Tag Archives: holidays

You, in Greece

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 17 Comments

I found these great videos today produced by the Greek National Tourism Organisation. After I watched them, I melted with anticipation for the summer. The GNTO should be proud of themselves because usually, I actively despise the summer.

But this isn’t about the summer. This is about the country I choose to call home.

For those who don’t watch the news, Greece is going through really rough economic times. As I write this there is a transportation strike and more strikes scheduled for this week. Our government has passed serious austerity measures and well, a lot of people are unhappy. I’ve stopped watching the news because it’s all gloom, pointing fingers and ‘Oh my god, we’re screwed!’ I don’t have it in me to listen to them anymore.

Because see, I like my policy debates the way I like my relationship debates.

Honest, logical and with a dash of hope.

It’s always complicated, I get it. These new laws are unfair to a whole bunch of good people. But any lasting change requires some sacrifice, some patience and a whole lot of optimistic activism. The first thing I focus on when something is broken in a relationship, is to make the stuff that already works — better. I think the Greek National Tourism Organisation agrees me because the one thing that does work in Greece is…well, Greece!

Check out what I mean.

See? Don’t you want to be in Greece too?

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Ho, ho, hope

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Eleni Zoe| 3 Comments

To all my lovely readers,

I hope you’re warm and cozy (or cool and breezy) and enjoying a few days off to spend with your favourite people. I’m going to be eating, game playing, trash talking, reading, knitting, watching movies and making plans for the next year! I can’t wait!

Happy…happy!

Sugar and spice and all things nice,
Hope

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Confession

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Eleni Zoe| 29 Comments

I have not been on a airplane in over two years. I have not left Athens in over two years. Every time I go to Ikea–which sits directly opposite Athens International–I get thunderous heart palpitations.

It’s not a lot of fun.

As you now, in a couple of weeks I’m flying to a lovely island for a fabulous engagement party. Even though, I’ll be dutifully taking a Xanax, I think about this trip as if it will be the ordeal of my life. All 40 minutes of it. My therapist suggested that I visit the airport a couple of times before my departure as a type of exposure therapy.

Yesterday, armed with positive thoughts and my mother I made attempt number one. And you know what?

It was fine.

We walked around, I looked at the queues with interest, we shopped and then we sat at McDonald’s watching a dozen planes taking off and landing. It was exciting and part of me missed my flying days. When I travelled four times a year and could care less. A separate part of me was a little jealous. I wished I was the one going on some sort of an adventure. I looked over at all the people and I wondered: “Where are you all going? Are any of you frightened to your very core?”

So I ‘m still nervous. I’m not looking forward to the flight but it needs to be done. This particular fear stops me from doing all sorts of stuff. It needs to be faced, head on, right now before it gets worse. Before I become a hermit. Before I haven’t left the city in a decade and small kids stop in front of my window, point and whisper amongst themselves, “They say she hasn’t left her house in 30 years [Kids always exaggerate] but that she’s ridiculously adorable.” [OK. So they don't do it all the time.]

Would you like to help me?

I thought so.

Here’s what you can do. Tell me your happy travelling stories. Do you love airports? Why exactly? It can be anything big or small.  Where are you going this summer? Where was the last place you went to by plane? Do you adore flying? What part? Why?

I’m hoping your stories and your thought and perhaps even your quirks might help me once again be comfortable in the sky.

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P is for Perfect

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Eleni Zoe| 12 Comments

Yesterday was a bad day. Yesterday was one of those days were you fail to see all that you have and all that you do do. In honour of today and feeling a lot better, I finally decided to complete The Perfect Meme that I saw over at Brandy’s a couple of weeks ago.

The perfect outfit

It depends on the time of year and the occasion. In summer, my perfect outfit are always dresses; whether its my bright, floral maxi dress or a shorter emerald green dress. I love that all I need to do is slip them on. No mess, no fuss. That is the reason that my perfect outfit in winter is a pair of jeans, boots,  a sweater and a pretty scarf. I may be high mainteneance emotionally, but I’m a pretty low maintenance kind of girl.

The perfect meal

I have began to really despise food questions. (I’m looking at you Crohn’s Disease!) I guess at this point, anything that doesn’t make my intestines squirm is a winner!

The perfect hangover cure

I haven’t had a hangover since April of 2002. True story. This has mainly to do with the fact that I stopped drinking then started again but always knew my limit and then stopped again. So, best hangover cure ala Hope, just drink in moderation to begin with. It may not be sexy, fun or rock ‘n roll– but its true.

The perfect road trip

A couple of years ago, three friends and I jumped into an Audi A3 and hit the road. I don’t remember the music, I don’t remember the journey, I don’t recall the  topics of conversation. All I remember is the constant laughing. That’s my perfect road trip.

The perfect facial feature

While a smile would be on my top 3 perfect facial features. Nothing beats those expressions of complete shock. The ones with raised eyebrows and mouths shaped in an O. Those make me giggle.

The perfect drink

An iced chai latte. Yum-ee.

The perfect song

Anna Begins| Counting Crows

Chasing Cars | Snow Patrol

Say Goodnight & Go | Imogen Heap

Hallelujah | Jeff Buckley

The perfect sign of affection

A guiding hand at the small of my back.

The perfect afternoon

Napping with the one you love. In my case, Diego.

The perfect vacation

While I do love those sightseeing vacations especially in European cities with cobblestone pavements and good food (Hi Barcelona! Hi Florence!) I do also pretty much adore the standrad Greek Island vacation. These usually follow the same schedule everyday. Breakfast time-Beach time-Lunch time-Nap time-Walk time-Dinner time-Card games on a balcony time/Drink time.

The perfect invention

Hair straighteners.

The perfect type of wedding

Intimate, late morning, early Autumn

The perfect album

The Killers| Hot Fuss

The perfect accent

First place, British.

Second place, Spanish.

Third place, Irish.

The perfect date

The kind that never end. A quick coffee turns to a long walk, a long walk turn to lunch followed by drinks followed by dinner.

The perfect weather

Crisp, sunny winter mornings. Cool, summer evenings.

The perfect party

Eclectic mix of people. BBQ. A pool. Candles. The Rizla Game.

The perfect sport

Football.

The perfect thing to say

I have given this so much thought my brain hurts. This dialogue between Josh and Donna  from The West Wing pretty much sums it up for me.

Josh: You know, if you were in an accident I wouldn’t stop for a beer.

Donna: If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for red lights.

The perfect day of the week

Monday because  I’m a morning person. And Monday, well Monday is like the morning of the week.


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