Culture differences

It’s not very difficult to notice how different cultures respond to climate changes and the weather. What do I mean by that? For the last days, London has been having amazing weather! It’s warm; it’s sunny with a minor breeze from time to time. The temperature stays above 22 degrees most of the time during the day. So, people have been crazy about it, including me!

I had to organise an outdoor activity with friends, even if not a bbq! I simply had to! I believe that the vast majority of the country’s population were in a park, common, by the sea or by a lake or river! Or at least if there weren’t, they hoped they were! These are all photos I took on Saturday! I had an amazing time.

Starting the day with a nice coffee

So, I went with my friends to Hyde Park! For those not familiar with it, that’s the main park of the city centre and it is massive! I’ve just checked and it’s smaller than New York’s Central Park (damn), but I’m telling you it’s still big. I think there are a couple of Olympic sports taking place there.

Hyde Park

So, there were around 7 of us. We had our freesbee, ball, food, rugs and everything. We must have spent around 6 hours in the park, playing, laughing and enjoying ourselves. It was so much fun. And the park was simply heaving! There were people sunbathing, cycling, running, roller blading, rowing on the lake, drinking, playing games or just relaxing at the park. And of course all that done under direct sunlight and not under the shade. People wanted so much to feel and enjoy the sun that they didn’t really mind the direct sunlight!

Playing with a child can be so therapeutic 

That is so different to where I come from. Maybe sun is somewhat taken for granted in Greece. Yes, people will enjoy it but still try to avoid it. You will not see cafes having tables under the sun even during spring time and people will not walk around bare-chested to get a tan in the city. I could even say that I grew up being afraid of the sun. Probably because the temperature there can rise to dangerous levels and staying under the sun for long means sun strokes or painful skin blisters. However, even when the temperature is not that high, maybe by instinct, people do try to stay under the shade.

The 7/7 bombing memorial

This brings me to the second point I wanted to make regarding the Sun. When I was really young, in Greece, during the early 80’s, my mother used to put sun lotion on us but I can remember not worrying too much about it. Back then, we could stay under the sun between the dangerous hours of 12 and 3 in the afternoon and play. Nowadays, staying on the beach between these hours for longer than half an hour can be unbearable and not using very high UVA & UVB lotions is unthinkable!

The squirrel stole a chip! 

I had a similar conversation with a very camp waiter the other day. He said that when he was younger, in Rhodes, back in the very early 80's, he used to put Ouzo (45% alc) on him to get a better tan, not a sun lotion! I got too frightened to ask for more details! Just the fumes of this, would probably get him so drunk!

Finishing the day with a cool nice cocktail

Summer vacation 2009!

In two days time I’ll be finally going away for my summer vacation. As I always try to remind myself it’s better late than never! Almost everybody’s been away and already coming back and I still haven’t left! It’s because I wanted to gain an extra day from the upcoming bank holiday, that’s why I’m leaving that late! I’m planning to go to my beautiful, by the sea, small hometown in Greece. I haven’t been there since last August. I’ve been to Greece this year, but not my hometown.

My plans for that trip is try to do as less as possible. I’ve decided not to travel much to see old friends. I know it’s probably very selfish of me but I really cannot spend my holidays traveling back and forth to see everybody. I’ve been there and done that so many times it’s tiring. I will try to see them by inviting them over to my town. It’s nice, by the sea with beautiful beaches, so I am practically doing them a favor!
(I say that every time I fly back and I can never keep my promise – I miss some people so much).

I also plan to eat as much as possible of my mother’s food. I grew up with it. I love it and I miss having someone else cook for me. I will not be bothered at all about my upcoming run when I get back. I can’t be on a diet while being on vacations! I will probably drink a lot as well but I will just blame the heat! You simply must have a (or more) cold cocktail (or beer, or tequila, or vodka…) when the temperature goes over 30 degrees and flirts dangerously with 40 degrees.

In addition, I plan to stay as long as possible on a beach (any beach will do at the point I am now - I am desperate). I just need a beach reclining chair, a couple of my books (carefully chosen), cold coffee (greek frappe) and nice view. Oh and I shouldn't forget lot's of sun lotion...


By ‘nice view’ I mean the whole scenery of beautiful waves and really gorgeous suntanned guys (preferable playing summer sports). In a weird way, it is good that I can be distinguished from the crowd, since I’ll be the only guy being so pale. Apart from my head and arms my whole body is extremely white thanks to England’s nice weather! In Greece everybody’s suntanned by the end of August and I’ll be the only one who’s different. I hope that will attract some attention (unfortunately, not for a good cause)…

So, I wish everybody a belated happy summer. It’s not over, till we decide that it is!!!