Anastasia

Sunday Stroll in Larnaca

 

Sunday Stroll along Finicoudes Promenade

 

I sometimes take for granted the beauty of the town I've been living in for the last 28 years. When Alkis and I first moved to Larnaca back in November 1984, I could hardly call it home.. We both missed our hometowns - Nicosia and Serres.  Living in Larnaca wasn't easy for either of us, but very soon we both fell in love with the beautiful city of Zenon to such an extent that we no longer miss our hometowns as much as we did when we first came to live here.

The Medieval Castle at the end of Finicoudes Promenade

 

Last Sunday, we had the pleasure to meet up with some good friends from Thessaloniki and enjoyed a stroll along Finicoudes Promenade which boasts probably the best beach in Larnaca. Such a pity the sea was too cold for us to swim! Finicoudes means little  palm trees in Greek. The seafront was named after the palm trees that were planted there hundreds of years ago. Now they are tall palm trees that have survived time and often adverse weather conditions. After our leisurely stroll, we had lunch at Meze-Meze - a Greek restaurant I strongly recommend. There's great food, excellent service and good value for money. 

Larnaca-Finicoudes

 

During our stroll, we noticed that Larnaca has already started the preparations for the country's greatest summer festival called Kataklysmos   - or the Flood Festival -  which marks the beginning of summer and attracts thousands of visitors every year. 

Saturday Night Out at Ktima Georgiadi

Located on the old road Nicosia-Limassol, between Skarinou and Kofinou, at about 25 km from Larnaca, Ktima Georgiadi is probably one of the best options in Cyprus for a night out with good friends or family. The well-known Greek Cypriot singer Stella Georgiadi and her brother Pieris have made their father's dream come true: the return to innocence, the return to their roots, the return to tradition far away from the bright lights of the city. 

Ktima Georgiadi - my friend Andreas Morfitis on the dance floor.

Stella Georgiadi Live

My friend Andreas Morfitis who invited us to a great night out at Ktima Georgiadi.

My friends Stavros Rossos and Andreas Morfitis - alias "gerondas" - wise man.

Pieris and Stella have turned a traditional, old mansion into a Greek taverna  where you can let off steam, eat, drink, dance  and sing with Stella and her band.  In the summer, you can enjoy the show under the stars and the orange trees where Stella and her siblings played when they were kids.

Stella Georgiadi and her daughter Eleftheria who had her b-day yesterday. Her gorgeous mum sang Happy Birthaday to Eleftheria.

Stella Georgiadi who did not hesitate to give up on a bright career as a singer in Athens and return to her roots.

My husband Alkis

Last night, Alkis and I had a great time there with good friends. After a long week at work, it was THE perfect night out. Stella will welcome you to her mansion with an old Greek song which she sings amongst her guests without music or micro. A big hand follows and then the show begins with Stella and her band.  Prices are reasonable, yet the food needs to be improved. 

 

Photos and video by Anastasia Marou for Anastasia

 

My Friend Walid Abdul Massih

I met Walid online almost ten years ago. Back in 2002,  I didn't use to like him a lot...he'd usually challenge me on the chat to ponder on various political or ethical issues which would ...all end in tears! We didn't always agree, but as Voltaire said: "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

Walid a few years ago

And that's what Walid did. He always respected my opinion and realised that I'm not on the Internet to talk anonymously or pretend. As a true friend he accepted me being blunt at times and he's always supported me in everything I did online. He's been always there - rain or shine. 

Walid comes from Lebanon and  is a very important person in his homeland. He is the kind of person who would never boast but who always cares for everyone -  even though he may be going through rocky times, himself. He is also the kind of person who will always end a comment with this wonderful phrase: "God Bless"

Walid with  Mr Haroun - the mayor of Beit Mery, Lebanon

In a world filled with dirt and filth, Walid has been my guardian angel online and my bright star. I would like to thank him for that from the bottom of my heart.

Giorgos Hadjinasios & Stavros Sideras: Music Nights

Stavros Sideras at the piano

Every year, especially in the summer, many Greek artists gig in Larnaca. The truth is I don't often go to gigs. They're usually too crowded and too noisy. But when I heard that one of Greece's greatest musicians, Giorgos Hadjinasios and my good old friend Stavros Sideras organised three music nights in the luxuariant gardens of  Mousio Theasis in Larnaca, I got tickets at once!

Giorgos Hadjinasios at the piano

This truly amazing performance started with four young artists - Dalida, Christos Hadjinasios, Pambina Kontea and Andronicos Lefkaritis and later 16-year-old Rafaela who is an opera soprano. They are all very talented and have great voices and I'm sure they will all make a dazzling career with such great masters to guide them and advise them. I was also impressed by the violinist's incredible virtuosity.

From left to right: Christos Hadjinasios, Pambina Kontea, Andronikos Lefkaritis, Dalida

Last night, Giorgos Hadjinasios and Stavros Sideras brought together almost all kinds of music with a strong emphasis on Greek music. For almost 3 hours, Mousio Theasis was filled with the sound of music and, of course we sang along! If you are in Cyprus, don't miss this event. A bottle of whiskey or a bottle of vodka or 2 bottles of Lazarides wine are included in the price for every four people together with a variety of finger food, nuts and fruit.

Last but not least, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart Giorgos Hadjinasios - it was such a great honour to have him here in Larnaca - and my great friend Stavros who is not just a great friend but also a great composer, singer, songwriter and a very successful  musical theatre writer.

Changes

In the course of time and as we grow older, we change both physically and mentally. This is only natural, I think, as these changes are part of our evolution as individuals. We may dislike now things we used to love 10 years ago, we may adopt a different lifestyle or see things from a different perspective.

In the last 20 years, my life has changed in more ways than one. First of all, I used to have long, black hair but now my hair is short and blond. That was quite a change which occurred just before I turned forty! Apart from slight changes in colour, I haven't adopted any other ...dramatic hair styles. However, in my thirties, I'd adopt a different hair style every so often!

My lifestyle has changed a lot as well. I hate loud music and crowdy places - I'm not agoraphobic, though. I'd rather invite my friends over to dinner than hang out with them till the early morning hours as I used to do a few years ago. I'm an early riser now and I no longer stay out very late except on rare occasions. I also used to hate cooking, but now I really enjoy it! I find it very creative and, more often than not, I even invent recipes of my own.

Finally, I've recently realised that my tastes have changed too. Last week I saw on dvd a film I had already seen years before. That was "Decostructing Harry" with Woody Allen, who was then my favourite actor. When I first saw that film at the cinema, I loved it and couldn't stop laughing. whereas now I found it so very boring!

However, there are a few things that will never change:

• I still love Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, the Bee Gees,  the Beatles and Rachmaninov.
• I've watched "The  Sound of Music" 26 times so far and still love it!
• My incurable love for the sea is endless!
• Travelling and discovering new places or revisiting places I love.
• Playing board games such as chess, scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. They're much more fun than computer games!
• Belgian chocolate and French cheeses.
• My four favourite countries: Greece, Switzerland, France, the UK.

And last but not least

• my love for my husband
• some great true friendships

True friendships are difficult to find and it takes time to have a balance of give and take while building mutual trust. The type of friend you are may change. It often depends on age, background, commitments or priorities, yet true friends will love you for who you are.  I feel blessed to have a great marriage and a few, good friends who I love and trust and this is never going to change.

How has your life changed in the last 10 years or so?

Snail Mail Vs Email

Long ago, I used to have a lot of penfriends from all around the world. I'd receive 70-80 letters weekly and answered them all. But since I connected to the Internet in 2000, emailing has been a much faster way to keep in touch with friends and family or make new friends. So penfriends became epals and very often I'd get a reply within minutes. I recall having exchanged 30 emails in one day with an epal from the UK. Email is also cheap since it allows you to send long documents immediately and with hardly any cost.

However, snail mail is much more personal and private. There is a unique charm in the handwriting, the paper, the envelope, the stamps. A letter is something you can touch, file away and keep as a souvenir. It is also something you can smell! I still remember that beautiful, perfumed fancy letter paper I once used.  What's more, unlike email, handwritten letters are safer as they can't be hacked or get viruses while it is practically impossible to forward them to hundreds or thousands of people instantly. .So, this is why I still enjoy writing letters and sending handwritten cards to friends and family. I guess it all depends on the recipient.

How do you keep in touch with friends and family? Do you still write letters? Do you believe emailing is a more effective communication tool?

My Friend Faith

Clifford Stoll writes in Silicon Snake Oil, 1995: Electronic communication is an instantaneous and illusory contact that creates a sense of intimacy without the emotional investment that leads to close friendships

My own personal experience proves this to be completely wrong.  It was through electronic communication that I met Faith almost seven years ago. We have never met in person yet, but I know we will one day. All these years, we've kept in touch through online communication and a few brief phone calls.  Online friends usually come and go as they wish, according to whether they're busy or not, happy or unhappy or just simply bored. Faith makes all the difference. She is the exception that confirms the rule.

Despite her own problems - health problems, work problems, personal problems - she has always been there for me, always supporting me in everything I do - online or offline.  In the course of time, and as our friendship grew stronger, I felt I could always turn to her and every time I did, I knew I could find the reflection of one of the world's most wonderful smiles on her face.... and I now know that that it will always inspire a smile inside me. She has filled my heart with so many thankful thoughts.

We are an ocean apart. Faith is American and lives in Florida, USA and I live in Cyprus. Yet, I often felt she was there beside me, telling me how to deal with a difficult situation. O r simply making me laugh out loud! Faith has a great sense of humour, she is kind and thoughtful and she always has a good word for everyone - even for people who have hurt her. Life hasn't always been a bed of roses for Faith, yet she faces rocky times with a smile. And that's what I admire most in her.

I've learnt so much from Faith - such as talking things over and opening up. But we also share a lot in common. She is an ESL teacher just like me and she loves children and I can tell you that she is the best American ESL teacher ever! Although she hasn't got children of her own, her "kids" adore her. I share these feelings. I miss "my kids" when on holiday and love them when they come back. Just like me, Faith is one of those rare teachers who first thinks of the kids and then of her own income. Although she teaches at a public school in Florida, she hasn't hesitated to buy books for her kids at her own expense! I can relate to that. When I worked for others, they wouldn't allow me to use the school's photocopier in order to photocopy past exam papers. And I had then decided to do it at my own expense. I never regretted it.

Faith is a special friend for me. She feels like family in my heart.

Remembering Vasilis

His name was Vasilis Antoniades- alias Babylon. He lived in Athens, Greece and he was:

a) Possibly the greatest computer analyst in Greece.

b) A friend indeed !

He was the only person in this immense cyber world who helped me with ....silly machines such as  computers ! I had serious computer problems .  Hardly any RAM ....on Windows 98. I was desperate ! Then I told Vasilis. On the chat . Late at night ... I kept IMing  him ...inconherent sentences .. I was so overwhelmed with all these PC problems. My computer was playing up and I was at a loss what to do.

He asked me to click  remote help...but windows 98 did not have such a luxury! 

" Have you got a webcam ? " he asked. Needless to say that I felt like being ...very nasty ! But then he added:

" Can you open your cam and show me your ....monitor ?"

Taken by surprise ... I said " Yes , of course ! "

And so I did ..open the cam ...showing him ....the mess on my monitor ! Fortunately enough ... he didn't tell me off !  He gave me ...simple instructions how to deal with all that mess !  And this is only one  example ... He also helped for free thousands of people from all over the world solve their computer problems.

On April 8th 2006 at about this time - it was 11:00 pm in my area - I saw he was online on the chat. I IMed him teasing away as I usually did. Then I got this reply:

"Vasilis passed away. I'm his brother" Just for one split second, I thought it was a belated April Fool's Day prank. But it wasn't. His brother sent me a link ... It was the longest list of comments I had ever seen. More than one thousand people bidding their last farewell to Vasilis.

Vasilis had a heart of gold. I never met him in person, yet he will always be a very special friend. I know that Vasilis will live out in the hearts of everyone who loved him.

This post is dedicated to Vasilis' family and to all his online friends who really loved him. For love will always remain a part of him.