Greece 2010

Travelogue

October 30th

Finally the day had arrived where we could go back to Hellas so I could complete my mission running the marathon which I couldn't do last year. Tina and I got up at 4 am, had a short breakfast before Miri arrived and the three of us headed to the airport in Frankfurt! Damn, we were in a great mood aside from a couple of minor doubts that were proved needless a day later. ;)

Jacky: "Hey!!! You guys can't be going on the road again - who the fuck is going to pet me? Well ok, I know you'll be back and as long as someone feeds me, I guess Banger and I will be ok..."

Miri was ready to rock and so were Tina and I. We dropped our car off at the parking garage (very cool - it only cost us 21 Euros for 5 days parking, shuttle service included) and got to the airport at dawn. Everything went totally relaxed and the flight was nice and smooth. We enjoyed a hearty meal ;) on board and arrived on time in Greece!

We walked out into the hall and looked around and didn't see anyone and then all of a sudden Spiros was there jumping all over me. He had brought Joro with him. It was awesome being picked up by our two blood brothers - it was so great seeing them again. The five of us squeezed into the car and laughed our asses off all the way to the hotel...

We arrived at the hotel which was situated in downtown Athens and checked in - we got a room in the 7th floor which was nice. We got rid of our luggage and got ready to get my number and chip for the marathon the next day. There were already many Brothers and Sisters there and it was awesome seeing our family again. Marty, Kostas, Eirini & Allan, Magda, Olli & Dani - everyone was there. Not to forget our live wire Paula who had come all the way from Kansas City - what a crazy woman. We first met her in 2008 when she visited us at home - always a lot of fun and action when she's around. It was an honor and a great pleasure to meet our Scandinavian Brothers Of Metal - Thor, who we had met in Offenbach this year but didn't really have time to spend with, Mads (both from Norway), Henrik and Chris from Denmark. All very fine guys with a relaxing and laid back attitude that just makes you feel very happy being with them. The bunch of us headed to the stadium so I could get my stuff.

 Didi and Miro, who we had the honor to meet this year in Bulgaria had arrived driving all the way to Athens from Sofia by car. A great couple - Tina and I really appreciated them doing the journey because...well, we love 'em! Lino arrived as well and we've been seeing him off and on all over the world in the last year. Cool, that he's joined our bunch of crazies! Afterwards we went to a great restaurant where we had been the last year and enjoyed a fabulous meal with a special sort of Mousaka and Tirosalata - brilliant!

 We went back to the hotel and shared a beer together before Tina and I went to bed - tomorrow was going to be my big day! Sandra, Lars, Holli and Max were there and the House was finally (well, almost) complete! Really cool that Sandra had decided to join us - a wild little woman who definitely knows how to party! Our Brothers and Sisters went to the Underground to party their asses off - oh lucky ones...

Man, it felt so damn good to back in Athens - it was like coming home...

October 31st

I had left the hotel at around 5:30 am where everyone except Tina was still fast asleep. I was already running the Classic Athens Marathon when my Brothers and Sisters got up and ready to head to the Panathinaikon Stadium to cheer for me when I crossed the finish line...

Athens Classic Marathon

Elias (he who smokes and smiles!) had arrived by bus and Aggeliki joined in as well. It was great seeing them both. After all the congratulating was done we headed back to the hotel. I had a beer - yes, I'd say a well-deserved one at that. I showered and before we left we checked out the Scandinavian's room. Let me tell you - these guys know how to go on vacation. Always a cold beer around - even if it takes some guts to get it sometimes, hehe ;) So, Tina and I had another one - Hail to you Brothers of The North!

We headed to another well-known great restaurant where we enjoyed enough food for a true battalion of warriors. It was awesome - I mean I was fuckin' hungry after killing 3950 calories during my race but still - look for yourselves!

Damn, that meal was very very fatty (weren't they all, hehe...) but the Greeks do know how to take care of that and we foreigners learn fast as you can see below...oh, and yes we love it!

Then we headed for the Metro and afterwards took a taxi to go to the Jugglers Bar where we would be seeing Crosswind live on stage and celebrating our House Of Death Party afterwards. We were all totally excited...

...and in a great Warrior's mood!

Crosswind + House Of Death Party

November 1st

The next day Tina woke me up by bringing me a coffee and a piece of cake - is that true love or what? I was feeling quite ok despite the run and the drinking yesterday. My legs were ok because I wasn't able to really run that fast due to the lack of stamina - haha, lucky me and my head was fine as well, well, almost! Sandra and Max had unfortunately already left us. It was great having you both! The group was a bit split up today - Spiros had to work and Marty, Kostas and Elias were at his place and others did stuff on their own. Our little group decided to go to Monastiraki and have some lunch and do some shopping. The lunch was great but afterwards came a really sad moment for Tina and I - Joro had to go home. Fuck, we love this guy - our Blood Brother.

We walked around town and found some metal stores but didn't buy anything because they were actually quite expensive. And I guess some stuff was (hopefully)  just tried on for the fun of it, hehe...one Rob is enough isn't it? ;)

We walked to the end of the pedestrian zone and no one actually knew what to do - should we keep walking or have a beer or what? I suggested to walk around a bit and we turned a corner and there it was - the SIGN - no, not the Sign Of The Hammer - but the sign of true happiness and love and devotion. The sign I am always attracted to because my body feels its presence - it is my vision...

...of Paradise.

Tina got rid of her headache - she had caught a cold due the freezing hotel room and we enjoyed ourselves a Guinness and one more and one more and one more. We asked for the bill and asked again and asked if that was all and the nice waitress said it was. So, we actually drank expensive beer very cheap...

We headed back to the hotel and bought ourselves some important things in a supermarket. Magda ran across the street losing her glasses and we all watched how a dozen cars avoided hitting them - unfortunately there were more than a dozen cars passing through that road...

We met up with the rest - it was so cool that Spiro's friend Kostas joined us, he is such a great guy to be with - and went out to have the best dinner of our vacation (although I know Paula and Miri will slightly disagree!). Octopus, shrimps, mussels, sardines - oh my fuckin' god was that awesome - the best fish I've ever had (Xoan, I know but I haven't been to Galicia yet!). We ate like Kings and Queens - it was unbelievable but as always...

...a bit fatty ;)

Poor Eirini was on her own again - Allan had left so I tried to give her some solace. Hopefully they will soon be together - I've got my fingers crossed for them.

We went back to the hotel where we invaded the lobby and partied together the whole night through. We said our goodbyes to Marty and Kostas. Two very special and great people Tina and I dearly love - damn the glorious group was getting smaller and smaller. Tina hit the sheets earlier than I did and I hit them earlier than a bunch of others did but before that we had great (ok, maybe endless circling) discussions about - well, what do you think - we are the House Of Death aren't we! So we talked and drank and it was just so cool to be there with everyone - of course we didn't all have the same opinion but we accepted each others and that's the way it should be.

Game over! ;)

November 2nd

The next morning Tina woke me up in the same fashion as the day before - damn, I love this woman! Sadly enough our Norwegian Warriors, Mads and Thor had to hit the loooong road back to the north - awesome guys and true Brothers!

We had wanted to go to the sea but decided to change our plans and visit the Acropolis - again. The group gathered and Eirini took us in the right direction. We arrived at the ticket office and I got a reduced ticket because I had run the marathon. At the gate the young lady asked me why I had a reduced ticket and I showed her my medal. She said, "Oh, that's ok but now that you have shown me your medal I'll have to confiscate it until you leave the grounds!" I was like, what the fuck! She said that it was a symbol and symbols were not allowed at the Acropolis. "It's a symbol of Greece, of Athens, of your race!" "It doesn't matter!" Well, we agreed that I would just have to hide it in my pocket and not to show it or take any pictures while on the grounds. I will not comment on this in respect to the Greek people and country I dearly love.

The group photo (while we took it the guards started whistling and we all thought it was because of us - hehe, intense memories of last year's debacle...)!

There it was - MY stadium!

If you're not into metal, you are not my friend
There's metal in the air tonight, can you hear it call
If you ain't got the balls to take it you can leave the hall

Heavy metal or no metal at all - Wimps and Posers leave the hall!

(Yeah, Baby, yeah)

We actually wanted to go inside the museum but they wanted to charge us an extra fee - I mean enough is enough. So, we decided to do a bit of shopping - well, some of us decided to do a bit MORE shopping before we headed back to the hotel.

I just love official merchandise, don't you?

We gathered together and went to a great place for dinner. We had been there last year as well. It belonged to an uncle of Spiros' friend. The food was fuckin' awesome, served by a very friendly and warm-hearted waitress who always gave us that special feeling of being welcome. And we got to listen to MANOWAR while eating - how cool is that? We ate and banged our heads together before we got back to the lobby for our last party of the vacation - shit time flies when you're having a ball, doesn't it...

True Sisters - black and red - just a damn shame that gold was missing this year...

I would marry her again and again and again and again - and not just because she's beautiful! ;)

The party was great. We drank all the beer we had and had a brilliant time together. It was so damn hard saying goodbye to everyone - especially to Spiros... My Blood Brother in Arms!

Spiro, Tina and I would like to thank you for all the organization you did and all the time you spent to make our vacation a perfect one - you are brilliant - evcharisto my friend!

November 3rd

Today we had to go back to Deutschland - fuck. We got up and Magda (finally) served us her delicious tasting apple cake. Man, that cake was gorgeous - thanks Magda that was really very nice of you!

We took the train to the airport where we said our goodbyes to Lino, Henrik and Chris (the beer machine!). Great guys to party with and yes we will meet again - I'm sure of it! And then it was only Tina, Paula, Magda, Miri, Holli and I who were on the same flight, which was quite cool - The Flight Of Death! And that is exactly how it felt... Damn, I had sweaty hands during that one and was more than glad to reach Frankfurt safe and sound.

We said goodbye to Magda who was in a hurry to catch her connection flight to Poland. Our crazy witch who is always smiling - it's nice to have her around!  We got our luggage and I took Paula to the train track which would take her to Kassel because she was spending another 2 weeks with Katja in Bad Arolsen. We departed with tears in our eyes knowing that we would see each other somewhere again...

Holli and Lars were gone by the time I got back but hell those two dudes are always (gladly enough) around anyway, haha! The three of us took the shuttle which I finally found just in time and picked up our car. On our way home we had some real German food for a change - we had it flame-grilled our way... Miri left and then it was Tina and I back home - just the two of us. I sent Spiros a text message saying that we missed him...he wrote me back telling me he was arranging a dinner just to not feel so damn alone...

So, that was that - to Hellas and back again, again. 5 unforgettable days with incredible people - true Brothers and Sisters - family and friends. Tina and I miss YOU all! But what keeps us alive and kicking is knowing that we will meet again and again and again...most likely - NO definitely (for most of us) - in Prague next year.

And now not even one week back at home the preparations are progressing at maximum speed because the stars might be the same wherever you may be - but watching them arm in arm is the way I like it the best...

HAIL!

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