knew couple of time ago.

Suriname: Suriname is a country in south America but due to its diverse history, different cultures have developed and coexist here that make the place so unique. You hardly find any tourists in the capital Paramaribo (called wooden city because of the wooden houses). Although it was humid and hot, I enjoyed a lot walking around its market and tasting local food.

The highlight, though in our trip to Suriname was the excursion to the national park Voltzberg/Ralleighvallen. We had the chance then to see how it is in a real jungle get to know the local people even more and see unforgettable sceneries. The flight was with a small plane which gave us the chance to enjoy the view of Paramaribo as well as tropical rain falling in the jungle from the air. The place we stayed amazed us and we couldn't get enough of watching the view to the river from our balcony. Although we ve never been more tired, the 8-hour walk through the jungle to the top of the mountain Voltzberg was will always remain in our memories, but also bathing under the waterfalls when this was over.

Aruba: Aruba is a Carribean island with a a very cosmopolitan atmosphere and is quite touristic. What is the most amazing about this island is the kilometers long sandy beaches with the turquoise sea colour at the west part of the island, where one can enjoy a beautiful sunset. We also enjoyed snorkeling at Baby beach and watching colourful and big fishes approaching us. If you want to avoid the commercial restaurants try local cuisine at Nos Cunucu. Typical of the island's fauna and fauna is the divi divi trees and the cactuses as well as the lizards and iguanas.

Curacao: The capital Wilhelmstad of Curacao is a lively Carribean town with beautiful dutch architecture along the main canal and beautiful colourful houses all over. The north-west part of the island contains some not very frequented but very beautiful beaches (Grote Knip among them with green sea colour) and picturesque lagoons where you might see flamingos and other tropical birds. It is also fascinating watching the big waves in the north-east part in the Shete Boka (seven small gulfs) national park.

See all pictures we have taken...

Labels: Experiences

November is the start of the olive picking season in Greece and having olive fields in Chalkidiki, me and my family are also involved in this. This year I invited more people to come volunteer and participate in the olive picking. Marco from the Netherlands, Heloise from France, Cam from Australia, Fam from Norway and Dimitris from Greece joined me, my sister Villy and my mother in the olive picking process. The weather helped in making it more enjoyable as it was unusually warm and sunny.

• Photos taken during the weekend
• Invitation for the event

Labels: Experiences

The second SCI workcamp I have ever participated in was once again in the Netherlands. It was in a center for a special kind of Yoga, Okido Yoga, in Laren, Gelderland. I was very excited right from the beginnng when I expressed my interest to become a coordinator of the workcamp in a meeting of VIA (the dutch brunch of SCI where I am active in). I thought it would be a unique experience, especially as I would get to know more about a different culture and way of life.

14 volunteers, all from different countries and from different age groups were there. Jasmin from Uk, who had been in the center 15 years ago was coordinating our work, Donja from Netherlands and me from Greece were workcamp coordinators, Rita from Australia, who had introduced the center to SCI, Mojca from Slovenia, Peg from US, Sabina from Croatia, Leena from Finland, Slavo from Poland, Damiano from Italy, Merve from Turkey, Anita from Austria, Sanna from Sweden and Sarah from Ireland. Mizue from Japan was responsible for the center and Yoga classes and Yunko was our great cook and massage specialist.

We had a great time during the workcamp doing garden work and , but also learned many things: ways to take care of our body, do exercises the right way, Shiatsu massage, health, nutrition, eastern culture and food. The work in the garden we were mostly busy with was also interesting, as we saw innovative ways of recycling material, making compost, creating brick steps, doing cement work, and making a pond and a little hill. But most importantly we got to know new people plus did many things together including the trip to Amsterdam and Zutphen, playing games, dancing with locals and sitting around the fire in the evening and a bicycle trip that I missed.

A report about the workcamp in the local newspaper (in Dutch)

Labels: Experiences

I have been participating since May 2007 in Couchsurfing an internet community for hosting people and being hosted. Through this amazing community I got the chance to get to know many people from all over the world.
One interesting experience I had was participating in the creation of a short reportage for the German TV Channel RTL prepared by Mirjam. I hosted Ulf from Köln in my house in Amsterdam and was filmed.

Other couchsurfing Videos:
Mega Channel Morning show (Greek)

Labels: Experiences

As most of my friends know, my relationship with cycling is quite special. Many Greeks consider it weird that I was using it as my main means of transport in Athens. I was also participating at Podilates cycling community in order to promote cycling as a means of transport in Athens.
I was also very excited when Evridiki asked me to contribute with a mini-interview (pdf) at Kathimerini's weekly magazine "K" in her article on Cycling in Greece. (also available in English)
Having moved to Amsterdam, a paradise for cyclists, I decided to start a "Cycling Report from Amsterdam" blog (in greek) in order to communicate things I see here that might be interesting for the greek cyclists. Stay tuned...

Labels: Experiences

This is my last week in Athens. In 10 days from now I ll be living and working in Amsterdam. I am not sure I have realized that. I am flying on September 11th - watch out terrorrists! Don't ask me how long I 'll stay, time will show. I feel excitement for the new life but melancholy for what I am leaving behind, mixed with some stress for the last minute arrangements.

Labels: Experiences

This year I had the chance to visit 4 islands in Cyclades, Greece (Sifnos, Folegandros, Antiparos, Amorgos) as well as pass by 3 more (Naxos, Paros, Despotiko). Here are some tips if you are interested to visit them.
Sifnos: Accommodation and bike/car transport is hard to find at high season. Be prepared and book in advance. Nightlife is lively with many bars for most tastes. Watch out for a great sunset at the port.
Folegandros: The camping is nice and quiet even on August 15th. Don't miss the great beaches Katergo and Aghios Nikolas as well as the paths that lead to them (alternatively you can reach them by boat). The main village (chora) is cute and cozy. If you 're lucky as I was, you might run into the festival with live music in the main square.
Antiparos: The cave is very fascinating, 90m deep in the ground. Boat trip to Despotiko island nearby is a must there are some surprises on the boat waiting for you as well as a great sandy beach. The camping is noisy, cool and funky. Having a vehicle of your own (bike is all right) will help to explore the island.
Amorgos: You will enjoy it if you like calmness, . The whole island is about views but the view from the monastery is amazing! The beach of Mouros is probably one the best ones I have ever seen: Great waters and so many caves you can swim from one to another. Distances are quite large and a car might be more preferable than a bike. There are also many paths for walkers: There is a path practically to every place on the island. The main village is also cozy, traditional and not too touristic.

Labels: Experiences

Greek newspaper TA NEA included recently an article titled "Getting to know the world through volunteering" which included experiences from Greek volunteers volunteering abroad including me (pdf)! I talked about my participation in a cultural workcamp in Nijmegen, the Netherlands some years ago through SCI .
Other journalists found the idea interesting and I was given the chance to talk in the National Greek Television NET which made a similar report on this in the central news, interviewing 2 volunteers and the coordinator of SCI Hellas, as well as SKAI (ΣΚΑΙ) Television which invited me, representing SCI Hellas to a morning show to talk about volunteering.

Labels: Experiences

Dear Vivodi customer service!

Δεν ξέρω αν φταίνε οι υπηρεσίες σας ή είμαι απλά ένας άτυχος πελάτης αλλά η απογοήτευσή μου για τις υπηρεσίες σας με ώθησε να κοινοποιήσω τις εμπειρίες μου. Please read on...

• Ίσως να φταίει οτι κάναμε κακή αρχή. Μου είπατε οτι θα μου συνδέατε το δίκτυο σε 20 εργάσιμες και τελικά μου ήρθε σε 3 μήνες. Αλλά δεν πειράζει, περασμένα ξεχασμένα.
• Eίχα κατά καιρούς διάφορα μικροπροβληματάκια: τη μια είχα δίκτυο (και τηλέφωνο) και την άλλη μου κοβόταν και μου ξαναερχόταν σε 3 μέρες. Είχα συνηθίσει όμως και δεν παραπονιόμουν. Μια φορά που μου κόπηκε για 10 μέρες είπα να σας ειδοποιήσω και μετά κόπων και βασάνων μου φτιάχτηκε – εγώ δεν ειδοποιήθηκα ποτέ οτι φτιάχτηκε απλά το συνειδητοποίησα μια μέρα που έφτασα σπίτι και είδα το λαμπάκι αναμένο!!
• Zήτησα εκείνη τη φορά να μου αφαιρεθεί από το λογαριασμό αναλογικά το ποσό που αντιστοιχεί στις μέρες που δεν είχα σύνδεση στο δίκτυο. Μου είπατε θα το κάνατε σε κάποιον επόμενο λογαριασμό – σε ποιον ακριβώς, το μέλλον θα δείξει.
• Η σύνδεση συνέχισε να είναι κακή αλλα, για να λέμε και του στραβού το δίκιο, το διάστημα που δεν είχα δίκτυο ήταν μόνο για λίγα λεπτά. Απλά μιλούσα στο τηλέφωνο με τη φίλη μου, κοβόταν η γραμμή και την ξαναέπαιρνα σε λίγο.
• Κάποια μέρα ξανα άρχισα να μην έχω Internet για 3 συνεχόμενες μέρες. Η περίοδος συνέπεσε με την περίοδο που όλοι λέγαν οτι οι γραμμές τις Vivodi αναβαθμίζονται και τετραπλασιάζεται η ταχύτητα! Ουάου!! Εγώ παρόλα αυτά είχα μηδενική ταχύτητα.
• Τελικά με έχει καταραστεί ο Θεός γιατί σαν να μην έφταναν όλα αυτά μου κάηκε το μόντεμ! Ήρθα από την εταιρία σας και μου δώσατε άλλο και μου είπατε οτι θα παίζει αν το συνδέσω με Ethernet. Τζίφος.
• Μάταια προσπαθώ να πιάσω γραμμή από το κινητό μου να βρώ έναν άνθρωπο στο technical support να μου πει πέντε πράγματα, αλλά δυστυχώς δεν έχω αρκετή υπομονή και στη μισή ώρα το κλείνω. Σε κάποια στιγμή νόμισα οτι έπιασα γραμμή αλλά δυστυχώς είχα πατήσει άλλο νούμερο και μου βγήκε άλλο τμήμα - το τμήμα πωλήσεων (ολα κι όλα, να σας πείσουμε να βάλετε Vivodi έχουμε πολλούς). Προσπάθησα να κάνω στατιστικά να δω ποιες ώρες είναι καλύτερα να βγάλεις γραμμή για το technical support αλλά δεν είχα αρκετά μεγάλο δείγμα. Αλλά λογικό γιατί αν είναι όλοι σαν και μένα θα θέλετε ένα άτομο για κάθε πελάτη.
• Τελικά με email είναι καλύτερα. Σας έστειλα ένα email ένα πρωινό, με πήρατε τηλέφωνο την άλλη μέρα το μεσημέρι. Σας είπα να με πάρετε σε 10 λεπτά (ώστε να φύγω από τη δουλειά μου και να πάω στον υπολογιστή μου) και με πήρατε σε 1,5 ώρα. Αλλά δεν έχω παράπονο – καλλιο αργά παρά ποτέ. Δυστυχώς έπεσε η γραμμή ενώ μιλούσαμε και μάταια περίμενα άλλη 1 ώρα μήπως με πάρει εκείνος ο ευλογημένος ο άνθρωπος. 12 κι ουτ’ ένα τηλεφώνημα. M’ αυτά και μ’αυτά δεν έχω ακόμα σύνδεση στο δίκτυο.
• Ευτυχώς που έχει δίκτυο στη δουλειά (Hellas on line) και μπορώ να στείλω αυτό το email.Τουλάχιστον δεν τα 'χω χάσει: Ο άνθρωπος της τεχνικής υποστήριξης μου είπε: "Πράγματι βλέπω οτι εδώ και 3 βδομάδες η γραμμή σας έχει πρόβλημα." Θα ειδοποιούσαν τους τεχνικούς, αλλά ακόμα περιμένω...
• Τελικά το πρόβλημα είναι οτι το σπίτι μου είναι >1km από το σταθμό. Και η ερώτηση είναι... Και ως τώρα πώς γινεται να είχα σύνδεση; Τώρα μου το λέτε;
• Άρα φταίει ο ΟΤΕ. Εχουν και απεργίες εκεί οπότε τρέχα γύρευε
• Τελικά.... μια μέρα που ήμουν άρρωστος και έτυχε να ήμουν σπίτι (χωρίς δίκτυο) έρχεται ο τεχνικός της Vivodi!!! Αυτό που έφταιγε τελικά ήταν κάτι χαλασμένο στη μπρίζα του τοίχου που ήταν παλιά!

Εάν έχουν και άλλοι παρόμοιες εμπειρείες παρακαλώ αφήστε τα σχόλιά σας εδώ.

Labels: Experiences, Greek

Fri, 30 Jun 2006
In order to celebrate my company's 2 year's presence in Greece we organized this day event at a hotel in Saronida. It was really fun doing water sports (couch, flying dolfin) with other colleagues - I also experience falling in the water, which was the most fun! We also had the chance to do archery and shooting (my performance there not very thrilling at all).

Labels: Experiences

That was a cool trip! Around 60 cyclists participated in this small excursion from Athen's center (Syntagma square) to Voula beach, organized by the cyclists club "Ποδηλάτες". The route was quite fun, a bit slow with three stops, one of which was for water splashing fights (μπουγέλο). Although the beach was not that exotic, we were really eager to jump in, after riding under the hot Greek sun for more than an hour
See a journalist's view on the ride
Podilates website

Labels: Experiences

Antiracist Festival was held this year as well in the same place (Field of Mars) in Athens. Many organizations were there (including the volunteering organization I participate SCI), got interesting reading material, tasted international food and heard Spiridoula band and other interesting music

Labels: Experiences

10 - 12 June 2006

Off to Ios island for 3 days. These are my impressions in brief:

People: Mostly British, Canadian, Australian, Italian, Swedish, American, Finnish and Greeks of course. Many youngsters around 20 - 25.

Entertainment: I had heard a lot about this place, namely that it is full of drunk people puking in the streets, but I didn't actually see this aspect of it. Maybe it's because I was going to bed around midnight and also because it's still middle of June and the tourist crowds have not arrived yet.

Beaches: It's definitely worth visiting Maganari and some of the desert beaches in the south east coast (Capo Laoutiaris, Kalamos or Papa) if you are really into VERY quiet / exotic beaches. Mylopotas is the most popular beach, quite nice to swim, sandy. It's worth visiting the "historic" beach bar/camping "Far Out" where you can practice all sorts of beach and non-beach sports.

Prices: The island was cheaper than I had expected this time of the year. 30 Euros per day for a very nice hotel, 10 Euros per day to rent a bike, 5 Euros per day to do camping, cheap drinks with special offers. Prices may rise in July or August.

Labels: Experiences