Thursday, November 27, 2008

Serbia, Days 7th to 14th (last part)

One of the first thoughts i made as soon as i woke up that Wednesday morning was that at last i was for one whole week in Serbia. However, should i stay one more week in Nis, without walks around and "ups and downs" ? Just as i thought it, i decided it and so i did!!!

Most of my friends have already been informed, they know that i am in the city, so i begin to meet all of them, in random order ( not in order of "priority" ) and in "random" places! I have to run a bit, but i like it!!!

On Wednesday i go to Dream café with Mima, the "married mum" , as i used to call her while we studied (she was and still is a mother of two children, so i wasn’t lying). Later on, i meet Maria from Skopje and drink a juice in the shopping centre Kalca.
On my way home, i take some pictures of known buildings, café in the park, the church of Saint Sava, but also… something new: Grill Goldy's!!!
The same evening, we go out with Emy in club Scena (Scene), where my friend Paci plays music (and here you can take a taste… or maybe two).

Thursday’s morning finds me in my old beloved neighbourhood, taking pictures of the "dirty" brasserie that my "goats" friends (especially Emy and Theodora) liked sooo much, a picture of the entry to my beloved house, but also the entry of the next building, where Theodora lived.
I continue my walk and get to the park, where i sit with my fellow student "cat mother" Maria and drink coffee… outside (it’s a bit cold, but… this is Serbia, we can handle it).
Since i have a couple of hours free, i think about going to my last house and see my neighbours. We were never in a "close" relation, but when you live next to somebody for almost 3 years, exchange "good mornings" , "good evenings" and a mixer, when it’s needed, they do remember something. For my good luck, their doors open widely… for my bad (maybe bad) luck, they also open bottles with raki!!!
Maybe it’s this day’s fortune that i go from house to house, since as soon as i leave from my neighbours, i visit Ivana, my favourite hairdresser. Married with Alexandar, recently gave birth to a daughter, Dubravka. Well done, people, i am glad for you!!!
I get back to the park, where i began my day with my morning coffee, but now i drink beers with my very good friend Ivan! We talk almost till the bar closes (something that happens at midnight, since it’s a working day’s night), i grab something to eat and return home.

Friday is full of beloved persons and places. I start with the Medical faculty, where i meet professor of Microbiology Suzana and we drink coffee. I continue with the gym that was "struggling" me for ages, 2M, and i find there my "crazy" trainer, Natasa. I end up to the new house of my neighbour Tania and her husband Igor, where they announce to me that Tania is pregnant! Super! I wish i could hear such joyful news every day! Let’s drink a little more now!
(This evening i "move" again, i go back to Darko’s house).

So many days in Serbia, i had to see a "white" one! I wake up on Saturday morning and everything is crystal white! Naturally, i get ready and go out for walks, even if the snow has already melted!
I begin from the castle where i take some pictures, as always (i believe i have at least five times the same pics), i continue with the Ethnic Gallery for some souvenirs and photographs (and i meet there Ivana), while i don’t miss the chance for a walk at the castle’s open air bazaar (as you know, i worship open air bazaars). Something new in Nis, a development: a new parking method, via sms! We still don’t have such thing in Thessaloniki!
I have frozen by the cold, so i arrange a "hot" coffee! I meet Milica in Pleasure café, while in a table near us Darko enjoys his coffee and lunch, with his Saturday company!
Even if i want to relax for a while in the house (where Darko is listening to "Radio 7, on 88,8" ), i don’t waste the afternoon like that! I go to the supermarket and buy delicacies that i used to eat when i was studying, while afterwards i drink coffee with two good friends, Dragana (Gaga) and Alexandra (Acka)… and a "child", Sonia ( Acka’s cousin… she was such a… "babe"...).
Saturday evening and in order to have a good "closing" of the day (or the night), i go for a drink with Darko, Emy and Katerina… and we laugh! I get very happy, when i see "my people" laughing!!!

Even if Sunday in Nis is the open air bazaar day for me, this time i decide to go for a walk alone, in the city. I take the bus, go to the centre (you can see here the Horse… or maybe, the "horse" ? ), i go to the castle, once again at the Ethnic Gallery, where i get to know Gielena (Jelena… aaah), while i don’t stop taking pictures, around the city!
At some time, i pass by my friend’s Lukaic old house. Milian and Vesna live there, some years now. Friends since my first study years, a couple since then, married with children now! My friends for ever, i could say! (Their little girl drove me crazy! When i asked her what she was doing, she answered with a relaxed look "here i am, bored, pooping and watching cartoons"… hahaha).
I return to Darko’s house and wish him a nice journey again (and "i move" again at Emy’s). He leaves for another professional journey and this time i know that when he returns, i will not be here. However, we will meet soon, we can’t get "lost"!
Later that night, i go out for a drink with a friend, Natasa! She calls me "crazy", even if she is "nuts"! When i first met her, years ago, she was reading a fat, "heavy", Greek book! She can speak Greek very good… actually; she is good in other languages, too… (as in body language)!

Monday and Tuesday were a little bit more relaxed days. I got together with friends and fellow students that i had already met once, i walked in streets that i had seen the previous days, i went again for lunch to my neighbours (they are to blame that i gained some extra kilos).
However, i also did some other things: i went for a coffee at the "Greek" student coffee bar (which doesn’t have anything Greek anymore) and to my favourite café "Welcome", at the park of avenue Nemanits. I played with Milica’s dog, Daba, went to the dentist (in the faculty, where my good friend Alexis, took care of my teeth), i met Dejan, a fellow student and friend from the old days, in the Serbian student coffee bar, and got together with a very nice couple, Sonia and Nikola (well, guys… i wish you the best for your wedding).
My evenings were easy and calm, at Emy’s house, talking, listening to music, or get some brain cells "burned" in youtube with funny (as this, this and also this one) and music videos (as this, this and also this one). Respect, Emy!!!

At some unexpected time, i accepted a call, from my good friend Lukaic. He told me that, on Friday, 28th of November, our Medicine diplomas would be handed to us, in Athens. Therefore… no matter how great time i am having here, it is time to leave Serbia!

One last coffee, with Militsa in Pleasure and another one in café Sky, in the centre of Nis (from where you can see almost the whole city), with "goat girls", Emy, Maria (or else "the Papa" ) and Katerina, and now i have to say "goodbye" to my favourite Balkan city and to all friends that i have there.
Strange and perhaps "funny": a few times, i thought that i have there more friends, that there i feel like in "my place". Possibly it’s because of the alcohol and raki that i drank all these days. Perhaps all these "creatures" that kept me company and dedicated to me songs like this (titled "my bigger wish" ). Maybe a big (bitter?) truth is just hiding, in these thoughts i had…
Anyway, this time in Serbia, i had an incredibly beautiful time and i thank all of you who gave me even just a little from your time, in order to make my stay there better!
I unconditionally recommend to all of you who have not visited this country, a journey to Serbia and even better, to Nis! Actually, i am inviting you already! Prepare your passports and let’s go! Around the 10th of January, Nis, i’m coming (back)!!!

P. S.: In this text i have added a lot of photographs and videos and i hope i didn’t get you tired or bored. I just wanted to share with you as more pictures as i could! In any case, i believe, that i satisfied my friend Onar! I hope all of you, too! Kisses and happy holidays!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Serbia, Day 6th, Tuesday

(Or else “One day in Zajecar and Cuprija”)

After a few efforts, i wake up around 9:30 and run to catch… what else? Of course, the bus!!!

Today i am going on a trip in two small cities, where two good friends live: Ivan and Ivana!!!

First city, Zajecar (Za-ecar). I enjoy the road trip while i’m thinking that there are much more villages and cities, which i want to see. Possibly i will, one of the next times that i will visit Serbia…

I arrive round 12:30 and meet my very good friend, Ivan, who is waiting for me in the bus station. We haven’t seen each other for almost 3 years, but we feel as if it has been… only 3 days!

We make a walk in the city and pass… through the central open air bazaar (which of course, i liked). We get to central café Stella, where we enjoy our coffee, talking about what’s new in our lives.

We leave after a while, since we don’t have a lot of time in our disposal. We go to Ivan’s house in order to see his wife (and my good friend, Biserka), but also… his son, who is only some days old! I got crazy about babies in Serbia (and about… “babies”!).

We sit a little bit in his house; we drink raki from wild grapes, for “good fortune” and we leave fast for the tavern, where Ivan has arranged a table for us. Coming out from the house, we meet Ivan’s mother, so… one more raki, from plums, in order to know each other better!

We arrive at the traditional tavern “At Mede’s”, we sit, we drink raki, from quinces this time (and i become… hik) and get warm. We speak, we laugh, we get troubled about our future, and we remember our past. Ivan is a true friend, one of the few, fraternal and eternal!

At some time, Ivan’s dad passes by the tavern, sits with us and suggests… to drink a beer, so we will get better known (oh, my God, more alcohol). Two beers later, we leave, because i have to catch the bus for Cuprija. I thank Ivan for the lunch and we get apart with the promise that we will get together soon… there or here, in Thessalonica!!!

In the bus for Cuprija, i’m listening to two old men talking. At some time, i hear a… “klank”! One of the two gentlemen, was carrying a bottle that fell and broke, so all the bus smells raki!!! Under the influence of alcohol that flows in my veins, but also enters in my lungs, i take my mobile phone and send messages to friends in Greece. Raki “speaks” a liiitle bit more and some people receive… a “drunk” message! Let it be, it’s funny!!!

My arrival in Cuprija, gets “marked” by a warm hug. Good friend from the student years, Ivana, one of the people that i will never forget and from what i understood, neither will she!

We walk through the city; i take some pictures, while Ivana talks to me about the history of the city and the river that crosses it. Morava is considered to be one of the most dangerous rivers of Serbia and that’s why people say that “if you know how to swim in Morava, you can swim everywhere”. By this occasion, we remembered that we always used to tease each other: we tried to use Serbian proverbs, old phrases and expressions. Something that often caused laughs and as it will be proved… not only laughs!

We go to Ivana’s house where we find her sister. We drink raki in order to get warm (but of course…) and coffee. We don’t stop talking and in order to remember the good old times… we cook! Together in the kitchen, we make soup for first dish and eggs with sausages for main dish. Kind of handy and fast cooked dinner, but seems to me as “royal” supper!

The time of my departure approaches and during our conversation i mention the expression which i learned recently (about the bear…) and the girls get surprised and burst out in laughs. Their laughs are supplemented by Ivana’s emotion and her thought to give me a gift: the book of Vuk Karadzic (not the known one), with many Serbian expressions (it’s the book that you see in the week’s suggestion section, as you look at my blog, on the left side). Very important gift not only because it’s something that my friend used for ages and had big sentimental value for her, but also because it includes a… dedication!

Round 21:30 i take the bus to Nis. On the way, i exchange messages with Ivana where we “confess” the emotion that both of us felt during our meeting and of course, we promise that we will meet again in the near future!

I return in Nis and think about going out for a drink, or not. Better no, i will stay in tonight, to talk with Emy, but also to get a better sense of these two “traveller” days that i passed! From tomorrow and on… i have to see a lot of people!!!

To be continued…

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Serbia, Day 5, Monday

(Or else “One day in Belgrade”)

Emy: “Wake up, Pako! It’s a national holiday in Greece today!

17 November… “Down with the junta*”, up with Pako, to the north! Yeaaah!

(*junta: a group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power. Happened in Greece from 1967 (21st April) to 1974. On 17th of November 1973, a tank crashed through the gates of the Polytechnic where students were barricaded, protesting!!!)

I get ready in a hurry, take a taxi and go to the bus station. I get there just before the local bus for Belgrade leaves… as usually, i catch the bus for a second!!!

On the way to the capital of Serbia, i’m listening to radio B92 (a station of Belgrade), in order to listen to songs as this, this and this, because the screens of the bus are showing a concert of Zeljko Samardzic (mercy… even if i have druuunk with his songs), but also because i want to get in the “mood”. More or less, the accent of Serbs in Belgrade is different from the one that i’m used to hear in Nis.

We make a stop in restaurant Evropa, outside Veliko Orasje and i get confused… i think that i am somewhere between Thessalonica and Athens! Only that the cold is different, is more “tough”… I got the chills only thinking about it!!!

We arrive in the unknown for me Belgrade, round 2 o’clock. Nice, i have one hour free until my friend gets off work, time to make a walk around the city and “suck” some of its energy and take some pictures!

Round 3:30 i meet my good friend Lana. Young girl, born and raised in Belgrade, but with tremendous love for Greece. Her sister lives in Athens, so she has one more reason to like our country and learn our language. Bravo, Lanitsa!

My good Lana, takes the role of guide and leads me through the central pedestrian walk “prince Mihailo” (Knez Mihajlova) to Kalemegdan park (park Kalemegdan) which is above the delta of rivers Sava and Danube. We walk in the park, take some pictures, have some silly laughs, while we also talk about what’s new in our lives, both in Serbian and Greek language!

It’s getting dark (early enough for me, since Greece has one hour difference with Serbia) therefore we leave the park and go for a walk in the city.

We return in the pedestrian walk, we get in shops with clothes, not because we wanted to buy something, but because i wanted to feel a little bit of the everyday routine of Lana and her fellow-citizens. We get in one shop, we come out from another, i buy a few souvenirs, and my friend buys me one as a present! We laugh, we laugh and once again we laugh!

We decide to go for a coffee and on the way we eat pizza with sauce (which i can’t say that i liked). We sit in one café in the centre, but in a small road so it’s “quiet”. Precisely what we needed, in order to talk a lot and of course… to take some more pictures!

Time passes pleasantly and we think of changing café. We walk, i continue looking at and feeling the city, taking pictures, thinking, remembering the history of Serbia and all that it has been through. We go to a jazz café bar with nice decoration, as it should be for jazz-o-situations! We drink “boiled wine” that warms our bodies and our hearts!

As always, when you are having fun, time goes by fast! I should catch the bus back to Nis soon! We make a last walk through the small streets of Skadarlia (Skadarlija), the bohemian region of Old Belgrade, with some splendid bars and restaurants! Not far from that, we separate. The only bad thing, is that we don’t know when we will meet again. Belgrade - Athens for Lana, Thessalonica - Nis for me. Huge distances, as huge is our friendship!!!

I travel with the last bus for Nis, which makes a lot of stops; it tires me and… makes me veeery hungry! I have to eat something, i’m telling you! The only thing that “satisfies” me (at this moment) is the full day that i had! I worshipped Belgrade, even if i didn’t have the chance to see the ethnographic museum nor the field of Partisan (i saw however a demonstration, ha), i passed pleasantly each moment, and for that i am grateful and thank “little crazy” Lana! ;)

I arrive in Nis, run at Emy’s, where i find her with Stavroula, talking and drinking! Oh, nice, now i have two “small goats” together to “investigate” me (in a good meaning), while i am in a hurry to have a bath, eat something and go to sleep!

Dr Pako: “I had a great time, it was pretty nice, you will see pictures! Leave me now, i am in a hurry!
Stavroula: “Hey, Pako, calm down, you just came some minutes ago and already made us anxious!
Dr Pako: “Sorry, girls, but it’s 3:30, i want to sleep in a while, so i can wake up early! Tomorrow i am going on a… journey!!!

To be continued…

Monday, November 17, 2008

Serbia, Day 4, Sunday

One of my habits as long as i was studying were the walks in the open air bazaars - markets. No matter what day it is, since bazaars in Serbia are open every day, in specific places (always the same), with their benches, vegetables, clothes and other products, well organised.

There is one concrete bazaar though, Buvljak, that i only visited on Sundays. Perhaps because then more salesmen would “come out” in the benches. Maybe because it was far away, on the other side of the city. Perhaps because we liked going to the bazaar, have a walk relaxed and afterwards go to the centre or to the river boat for a coffee! And when i say “we”, i also mean my friends, Emy and Royla!

This time, we arranged with Emy and the two of us went for our Sunday morning bazaar walk, as in good old times (Royla is in Greece for quite some time). We hadn’t seen each other nor hadn’t talk in person for ages. Normally, we should go straight for a coffee and regain the lost time, to “exchange” news. I believed however that this “first” meeting of ours, would be good to happen in a place were we used to get together, as if it did not pass not a single day… and yes, why not, in Buvljak!

Our walk includes some comments, laughs, stupid jokes like “i am looking for some socks to buy, 5 pairs -1,5 Euro… I only find 3 pairs - 1,5 Euros… Oh, my God, it’s very expensive, i can’t “survive”! ”, a last round of the bazaar with the camera on hand and a Gipsy salesman who sends greetings to Greece (damn it, i don’t know how to connect my camera with my pc, so, i can’t show you any of this). Naturally, we got ourselves some pictures, to always remember… as if it’s possible that we will ever forget… (even if this awful shoes that Emy saw - and of course we joked about it, i would like to forget… ha)! We leave and i remember how much my parents like this bazaar… Buvljak!!!

We have a small walk in the empty centre; since the city is sleeping or eating in houses of people who are celebrating (those days were 2-3 “big” name days – celebrations for the Serbs, therefore most of them were somewhere invited). We end up at the slab paved pedestrian walk and choose the café “In the corner” which is… precisely next to Pleasure (eh, enough already)! We drink coffee, catch up with news and because we have so many to talk about… we drink a second one! A lot of laughs, even more news and memories… countless!!!

I get back to Darko’s house; we eat, drink coffee, and talk with his parents. D. is getting ready for a business trip in Bulgaria, so i get ready too! Not for a journey, i’m still not leaving. Simply, i know that i won't feel comfortably with Darko’s parents, if he isn't there, so “i move” in a good friend’s place… and who else would that be? Emy!

We drink a glass of wine with D.; i wish him a nice journey and go to Emy’s. There, i try not to occupy her so she could read for a while (the book that you see in the week’s suggestion section, as you look at my blog, on the left side) and i do something that for days i didn’t think about! I get in contact with internet! I check my emails (even if i didn’t answer any of them), i log in my facebook account, i listen a little to OFF RADIO, afterwards we “burn” our minds for some time in youtube with Emy (i wanted to show her this and this song… haha). Hmmm… why do i feel that i don’t need all of these? Why do these things seem to me “strange”, now that i am in Serbia? Hmmm and once again hmmm… and with this thought, i go to sleep… i should wake up early tomorrow! I have… a journey!!!

To be continued…

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Serbia, Day 3, Saturday

Gas, gas… what? Oh, my God, a song on the television, a little bit “ugly” awakening!

Some months now, Darko has established the weekly coffee with his Saturday company. People of all ages, mainly older and in particular women! Naturally i wouldn’t say “no” for a coffee like that!

Mixed company, but i like it. I also learn a saying (which i didn’t hear well so i got on Darko’s nerves until i learned it properly): “if you see a bear dancing in the courtyard of your neighbour, don’t laugh, because soon it will come in your own courtyard too”. In the hubbub, we talk:

C.: “How old are you?
Dr Pako: “29
C.: “Ach, i like your age a lot! A guy of your age works with me and i am "eating" him every day… ups, i shouldn’t have said that!
Dr Pako: “And i am glad… you did!

(If at some time i said that 40 something women rule, now i can add that 40 something Serbian women are better!)

A few hours later, we leave from the coffee and go to eat something. At last, i will eat a Serbian burger again! Classic shop, in the centre of the city, with familiar flavours! We eat and i don’t want to ever stop!!!

Later on, i arrange a coffee with a friend and we agree with Darko to get together in a couple of hours. The street takes me to Cair park, at Dream café, where i meet Nevena and her friend Ana. We listen to some nice songs and i ask the waitress for some "music" information. The kind young girl gives me (as a present) the cd of the local group De Marco, in which they remake some known songs (and which you can find on the left side of my blog, in the Week's suggestion).

I get back to the house, we have a snack and go out again, once more at Pleasure Pub (i think that i have already got bored of both the café and pub Pleasure). We have a drink with the guys and… cousin, we relax with the second drink and we decide to go to a club. Unfortunately, Darko doesn’t feel well; he also has a business trip on Monday, so… the club is cancelled!!!

On our way home, i decide to buy something to eat. We stop in front of the hospital, at the sandwich shops, where i used to buy something to eat, for ages. Living proof, a lady that works there, remembers me and prepares my “usual sandwich”, without further discussion: huge filled burger, a bit chilly, in two pies (tortillas). Pure joy!

The night ends with a BBC show- tribute to Indie music, an irrelevant song and the next day’s plan. It’s Sunday tomorrow, open air bazaar day…

To be continued…

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Serbia, Day 2, Friday

Darko: “Wake up, brother, i made you a coffee… the third one!

The other two had already got cold, since Darko was trying every one hour to wake me up…

Dr Pako: “Och, something past 12…

I get up while the song “Let's get it started” is on the television, i drink coffee; we don’t say much, we just listen to or better we watch songs as this and this one that stimulates us so we decide to go for a walk and a coffee!

We walk through the centre of Nis, end up at Costa Café, new cafe, nice one, i like it, we sit there. Even more, i like that we accidentally find there Milena No 2. Blonde, beautiful, with nice body, but… Darko’s cousin. As one of the songs that we listen goes: “you can look, but you can't touch”.

Milena’s friend leaves after a while, so… cousin continues her coffee with us. After talking a while, she asks the question: “do you use facebook? I’m sure you do, since everyone uses it… except Darko!” The truth is that i was very curious and wanted to find out what Serbs think about internet, because as long as i was studying, they didn’t know much. So i found the right person who could answer all of my questions. From what i found out, a big part of city centre has free of charge wifi internet, as many café, because more and more people use internet and laptops. Nice! Bravo to Nis, it has evolved enough, perhaps more than Thessalonica.

Time goes by, the chit-chat becomes socio-political (and music “follows”), until Milena had to leave, asking Darko: “so he is your “brother” from Greece? … ach, beautiful song… and lyrics” (as if the songs were selected for our meeting). We remain in Costa café, because our good friend Misa Paci (nickname with a… surname: Mouse Rat) joins us. Coffee, talk, gossips about our old good company and Misa (who occasionally works as a dj) comments: “we were a nice company…one doctor is a dj, another sells Tupperware, the third is a football referee, the fourth sells gyros… hahaha”.

We leave from the café and walk through the central pedestrian walk. Suddenly, we stop

Misa: “Stop!!!
Darko: “What happened? What did you see?
Misa and Dr Pako: “One incredible ass! Hahaha!

A while after that, we leave Misa, with the promise that one of the next evenings we will go to the club where he plays music.

The evening finds me in my old neighbourhood, where i go alone – my buddy had some stuff to finish. I approach my old house (the third of the four houses that i changed while i was studying) and see some amazing changes. New buildings, new shops, while the old ones have been renovated. All these, in 2,5 years of my absence. Crazy growth rhythm in Nis!!!

For my good luck, what had not changed, is “my” Serbian family. The people that accepted me as their son, while i was studying. Three floors above the apartment i was renting for the three “middle” years of my student life. Three floors above, in my RESPECT, for ever.

The usual afternoon (or evening) in their house, goes as follows: coffee, juice, raki, titbits, wine. All these with good conversation, with a lot of laughs, with some chilly implications, with a lot of wishes and with endless and genuine love!!!

Even though i feel as in my own home, i have to leave, actually to run to the centre, where Darko with some friends are waiting for me. Once again, Pleasure Pub. I meet there Darko, Svetislav and Dusan. After a while, two of their friends join us. Close to me sits a very cute, black haired girl, Maya; on the other side sits sexy, red haired Ana. Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, catch a tiger by the toe…

The whole day passed nice and the night even better. Time for sleep now, it’s 5:20 and tomorrow is a big day, full of meetings with friends!!!

To be continued…

Friday, November 14, 2008

Serbia, Day 1, Thursday

Even if i hadn’t been for many years in Serbia and my anxiety to see the city of Nis was enormous, i woke up… almost at noon! Thank God, Darko knows me well so he left me sleep to get some rest after the journey!

We speak a little bit with his parents and leave for the police. Serbian law: the Serbs must declare their foreigners guests to the police, in three days after their arrival (in case of tourists in a hotel, the hotel employees undertake the whole process and the tourists have no worries). We finish with this procedure easily (i was lucky enough to meet a well known policewoman from the old days, what a joy), then we eat Serbian breakfast (burek and yogurt: something like the Greek cream (or cheese)-filed pastry and sour milk) and afterwards we start meeting friends!!!

Friend number one: Sandra B. Darko had arranged to pick her up and go for a coffee. Of course, she doesn’t know that i came and the surprise is well organised! Surprise yes, but for whom? Sandra has a 2,5 months old son, Andrej! I lost my mind; I got crazy with the little guy! Naturally, we left him sleep and went for coffee with “mum”, to the new shopping centre Merkator (another surprise for me).

On today’s plan next was the centre of Nis and… the welcome band (i don’t know why the chorus was there, but it gave Darko the opportunity to joke with me: “they came for you, in order to welcome you, because it took you centuries to return in Nis”). We get to Pleasure cafe (pronunciation: “plezir”), we drink coffee and we talk, the two of us, at last, as the good old time…

We get back to the house, eat, relax and a friend of Darko joins us, so i get to know him: Svetislav. He is the cousin of the best man of the friend… well, ok, i am glad to meet you!!!

We get ready and go out for “one” drink, since in Nis bars close at 12 o’clock, on working days. We go to Pleasure, but this time to the underground, the Pub. The company grows; Sandra with her husband Milan, Milena, Ana and Marina (ach…) meet us there. We have a drink; we receive another one “on the house”. We talk, we laugh… at some time, i speak with Marina:
Dr [Pako]: “are you sitting comfortably?”
Marina : “yes, thank you”
Dr [Pako]: “eh… you are sitting on my leg”
Marina : “but… it is fine and comfortably… ;) ”

After two more drinks (we ordered one more, got another one on the house), we leave. I don’t want the night to end and luckily neither do my friends. Fortunately, the river boat coffee bar Porto Belo, in the river Nisava, is open till (almost) dawn and tonight it’s live Serbian music night (mainly Serbian “ethnic” songs). It’s not my style, but after the Vodka drinks that i drank and with such good company, i believe that we will have some great time!!!

It’s been ages since i felt as tonight… as if i am in Paradise! On one side, good company, men and women, my friends! On the other side… beautiful women, tall women, everywhere around me! Heaven, i’m telling you!!!

The mirth goes on, drinks come and go, my friends sing and dance and with them, so do i! Really, I sang this, this and this and because i insisted that it will be heard and this one, i received RESPECT from Marina (we had an… exchange). At some time, Sandra looks at me and says: “I am glad for you… it can be seen that you are happy”. And i was, even if i was listening to Serbian “ethnic” music!

Back to the house with “heavy” heads and joy that overflows in rivers… of alcohol! We sit a little with Darko and talk, while this and this are on TV, that remind us some old girlfriends and finally we sleep late. How glad i am that i am in Nis!!!

To be continued…

Thursday, November 13, 2008

On the road to… Serbia!!!

As "classic" Dr Pako, i arrive at the railway station at 16:05 and run to catch the train that leaves at 16:15. Fortunately, i get in, i find a seat, actually a comfortable one, and everything is fine! So, i wish we have a nice journey!!!

After almost an hour and a half, we get out of Greece and enter Skopje. I get down from the train; i go to the police and pay 3,5 Euros as life insurance (something that Skopjans invented in order to take our money, legally). Fortunately or not, a couple of my friends had caused me some stress about this process, but luckily Skopjans proved them wrong. They were incredibly helpful, while there was no chance that… the train leaves and abandon me there (i had heard even this, mercy).

While i was waiting for the departure from the borders, i hear two women speak intensely, fierce and bothered by certain passengers! What luck, they try to get in my coupé. What could i do? I help them and i think that… we will have a niiice time, the 3 of us!!!
I am sure that you think that i hoped we have an orgy on the train! This time, no! On one side, just because the two women were… 72 years the first one and 67 years old the other! On the other side, this was the reason that i chose to travel by train: i wanted to meet simple people, to speak with them, to exchange opinions… something that i did and while i was studying! I am also one of those who believe that you "open" your self much more easily to an unknown person that you know that probably will never meet again, than to someone known; therefore i was "accommodated" fine with the "young ladies".

We begin to speak, not with the usual way "where are you travelling to?", but with a line by one of the grannies : "ach, "my son"... you will find very hard a woman to marry, in our times" (as they told me afterwards, the reason that they were shouting earlier, was that they tried to get on the train with their things and 3-4 girls were looking at them, smoking and did not make a single move to help them…). From that moment and later on, we become a team, we speak a lot, we comment everything, at some point we laugh at a passenger that sat for 20 minutes in our coupé and told us his whooole tragic life, we laugh a lot and of course, we mention the NAME (Macedonia). I quote a few of their opinions (with which i agree):
-"You see, "my son", we are all people… and we all love and support the place that we were born in… simply, it is nice that we hear our neighbours and love them..."
-"We have the impression that Alexander the Great did not have a passport… neither knew where Macedonia ends and where Greece begins! That man would get up on Bucephala and go…"…
-"These are politicians’ games and tricks! We, common people, should be loved and able to live all together, peacefully".
-"Perhaps it would be better if we formed a Balkan Union and left Europe, NATO and the whole world "outside". So we would have Macedonia, without borders, without hate and contrasts"….

The last one that i heard and left me speechless was the following: "In any case… what we say, is probably wrong… besides, we are ILLITERATE" (and they burst into laughter). Simple thought: perhaps the best truths and ideas can be told by simple brains and common people… without degrees and titles!!!

Just before we get out from Skopje, i go to the toilet. I turn, while the train has stopped in a hamlet, where the ladies get off! They greet me with the best wishes, while one of them whispers in my ear "go to the coupé, we left something for you, don’t let someone else take it". The incredible grannies, left me as a gift… candy!!!

The rest of the journey was a little bit tedious, because some damage delayed the train for almost 2 hours! Finally, i arrived in my beloved Nis around 2:30, met with my best friend Darko and went to his house. The first impression of the city… enormous emotion! So, welcome (back)!!!

To be continued …

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Indisposition's… end

Since last night i feel somehow strangely and weird, "down" and indisposed. Unfortunately, today didn’t happen something in order to "fix me", but precisely the opposite:
- The banks were on strike (as tomorrow and maybe the day after tomorrow) so i couldn’t do certain works that i have delayed for days.
- Once again, my money isn’t enough to buy some things that i finally liked (and i am veeery difficult in shopping).
- Rubbish has almost covered our shop and it will probably be like that for many more days!
- Business in the shop was going well and when it was becoming better, we had an electricity restriction (oh, “sweet” Greece... you do things like this and you lose me, little by little).
- I feel that i am having a fever and it makes me incredibly angry, because in a few days... i have to travel for Athens! (me:moir, i believe that i got a cyber virus from you… ha).

A few days ago i promised to myself that only if the fingers of one of my hands (right mainly) or even both of my hands, get cut, i will feel awful, i will become a rag and will change my nickname from Dr Pako in Dr Rag-o... (with someone’s help who will type it for me... lol).


Trying to "get high", i thought the best, the "absolute" treatment: music! I owe and some songs from Saturday, so... let’s hear them in a narration and not in a poem, because i am not (by no means good) poet:

On Saturday evening, we had a stroll and then we went for dinner and had some drinks in a small tavern of Thessaloniki (of course, and not of L.A.), listening to songs like "come, my sun".(easy ones and until now total four songs)

When we were getting ready to leave, my cousin insisted that i should drive, even if i had a little more to drink, so i thought "world, hold on, here comes the death car!".(plus two, total six)

The same evening i went out, for a drink, only because you had come in my city and the truth is that for a moment, i maybe felt like a fool child... our heartbeat however, took me “high”, as soon as i saw you, even if some hours later i was thinking: "are you another bitch or another (my) lover?"... while i was walking in the dawn which i worship very much, contrary to the dusk... (five here...listen to them!!!)

Last night, i was eating oat (oh, i have to remember to buy milk tomorrow, because i finished it) and i was thinking that after all Thessaloniki is a jungle or better a strange zoo garden... do you think i should go to live in Paris?( plus three more, total 14)

Now that you “heard" the text, do you consider it a fairy tale with a sad end? In any case, it “fixed” me! So much, that i believe that tomorrow will be a beautiful day! Kisses!!!(plus two here, total 16... oh, and one down in the bottom, total 17!!!)

P.S.1 : Somebody maybe get "tired" by the music "alternations" and the variety, the diversity of songs, but for me this is music: a well cooked sauce for a mixed salad! And don’t forget: it may “fixed” me, but in the end, i did everything for YOU!!!

P.S.2 : Special thanks to my good friend, Malina, that helped me find some songs for this text!!! See you soon, girl! :))


Sunday, March 16, 2008

Egnatia Street Two Part

I preferred to call it otherwise than "second part" since i am occupied by TWO subjects, TWO cities and... let’s say two women!!!

Saturday, Saint Theodor’s day and i have decided that i will not get out of the house by any means... You say so? The family has decided that we will go for dinner in order to celebrate the cousin Theodor’s day and the fate has decided that... "meeting you will have, person sweet you will see and way you have to do...on foot however, long!” These are the exact words of a Russian-Pontiac (or Greek-Pontiac, if you like, don’t stick to that) old woman that came for a coffee to a neighbor.

The dinner took place, even if i was bored, even if the celebrating cousin was tired, even if the “cousin in law” (female cousin’s boy friend) had too much to drink and became tedious. Thank God, in the opposite corner there was a table with two blond ladies and they were making the environment beautiful (RESPECT).

Back to home and a sms rings on my mobile around 12. It’s her, she came for a visit in Thessaloniki and wants to see me... Why not? Besides, I may owe her, because thanks to her i passed three incredible months in Komotini (even if i was a soldier in Xanthi, i "passed my nights" in Komotini).

It was possibly the fate’s desire, perhaps i had simply caused it, but i didn’t have the motor bike (my brother had it). My cousin took me to the "appointment", i got together with K. , we had a stroll, we walked, perhaps we held hand by hand, unwilling, unconsciously, without realizing it, without thinking about it and without having it bothering us at all... perhaps with the same way we found ourselves hugging, having our lips connected, after two drinks... And perhaps with the same way, we said "good bye, we will talk", later...

The way back was long, precisely as the old “coffee” woman had predicted, since i looove to walk in the center of Thessaloniki, late in the night. Usually i have earphones in my ears, tonight however i didn’t (i had forgotten them at home). It doesn’t matter, i will listen a little to the hubbub of Tsimiski, the silent sound of Venizelou and afterwards the voice of my beloved Egnatia...

Somewhere around there, i think that K. from Komotini makes me feel... a child? Insane? Young? (not that the years passed over me, but you understand what i mean). And somewhere around there i think that... there are also you... You, from Thessaloniki, who make me feel sexy, a man, a doctor, serious as much as paranoid, but... "once you turn me on, once you turn me off" as a song goes (oh, my God, did i say that?).

So, Komotini VS Thessaloniki. Feet VS taxi. No respectively, no reversely, but the taxi gained. In order to decide if i will take a taxi, i raise the hand and count to 100. I wish it was possible to raise my hand, to count to 100 and the one that would touch it first would gain...

As it seems, i will have to count to 100... years in order to see who will make the move, who will accept my soft and warm hand, but then again... it maybe gets tired and it falls alone and heavy... It doesn’t matter, at least i know that i will continue walking on my beloved Egnatia!!!


P.S. 1: The last couple of weeks i go to bed only after i see the dawn and i was very happy tonight because i was walking while the first light made it’s appearance...

P.S. 2: Songs unfortunately, are not included tonight... it’s late!!!

P.S. 3: Just as i finished the text, i reread it and i remembered an old Serbian maxim: "the train goes on one track... if it goes on two, it runs off the track"... if you have a dilemma, leave it, find a third solution...

Friday, March 14, 2008

Title

Since the moment that i came home last night i was thinking about how to name and how to begin this text. I finally decided that what ever name i give to the text, what ever i say, it will be “little” and for sure something will be "lost" of what happened and what i felt.

I believe that it is maybe better to describe yesterday's incredible day with a simple way: writing my thoughts, almost telegraphic, precisely how they were born or stored in my brain...

- I was late, we had a “date” at 3 and it is already 3:15...
- Welcome, sorry i was late, hug, kisses (crisscross), i say "i want coffee", "you will drink alcohol" they tell me, "Heineken, please" i decide after thinking a couple of minutes... as if i didn’t want!

-Chit chat, talking, joking... personal thought: "rare woman...one of the few... such women are not made anymore... oh, Niko, you are very lucky, man... "

– Crazy and relaxing music played by archive, while her hand doesn’t know when it should stop... "don’t put so much wine in my glass, girl" (said Demy).

- A good quote - thought: "i don’t care so much for the glamorous, fancy and set up stuff... i have it all for free... i like what happens now, the simple, the human..." said a FRIEND even if she is a public person, a radio, television, journalistic and fortunately simple and daily person... a normal person...

- Problems of health, diagnoses, treatments, all "in(m) provised" (in Bliss,actually), gossips, radio and other news... "change table" said the boss and we obeyed...

- me:moir just came, we almost gathered all and what will we do now? We will go for lunch-dinner of course and where else? "To your mum and dad’s place? Ok, why not? Come on, get up!"

- You got on my motorbike and i told you "i knew that we would have this “drive” " and you said "me, too"... no, i mean that I KNEW, i had felt it some time before, "i had seen it" and that’s why i had a second helmet with me... oh, yes, one helmet fits all (women)...

- Mum: "the one that speaks a lot, who is she?"... Ding, dong, Demy, answer the bell, it’s for (about) you!

- We eat, we drink (a little) we talk... and i am thinking again: "it’s many years since i felt like this... even if i don’t know you... even if you don’t know me ... but i would easily give you the last piece of pie to eat... you deserve it... and not only this... " ... (even if in the end it remained in the plate, to listen to our laughs)...

- And an other good quote - thought, from archive this time: “Well, where does the fat one thinks will get with that face?" (do i have to tell you who is the fat one or did you get it? Tip: he has a radio show every noon on one of Thessaloniki’s radio...)

- We ate, we drunk, here is Efi too, but the girls have to leave... We continue and "we turn it", we start drinking wine, red, tavern’s wine... with good friends, it all seems to be good...

-"I have to leave, i left from home around 3"... yes, we all had to go, but we didn’t want to... it took the bird to be heard (really, what bird is it? In any case, it’s not a cuckoo) to realize that it was almost 12...

-"I really enjoyed you today", "so did we have to arrange a Bliss night"...

Somehow like that passed the yesterday's day. So well, that i forgot that i had a sex date – i will (re)fill it up tonight however! A lot of laughs, a lot of chit chating, enough news, perhaps a few gossips (well, are they all gay?), a little alcohol (i believe that it was not needed more... not yesterday, another time we will have some more drinks) and an ascertainment: "was it the radio station that connected all of us? Was it your blog? I do not know what, but we are here, together, connected, just as simply as that, from nowhere... "

My kisses, moved and impatiently...When will i see you again, crazy girls?
I am leaving you now, a hasty good night... it's sex time, baby!!!

P.S. : The songs of the day were many. We spoke a lot about music, we heard enough good, qualitative music (my RESPECT to Archive) and that’s why i thoyght to "throw" here only two – three songs, in order to continue the "musical treatment" as a friend said recently.

This is dedicated to... but what am i saying? This is dedicated to all, because every one of them is a super girl by her way!

This was mentioned, because it was something that connected even for a moment, a broadcaster and a listener (me, hihi) and created a memory...

This... just because it “beeps up the volume” and i listened to it last night, when i came home... I am looking forward to “beep up the volume” on the radio soon! Don’t be late!Kisses!!!

Erotic game

Even if I have said soooooo many times that i don’t play in blogogames, my good friend and stubborn head DEMON, threw at me an… erotic ball.

On one hand, DEMON and MENEKSEDIA have been insisting on trying to convince me to play ( who’s of the two of you, is the t-shirt in the photo?). On the other hand, in times when we men tend to become a rare species, it’s not acceptable to receive an erotic call from a woman and deny (it’s over then… we will have lost the castle…)

So, i decided to play and now that i am done with the prologue,this is what i have to say:

e) Favourite position
Spoon. For further details and information, i give private lessons at home (for young misses and ladies ONLY).

r)Orgy?
No. Never. I tried a few times, i once got too close, but… we had a car crush on our way there!

o) Dangerous/odd/favourite place out doors?
What I am going to say is probably bad for the business (and it’s a family business, damn it) but it’s a while now that…the freezer in our store… “inspires” me! (since my “friend” doesn’t have a problem…)

t)Monogamy or polygamy?
Both. Monogamy when i am in a relationship, polygamy when i am a… free bird! (figuratively and… literally!)

i) Body spot that makes you horny (on the sex partner’s body)
Boooooobs!!!

c) Fantasy
What should i say now? Well, just to finish with this and to change the roles a little bit… «if i become the patient, will you be the sexy female doctor?»…

a) What do you like more do have others do to you on sex?
Lick me, OF COURSE! (this is an answer from DEMON and i think i won’t change it at all…)

I hope i didn’t offend or shocked anyone. If something like that happened, it was not meant to be and… you can go and f*ck yourselves (sorry, but it matches here).

Beyond the jokes, i hope that no one was offended and in order to avoid being offended myself (never again), keep this in your mind : i don’t play in blogogames!!!

P.S. : All the songs where from the album cd Amadas Estrellas by Achillea and i find it the ultimate erotic soundtrack ( for this year, at least…). (if you download it, you need the unzip code : secretmusicbox ).

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Fu***ng money






In Greece of 2008 i believe that there is no one who wouldn’t “grumble” for the lack of money! Thus and i, as a proper “super Greek” man... but let’s have something clear first :

- i studied Medicine in Serbia, which means that in order to work in Greece as a doctor i have to pass some “examinations of recognition of degree” (DIKATSA - DOATAP as i have also said earlier). Until then, i have to work in the... grill shop ( i will possibly begin a new chapter about that)
- if you believe that all doctors were born RICH, you are wrong! Many of us had to work as long as we studied, we did not have the opportunity to travel around the world during our college years, not even in Europe, and our college years were very... "tight". (I mentioned the travelling because a friend made a comment about it a couple of days ago...)

These days, money became the reason to postpone a much desired journey to Serbia, something that i was waiting for two years! Actually, in order to take it out of my “system”, i have to tell you that money is the reason that

- since the day that somebody damaged my motorbike, i couldn’t buy another so i am still using my sister’s in law motorbike

- i don’t have my own car (off course) and i don’t believe i will buy one in the near future

- the last years i wear the same clothes, the “student”, almost “teenager” clothes, that "hide" my 29 years and my medical knowledge (and when sometimes, a doctor needed... people didn’t believe me!).

- a lot of travels did not happened, a lot of evenings were not full of alcohol, music and women, in some bar, but with friends at home (which is also good, i don’t mind)

- my computer is old, it is very slow and for work of half an hour i need... 2 hours!!!

- my mobile is one of the "new technology": it has a coloured screen!!!

- one father was fighting with his son in our shop for whether the kid would eat one more potato pie (so, don’t say that i am grumbling only for my self)... off course the boy ate one more potato pie, had a juice too... on the house

- last night we went for ONE drink with one of my best friends, even if it was his last night (he had to go back to the army today)... we passed enough hours walking and talking...

- should i continue or did you get the meaning?



A friend once told me something that made us fight then. Now, i revise and i believe that she was right: “Money does not give you happiness... Poverty however, causes unhappiness

Fortunately or not, this is how it is. And fortunately or not, Greek common logic, requires that we get comforted with the thought "it does not matter… it could be worse"... What would i have to say if it was raining already?... or is there a storm coming up??

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Thursday to Monday...

You possibly get tired with these posts and i promise that in the future "i will quit". For now, i simply hope you have patience, you understand that i don’t have a lot of time (midweek i mean) and i prefer even thus, to write something...

Thursday : Few hours of work, a bag full of sandwiches (pita gyros!), a "mini" bottle of Vodka, two "half of a litter" bottles of lemonade and... Chit chat for many hours with one of my best friends!

This is what we will remember, Ziggy, even if we were alone, in the house and broke! We had lots of laughs, listened to a lot of music, the thoughts were even more, the stress enormous and our dreams crazy! Hold on, you will be off the army shortly! ( i would like to see you then... Should i wish you "happy marriage" now?)...

The songs of the night, one and this (which is the original and for me is a pity that Protopsalti has a big success with her remake!)

Friday : Work, work, work! I got home tired, had a bath and got lost in the internet! The only good thing, very late that night (or maybe early the next morning) is that i got connected in msn with a friend from Athens, an amazing, crazy woman, that even if i know her from "here" only, i already feel her as a very good friend! Well, soon enough we will meet in Athens!
The songs of the night …don’t remember them!!!

Saturday :Women’s day!

A woman is a female human. The term woman (irregular plural: women) usually is used for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent. However, the term woman is also sometimes used to identify a female human, regardless of age, as in phrases such as "Women's rights".( From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

What can i say for the most amazing creatures on earth, the charms of every right man’s life, for our better half, for our happiest "problems"!? Can’t live with you, can’t make it without you... But deep in our hearts, we love you!!!
The eight songs of this day, «come from» a cd that i had compiled for a woman once, that i considered to be the best woman (of my life, maybe). How wrong was i then… and how happy i am now, because she convinced me for the opposite thing

P.S. : Demon, what do you think about the two last songs, as an answer in your game? I do not play blog-o-games, i am telling you!!!

Saturday night : After the “HTML and other computer stuff” lessons that my best friend had the patience to give me, we went out for a couple of drinks. The bar well known, even if the past few weeks i call it "the place of crime", the drinks qualitative and abundant, as the women there, and the songs various. Here, take a taste...

The “phrase” of the night: "No target, brother... No target at all!!!" .

Sunday : Those of you who know me a little bit better, you will already have realized that... i did not sleep at all on Saturday night! I turned home early in the morning, had a coffee and then left with my cousin for our village.

So, Carnival, in Serres! The Carnival ridiculous, last minute’s job, meaningless trouble and feast as a village fair. As usually, the “gang” which is constituted by "super Greeks" (as me, off course… hehe) left in the middle of the carnival, just because we wanted to go for... food and wine! What better? Well, to next year!
The unique song that "remained" in my mind from this day was "played" in the car, on our way back…and it’s the truth

Monday : Kuluma? What? What is this? I woke up so late (i had to fill up the lost sleep of Saturday) that i forgot that today is... “Clean” Monday! Well, happy Lent to all! Do you think i should fast this year? Nooo... In a few days i will go to Serbia, so there is no way i could hold on my fast there!!!
( Kuluma and Clean Monday:Greek custom, an old tradition according to which we have to avoid eating meat for this day and - usually children - let paper rhombs fly up in the sky).

Monday night : Msn works well, there is a SHOW SEXY on television, my hand got tired by copy pasting (my English blog is ready, did i mention it?) and suddenly two “mpams” happened!!!

Mpam one : Separation? No, it is not. The end? Nor. Break? Neither. It’s something "bad", something that even for a little bit, spoiled my mood, but it doesn't matter... above all good health, laughs and comprehension (get it, "crazy bug"? it’s all fine…
a song for you ...)

Mpam two: My best friend from Athens, informed me (since he decided for me and that was well done) that for the next three months I have... a house in Athens! I suppose that my first "visit" will be for ten days and then... let’s say that i will pass more weekends in Athens, than in Thessaloniki!

The night "grows", a friend makes her internet appearance and first she upsets me by saying that she camein Thessaloniki (from Athens) and we didn’t meet at all, then se calms me, by giving me these incredible songs…(sum of the songs four...hope you are well, "Siujinkou Bijio Kasikoi" )

Just like this comes the end of this text, it’s almost dawn and i am thinking again, if i should sleep or not... Cursed, damned INSOMNIA!!!
Kisses to all, sleepless and/or not!!!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

King for a "......" !!!

Friday night: It was maybe ages since the last time i went out with my friends from my school years and tonight we had a little "reunion".Six of us (two of them are two of my best friends) got together,had a drink,discussed about the soon-to-come wedding of one of them and had lots of laughs.

One moment i just sat back,took a deep breath and a picture came in my mind:one of the last scenes in the film "The Sleepers".

As you can see,the whole "gang" was together,laughing,being innocent children again(or maybe,not so innocent).Exactly like that,was "our gang" tonight.It was then that i felt...like a KING for a moment!!!

Thursday night: This day was the "SMOKY" Thursday in Greece.The old Greek custom is to get "smoked" by roasting (or at least eating) meat.This same day,the carnival begins,so people get dressed like...what ever!!!
After working for 12 hours i got "dressed" and went out with one of my best friends!We had much fun and many drinks,we laughed and people were laughing with or even at us!I am telling you...i was KING for one night!!!

"Can you dig it?I know you couuuld!!!"(yes,i was dressed like...THE KING!!!) :)

While writing this post i was listening to these three songs...enjoy!!!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Kosovo and Metohija-Косово и Метохија-Kosovo i Metohija (or "Kasno,Marko,na Kosovo stize...")







Living for seven years in a country as Serbia,made me change the way i think and "see" many things.Among other stuff,while i was there,i realized some more things about minorities-small populations,countries-nations and human rights.
In a "student's town" as Nish,it was expected that i would have fellow-students from Serbia,Montenegro,F.Y.R.O.M.(Skopja), Christians or/and Muslims.What was not expected is that there would be some Serbians students,immigrants in their own country,who were from Kosovo but had to move and leave their houses behind...

Before everything else,let's have some things clear.First of all,where exactly is Kosovo:
Now,some things about Kosovo's history :
"The Ottomans invaded and met the Serbian Army under Prince Lazar on Tuesday, June 23, 1389 (in the Gregorian Calendar: Tuesday June 15, 1389 -- St. Vitus' Day -- in the Julian Calendar), near Pristina, at Gazi Mestan. The Serbian Army was assisted by various allies. The epic Battle of Kosovo followed, in which Prince Lazar himself lost his life. Prince Lazar amassed 12,000-30,000 men on the battlefield and the Ottomans had 27,000-40,000. Under the pretext of surrender, Miloš Obilić managed to murder Sultan Murad, and the new Sultan Beyazid had, despite winning the battle, to retreat to consolidate his power. The Ottoman Sultan was buried with one of his sons at Gazi Mestan. Both Prince Lazar and Miloš Obilić were canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church for their efforts in the battle. The local House of Branković came to prominence as the local lords of Kosovo, under Vuk Branković, with the temporary fall of the Serbian Despotate in 1439...
(source and the rest of the text here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo#History)."
As you can read in the beginning of the text,the Serbs were already in Kosovo,when everyone else got there...:)

On the other side,the Serbian government declares that :
"the future status of Kosovo-Metohija must provide respect of human rights of members of national communities regardless of whether they make up a majority or minority of the population in the province, and must especially provide the right to safe living conditions and personal and property security, just and efficient judiciary, undisturbed property rights, free expression of political, religious, cultural and other personal beliefs, right to return and execution of public functions, as well as all other rights listed in charters of the Council of Europe that the Republic of Serbia signed and ratified."
(source and the rest of the text here: http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/kosovo-metohija/index.php?id=8841).
I find it a little bit difficult that Albanians will "provide respect of human rights"...That is my own,humble opinion...

Now allow me to tell you a big "secret",something that many of you may have never heard before and have no knowledge of: Albanians (if not all Muslims) have a dream.Their dream is to "built" a great nation,to create a "global" country which will extend from Albania to...Tokyo (both ways,actually).Yes,they would love to have the whole world under their control,believing in their god and living by their rules and laws!

Consider for one moment this:Serbia is an ancient country,it has a great history in Kosovo,a big part of Serbia's tradition concerns Kosovo and many Serbs who were living in Kosovo had to move because of the Albanians...Maybe now,you can realize how much pain they feel by having to tolerate the "independence" of something that is actually...Serbian!!!
Unfortunately,i had the "bad" luck,the awful chance and the sad opportunity to share this pain with people who had some horrible experience to live and tell for the rest of their lives...

(The following conversation is real,as i heard by one of my house-landlords...)
Albanian man:-"Neighbor,my good friend,listen to me.Take your wife and children and leave from Kosovo tonight!It's for your own good..."
Serbian man:-"No,neighbor,i won't!I will send my wife and children somewhere safe,but i am not leaving this house.It's my grand father's house and i hope that one day i will see my grand children play in this yard!"
Albanian man:-"Ok,my good friend and neighbor.I will come back tomorrow.I won't hurt you,but i can't promise anything about the others..."(Albanians of Kosovo-also known as Shiptari).

To make the long story short,this kept happening every day for several months.Finally,the Serbian family felt the danger and had to move.When i met that family,the Serbian man,father of two sons,was in deep depression,and a couple of months later,committed suicide.The mother was crying most of the time,for a long period after his death.The sons,were proud enough to keep on living,strong enough to prepare their father's car(who had some bullet holes,made by the "good friend and neighbor" Albanian) and patriots enough to love their country,Serbia and Kosovo,until this day that i am writing this post...
This sad fact was just a simple example of what the "criminals" Albanians of Kosovo were doing to the Serbs-citizens of Kosovo.I don't want to disgust you by writing about killing,raping or massacring Serbs by Albanians...

When these crimes happened,i was in Nish.The NATO decided to bomb Serbia,so the Greek embassy transfered all Greeks,back to our country,just before the bombardment started.
This time i am in Greece,"safe".I am 9 years older,i think that i am a little bit more mature and "wise" (if i may say so about my self),but i believe that i am ready to buy a ticket,seat in a train or bus and go back to Serbia to protest with the brother-neighbor-orthodox Christian nation,against the independence of Kosovo!!!

Most of my compatriots,my fellow-country-men and women,don't care that much about what will happen in our Balkan neighborhood.I would like to take the risk and predict the "far" future,after the recognition of the independence of Kosovo:
-Albanians will get to be "stronger" and will have completed a small part of their dream.Next step will may be our Western side,where Ioannina is (if you remember,a couple of years ago,some Albanians were protesting and were demanding "their piece of earth" back...they were talking about Ioannina!).
-Muslims and Turks (who have already announced their support to the "independent" Kosovo) will have achieved one great victory!Some years later,even a century from now,another "victory" may make them happy : the "independence" of Thrace,our eastern side,near to Turkey!After all,many people who live there,are Muslims (and according to Albanians:"we are the majority here,that means that it's our country!").
-i don't want to say anything more about this issue now,but my friends from Greece shouldn't forget that there is something going on between Greece and F.Y.R.O.M(Skopja) about the country's name...And i don't even want to mention Cyprus!!!

All i want to say is that we should act now! We,Greeks,Serbs,Europeans,everyone of us,every citizen of our "universal village" should do something.The whole world has to realize that "dividing and conquering" is not "healthy" for the global peace,for the universal economy,for the human kind!!!
No more words from me now.I am just a "small" man,an inhabitant of Thessaloniki,a citizen of Greece,a common mortal...after all,aren't we all,COMMON MORTALS?Even the "great" and "clever" politicians who decide which country belongs to which nation,are simple common mortals.Maybe someone should remind it to them...
Until then,hold on,my fellow Serbs.We are all Christians and our God is strong and will take care of you!!!


While i was writing this post i was listening to these songs:
Daleko-daleko(the only Serbian song i had ever heard,before i even went to Serbia...ha),
Djurdjevdan(it was 6 am..."evo zore,evo zore,Bogu da se pomolim"),
Mesecina(a total eclipse of the Moon happened around that time),
Tamo daleko(full of meaning about how i feel now),
Prokleta je Amerika(no comments on this one),
Kalashnikov(which i would like to have in my hands now...hehe),
Mali mrav(just because it reminded me of how small Albania is...like an useless little ant on our Balkan neighborhood) and
It is the end of the world as we know it(which i hope that won't be proved to be "prophetic")!!!


P.S.1:I will always be grateful to Serbia,because i became more mature there...i actually became a doctor there!!!

P.S.2:You are all more than welcome to leave your comment here,but,please,this time i would like it to be in English only!Thank you!!!



Sunday, February 17, 2008

Seven in one!!!

This is how my blog should and would look,if i had the time and mood to post in time.Hope you won't get tired by reading this post(s).Enjoy!!!

Sunday, February 17, 2008 (Noon)

G. Spot

Last night(better early in the morning,today) i decided to re-open the chapter "sex stories".If nothing less(or is it "if nothing more"? ),she is definitely worth it!!!

It's been years since i felt this way.So "small",yet so "huge",full of passion,heat and "friendship" and i found it all in one woman!

"-Relax,will you?
-I can't...you are too young for me...
"

Age...does it really matter?I say that,as for me,she is a couple of years older.She says that it's almost a decade.So what?If someone makes you laugh when you are down,or takes you higher when you are "up",if someone can understand you when you have something in your mind,if someone doesn't break your "balls" or doesn't make you angry(or make you feel anything "bad"),if someone treats you as you deserve (or even better...),if someone satisfies you in bed,can't you relax and enjoy it?

"-Do you listen to what i am saying?
-No.
-Hey...can you hear me for just a moment?.
-No.
-You are my "bug".
-Am i?
-Oh,now you ARE listening!
-No,i am not...
-You are my little "bug".
-Maybe.
-You are my little crazy "bug".
-That's for sure!!!
"

The whole night was so hot(although in a cold room) with the taste of vodka-lemonade,so funny,full of laughs,so wet of sweat and body liquids,so "kama sutra",with no borders and no limits...

Well,this is something i want to share with my friends,the male ones : "Guys,life after all,can be like a movie...In the end,it was the good guy who "took" the girl...".Be nice,be kind,be lovable...it's worth it!!!


P.S.: It looks like Twetty IS right!!!

When i was driving to get "there",i was singing this song.
One of her favorites is this one and she was listening to it,earlier that evening.
While we were lying in the bed,naked,quite,with no breath left,sweaty and exhausted,this song was on...and we enjoyed it,holding tight each other...


Friday, February 15, 2008 (Late in the night)

Dr Positive Energy

Many times in my life,i found my self in this shitty position,when someone made me feel so stupid,useless and meaningless,as last night.

A couple of years ago,i would be "crying" for a month or two,falling in depression,loosing my time,even my "religion".Now...i am laughing again and i am laughing loud!

As two of my good friends said "shit happen" and "we are only "borrowing" things".Exactly!There is no human on earth that will take his belongings with him,in the after death life (if there is any).So,why bother?Life is too short to waste it by feeling sorry about lost things.The hell with it!!!

Having this in my mind,i end up helping someone with one of his problems,not a big one,but something that made him "uncomfortable".It made me forget my problems and in the end,it put a smile in my face.That's why i thought i should ask you:can i change my nickname in "Dr Positive Energy"?Should i?Am i worth it?

The whole day,i had this song in my mind,and while posting,i was listening to this one,again and again.Enjoy!!!


Friday, February 15, 2008 (Really early in the morning)

Unhappy f*cking Valentine's night!!!

(Scroll down the page and you will find the original text).

Thursday, February 14, 2008 (Noon)

Valentine's day...

Today people around the world will celebrate their love with the person that "completes" them.Ok,i am not against showing how much love exists between two people,i just can't accept that it has to be only today.

Maybe you agree with me,maybe not,but i think that love has to be told,shown and "proved" every single day,if not every single moment.And i am not talking about "sex-love".I mean any kind of love:mother love,family love,good Samaritan love,human love,animal love,priceless and not-self-interested love...Love in any way you can think about!

As for today,i believe that one of myspace friends,described what i feel about this "celebration",in the best words.So,i quote :

"F*ck this day, sure I love to be loved and love to love. But this day is just shit.
Sure lets all go and buy more shit to just hang around and take up space.
This day is like shoving crap down my neck saying, YOU MUST BE WITH SOMEONE!!
I am not in a happy mood right now, I hate the shit I am going through.
Well enough ranting for one day.


Wednesday, February 13, 2008 (Late in the night)

Army days left : 0

Today i got off the army,i am "retired" and back to the freedom of living as a citizen!I don't want to write anything more right now,cause it's so "fresh" in my mind.
I promise you that some time,a few days later,i will post my feelings,some of my experiences and other stuff about the army.As for now..beware,CITIZEN PAKO lives among you!(i am only kidding,you have nothing to worry about...)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 (Late in the night)

Childhood memories

A good friend who lives in London some months now,sent me a mail with a youtube link.I usually don't open every link that gets in my hands,but knowing Ad. i was sure that something interesting was there to watch.

A few moments later,i was pressing the "replay" button on the youtube video screen and i believe that you should do the same.Watch it and you will understand what i mean!

Warning : Only the ones who were born before 198X will "get it".Get ready,watch and weep...


Tuesday, February 12, 2008 (In the morning)

Birth-(her)-day

Today is one of my x-friends birthday.I am not talking about a(n) x-girlfriend.She was just a friend.Just...?

We met in high school and ever since that day,our lives were almost...one and the same!Almost the same problems,similar excitements and joy,same feelings and even habits were filling our lives,day by day.

One day,she got lost.With no words,no explanation.Just a dilemma-question : "It will be either she or me,in your life.I don't like her.".My heart acted more upon my brain,so i kept the girlfriend,and lost the friend.At that time,i didn't think that i could lose her,I thought that it's something temporary and it was only after the break up with the girlfriend(two years later),when i realized what had happened (and among other thoughts,there was the one that when i had to decide,i didn't listen to my heart but to my...).



My good blog friend Meneksedia,wrote something very wise in a similar post (what happened,girl?Do you "feel" me?).I quote:

"Reasonably when two bodies run with vertiginous speed there is the danger of collision or ignition."

For a little bit more then ten years there was no collision nor ignition.The vertiginous speed just took us to a "pitch-fork",where each of us took a different way.

Even though we haven't spoken for three years,i hope she is doing great and i wish her the best.Happy birthday,P.,i still love you...

Back then we used to dance like crazy,with this song that i once dedicated her.It's the same song now,i am not dancing any more,but i am dedicating it once again...For you,P...