Blabbercamel

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the lack of posts, but recently I was extremely busy at work and didn’t have time for myself.

Anyway, as the title suggests

I’m unpacking the wings

In 4-5 hours I’ll be leaving to Paris and then to Athens for business, I’ll be travelling back Friday insha’ Allah

Let me know if you need anything from Greece ( Small things only, and no liquids )

I managed to visit all the sites that we work with last Friday, and I made up a few ratings of my own based on my experiences on each site, I won’t go into detail or names for privacy and work related reasons

Sites (in alphabetical order)

• Angers - France
• Athens - Greece
• Cagliari - Italy
• Tunis - Tunisia (France)
• La Coruna - Spain

Best City (Architectural wise):

1. Angers, a cute city, nice buildings and castle. (75%)

1. La Coruna, I loved the city being a peninsula, fantastic beaches. (75%)
2. Tunis, I was bit let down by the level of maintanence and cleaness. (60%)
3. Cagliari, not one of the the most beatiful cities out there, but it’s a hoot in summer (50%)
4. Athens, yes… the most ugly city I ever visited, uncontrolled housings & ubanization destroyed many nice buildings and historical monuments, the acient Greek palaces are in a very poor state. (30%)

Hospitality (from the colleagues at work):

1. La Coruna, VERY very friendly, they don’t mix work with pleasure and are a funny bunch to work and have fun with (90%)
2. Tunis, I knew the Arabic hospitality was more (how should I say) warm?!, one person tried to be very hospitable, taking her time from her family and 3-4 year old son on the bank holiday in November to take me around a bit “thank you” (85%)
3. Athens, the site manager was very kind to give me the tour of the city, with him I managed to enter the main stadium in the city, and took me to very delicious restaurants. (75%)
4. Cagliari, I worked with these guys for 9 months, maibe because I feel like one of them that I got used to their ways, but still they invited me around when possibile (68%)
5. Angers, very willing and available when requested any thing, unfortunately the other sites did a bit more to get a better vote (but still they are hospitable) (60%)

City (shops/people/..etc):

1. La Coruna, love the Spanish life stile, I remember leaving work at 8pm and getting out of the hotel at 9pm and the shops were still open, I was only stopped once from a guy asking for a cigarette, no harrasments no bothers no worries (95%)
2. Cagliari, the stores close at 8pm, in winter the city is a bit more relaxed (you should see it in summer ) I was never stopped by any one, not even for sigarattes. (84%)
3. Athens, office hours finish at 5pm so there is time to tour the city and shop, taxis are everywhere and fairly cheap (need to haggle a bit on the price), I hate that pimp who dragged me to that pub (70%)
4. Tunis, many stores, need to keep an eye on the hidden ones since they are cheaper (or search the one’s that have the prices on the articles) watch out for price increase only because your a tourist, HATED really HATED those bastards who constantly harrassed me offering women, drugs or just simply asking for money. (50%)
5. Angers, I honestly can’t give a vote since I never visited the city since I always finished around 7-8pm and all the stores close at 7pm (french law), I lost count of how many times people asked me for cigarettes (but I do remember one guy asking for money 4 times from me ) (49%)

Food:
Don’t even get me started on this subject!!!
I wouldn’t know were to start :mrgreen:

Night life (yada, yada, yada):

1. La Coruna, need I say more? (80%)
2. Cagliari (60%) [in summer I would give it 90%]

Athens

Tunis, Angers, no votes, i didn’t have the time (or the courage) to go places due to work and fatique.

Women (office, streets) (don’t think badly)

1. La Coruna (99%) muy calientas

1. Cagliari (99%) the accent is a turn off

1. Tunis (99%) ahh.. Arab beauty

1. Angers (99%)

1. Athens (99%) too many (and I really mean they were every where)

I couldn’t make my mind up

Note:
What I have wrote in the this post, is a personal view and judgement, my company is not responsable for my actions or for any misunderstandings that this post may cause, and obviously low votes do NOT in case insinuate a bad or negative thing just and simply my personal expreience in that subject/point/matter/time.

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Effective November 6, 2006, new rules for the contents of hand baggage will apply for all airline passengers throughout the European Union (EU). Passengers may only carry small quantities (max. 100 ml per container) of liquids, gels and aerosols in their hand baggage. The packaging of these products must also meet specific requirements. This applies for all passengers departing from or catching connecting flights at airports within the European Union.

The new rules apply for liquids such as water and other drinks, but also extend to gels, pastes, lotions, and the contents of aerosols. This includes toiletries such as toothpaste, shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss, facial creams, mascara and liquid lip balms.

These are the rules for liquids in your hand luggage:

1. You can only bring on liquids and gels in containers of no more than 100 millilitres.
2. These containers must be carried in a transparent plastic bag.
3. There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
4. The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not be greater than 1 litre.
5. The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.

You may bring a suitable plastic bag from home. During the introductory period, free transparent plastic bags will also be given out at all concerned airports.

There are two exceptions to the above rules:

• baby food needed during the flight;
• medicines needed during the flight.

Purchases in duty free at the airport:

• If your trip includes a transfer in a European Union country (including French overseas territories), the retailer must place your purchases in a bag. This will be sealed and must remain so until the end of your trip. This bag must be accompanied by a proof of purchase that will be checked when you transfer at the screening inspection point.
• In Paris, if you are transferring between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports, you are authorized to carry these duty free articles in the cabin of the following flight only if you retain your bag sealed, accompanied by the corresponding proof of purchase.
• If your purchase occurred in an airport located outside the European Union, and you are transferring to a European Union country, you will not be authorized to carry your purchases onto your next flight. They will be taken away from you.

Onboard purchases:

If your purchase occurred onboard an aircraft belonging to a European airline departing from an airport located outside a European Union country, it will be accepted when you transfer in a European Union country, as long as it is placed in a sealed bag accompanied by the proof of onboard purchase.

Separate presentation of contents

When passing through security control, you will be required to present all liquids separately. The transparent plastic bag should accommodate all containers and be easily sealable. You are also required to separately present your coat, jacket and larger electrical equipment, such as laptops, when passing through security control.

Athens is the capital of Greece, a city with half of the population of the country.

Dry, windy and full of mountains.

The people very friendly, even if they try to raise the prices whenever they can, I needed to haggle to lower the prices on everything. Very proud for the 2004 olympics less on their historic heritage and monuments (that’s because they have seen the monuments since birth, but the olympics gathered over 16 million people to a country of only 12 million)
My regret is that I didn’t have the time to visit the city properly, work took precidence, the only times that I managed to go to the city were an eventful encounter (see previous post) and on friday night, but I was too late and tired to do anything. (I’ll post the pictures in the gallery soon)

The few things that realy struck me were

• EVERYONE speaks English, I mean people in stores/shops, in the streets, everywhere! all movies are in original language subtitled in Greek.
• Yellow taxis are everywhere - very cheap, but you need to ask the driver for the amount BEFORE getting in.
• Bikes and scooters are more than cars

The city/country/people reminded me of Lebanon, the food is similar (desserts as well) the only exception is that they use and put the Feta cheese on every dish, the poeple look and behave like Arabs, and the city is like the old parts that you may find in Lebanon and in Cairo.

Greek alphabet

OH MY GOD!!!

Before I start talking about my trip, I would like to start from the middle (almost)….

Well I finished work at 5pm (Greek time, GMT+2) and went back to the hotel to freshen up a bit to go out and make the best of my first day in Athens (I only slept for 5 hours but that’s another story), so I left the hotel around 6:30pm to go to the PLAKA district in Athens, they guys from the office advised me to go there since it’s near to various riuns (Zeus temple, Acropolis, …etc…) and the old part of town, I said why not!!

I jumped in the taxi, and while getting there I and the taxi driver talked about everything, till the discussion landed on music, so he asked if I liked Greek music, and I told him that I never listened to it, so he started talking about the origins and meanings and whatnot and whatever, till he (I repeat) HE gifted me with a CD (yes it’s strange) and he didn’t want any money for it (I tried to refuse by he got a bit irritated) so I accepted and when we arrived the fare was 3€ and I gave him 10€ (I have doubts on who gained from this :?) any way, so I started walking seeing the stores in the PLAKA district and taking various pictures till I reached the temple of Zeus, unfortunately it was a bit late and they had to close, but the lady told me to run in and take a few pictures and come back out again since they were closing the doors (and when they close you STAY locked in), the entry fee was 2€ but she told me to run in, so I did, go out just in time, thanked her and wanted to give her 1€ or 2€’s but she refused (NOW I’M STUMPED!!) Am I in Europe? Are they THAT generous? who knows, any way there was a bit of sun light so I decided to run to the Acropolis, I sayed to my self (they probably close at the same time but who cares I might get some pictures - SO I THOUGHT) {now what happened next it a blur since it happened too fast and I think I got drugged}

While I was walking a toothless guy stopped me and asked me the time, I showed him the watch since I don’t speak Greek, and the guy started…

Toothless guy [Tg]: Do you speak English?

Me : Yes.

Tg : Where are you from?

Me : Italy? (yes I answered in a questione tone)

Tg : Were were you born?

Me : KSA (please I hate to lie, and I made a mistake)

Tg : AAAAAHHHHH bil ahdan!!! (In Arabic!)

And he started to hug me like a long lost child, I was in shock, and he continues talking in Arabic about Riyadh, Dhahran, Aramco …. bla, bla, bla … and he (litterally) dragged me to a pub called LOVE PUB!!! (read the comments of the people)

I read the name from the out side and thought (OH NO… NOT A GAY BAR!!) but I was dragged in by force (yes the guy held my arm with 2 hands!!!) and there I see some very very beautiful women, at that point I pushed the guy in and proceeded in the pub (sorry I can’t help it!!) so the guy ordered Ouzo and I started to feel a bit (how should I say) doubtful and he forced me to order a drink.

Let me explain the pub a bit, it’s a small dark place, with 4 tables with two sofas for 2 each and 7 or 8 very very beautiful women!! something is NOT right here, especially when another girl came out of a hidden door in the wall (what the f***?!!?) all waring very revealing clothes.

So I ordered a coke, and the bartender and the toothless guy looked at me very strangely, and when I tried to strike a conversation with the toothless guy he answered my questions with 1 or 2 words while looking at the bartender and talking in Greek, I tried to distract him but he kept doing that move (I was freaked 8O), and the bartender brought a glass full of coke, and an unopened bottle of coke (I had a very bad feeling) and when I took the bottle and opened it (I heared the fizz sound when you open a new coke bottle) the bartender left and came back with a girl.

He introduced me to her and she sat right next to me (now I’m not ugly, but I’m not that attractive — I know my limits and and I thank GOD for what he gave me) so she presented her self and started talking, and started to ask about me, where I worked, what I did, if I was like Bill Gates (I swear she asked that question) and asking why am I not drinking the coke?

I took the bottle, but she held my hand down and handed me the glass, so I took it thinking I could fake it (while talking) and put it back on the table, the discusion went about MY PERSONAL LIFE!!, and this time I HAD to lie (my life depended on it) I told her that I was in love with my girlfriend (I don’t have a girlfriend btw) and told her that I got separated from my friends, and that I had to meet them (I was looking at the watch every 10 seconds or so), and she forced me to drink the coke, so I took a sip (just enought to wet my tongue) and I immediately felt something tingling (alarm bells sounding - WAKE UP STUPID!!!) so I put the glass on the table and took the bottle, she asked;

Hot girl [HG] : Why aren’t you drinking?

Me : I ordered only because the guy forced me to.

So I look back to the guy and he wasn’t there anymore and my tongue started to get heavy (almost like when you go to the dentist after the injection)

HG : Can I drink?

Me : Sure the glass is all yours (call me stupid but let’s see what your up to)

HG : No, I want something else!

Me : I didn’t touch the glass, you saw me.

HG : No I work here and I can’t have coke!

Now, I don’t drink, so what would a hot girl want? if she doesn’t drink coke what would she drink?

Me : What do you want? (my tongue is tingling but I could still talk)

HG : Can you offer me Champagne?

Me : Huh? listen I’m just a poor guy trying to make an honest living, I’m not rich, and have very limited money!

HG : Come on (in a very sensous voice and looks) please?

Me : *gulp* No! I have to meet my friends I can’t be late.

Here she started to getting really REALLY CLOSE, so I moved back and put my back to the wall, and she got closer and put her leg on mine with her hand on my stomach (here again I’m not Vin Deisle or Tom Criuse, I have a somewhat small hump in the place of my stomach) caressing my belly

HG : Please only one small glass?

Me : No.. I have to meet my friends (looking at my watch)

HG : Only one small glass, it will be quick I promiss, we can go there (pointing to the hidden door in the wall)

Me : Listen I know where you want to go to, your a beatiful girl but I can’t!

HG : Where do you think I want to go to?

Me : Listen I love my (immaginary) girlfirend and I can’t betray her.

HG : I didn’t say I want to have sex with you.

ouch!! it always hurts when they say that :p

HG : Only 1 glass of Champagne and then you go.

Riiiiight! like I’m going to offer her a glass of Champagne to a total stranger, and that’s it!!

Me : No, if your thirstly then drink the coke.

HG : Come on your a gentleman, only 1 glass 1 small glass.

Aaaargh those eyes, and they sensous voice and bulging upper part (yes she was pushing chest higher and higher), to be honest I couldn’t stop looking

I lost it!! I don’t know if it was her breasts or the thing that is tickling my tongue.

Me : Ok, only one, how much does it cost?

HG : Only 30€

Me : …

HG : it’s a small glass!

Me : … Listen not even in Paris you have those prices!

HG : How about 20€

Me : Nope! not a chance! If you would like I can offer a drink worth 5€ or 10€ at the most.

HG : I thought you were a gentleman?

Me : I am but I’m not stupid!

(You should have seen the look on her face) I pushed her away, and got up to leave, when I turned I saw the toothless guy at the bar, I looked at him with a bad look (jackass) he blabbered something in Greek and got up and left the pub.

I proceeded to the door but I was stopped by the bartender (now that’s a big guy) I looked at him and told him WHAT?, he gested money, so threw 10€ at him and left the place!!

All this happened in a very short period of time, maybe 10 - 15 minutes tops, I’m still shocked and the coke tingly feeling thing vanished after I left the place and took a taxi back to the hotel.

I reached the hotel connected to the web and decided to look up this place, and this is what I found!!! (look at the second point under drink)

So if you are ever in Athens alone BE CAREFUL!!!