A Very Late Closing

Well...I just read all the stuff I wrote. Although I didn't finish it, I still remember every single moment.

First of all, I want to correct my mistakes. It's not Monstraki; it is Monastiraki. Not olakalo but olakala. And it is better to write poly instead of poli. Those were the only ones I realized. I was just a beginner during I wrote these, so it's pretty normal, now I'm better! :)))

Now, I admit that it was a giant mistake not to finish it but I had acceptable reasons. It's not necessary to talk about it in detail but it was something which made me so sad, humiliated and maybe a little angry. On the other hand, it thought me something; that nobody is like me. I keep living many things which keep teaching me that continiously, but they are not enough I guess. Each time, I decide not to count on someone, not to put him in my shoes and be that much optimistic but as a precious man said last week, if I do the opposite I wouldn't be Yip anymore.

I don't have any specific explanations why I stopped writing. I still don't have as I still don't know the reason for what happened.

Last weekend I was in Athens again. With many differences. Unlike the previous time, I didn't stay in a hotel. Kounoupi (the greatest guy ever! :) ) gave me food and shelter. Of course I paid for those by obeying him like my other 4 brothers.

This time I didn't feel like I'm somewhere else. People and places weren't plenty new for me but Savvas was! In september, I spent a lot of time alone because Katie was working and she had to spent some time with her family. But this time I only had 30 mins or so alone when I went to get my ring repaired. After that, I had a little walk around because I was receiving phone calls about work. While walking around, I realized that I couldn't totally get over some stuff. I was sad while walking in those streets 2 months ago, but now I was angry. My brain was again working properly like before but this time my heart was full of anger and confusement. There were some pinpoints for me around there, and I as saw them again, I realized that my feelings changed a lot. I was now over the sadness and sense of humiliation but I lost my understanding. 2 months ago, I was saying that I can understand what happened although understanding doesn't mean agreement. But 2 months later, I could easily see that I cannot either understand anymore. So, I just got rid of everything by walking on those places over and over again. I certainly left everything in there. Now, I don't have a single little piece left. This alone 30 mins was very effective because of that...when I felt free and relaxed, I turned back to my friends to see their peaceful faces.

I'm writing this as a closing post for the first trip. That's why I won't give any other details about my very last one. I can only say that it was extremely happy and I'm a very very lucky Yip.

End of the story. Bye Athens for the first time!

Day 7 - Episode 2 - Night Shots

Believe me, Athens must be seen at night with a different look. My night out for photography was perfect! It's not possible to describe it with words...

To tell the truth, I was just hanging around till that moment. I mean, having a passion for photography is something else. Bert has it, but I'm not like this in normal times. (I won't say a word about Japanese tourist Katie :) ) Yes, I realize very nice frames but I'm not into to shoot that much...in Barcelona, I shot too many photos, maybe it was because of my 'first trip abroad' pscyhology. I don't know. That's why, I left my camera in my room on my first 3 days in Athens and took it back when Bert arrived. And that night, I decided to catch some frames because I loved Athens at night...

This time when I left the hotel, my perception was completely different than the previous days. It wasn't dark at all, sunset came along on my way to Syntagma. People were looking at me on streets because sometimes I was just lying on the pavement to align the angle :)

Of course my camera wasn't good at night shots again, so I tried to set the most accurate exposure values all the time. It's tiring, but what can I do? It's still good than my previous one. I have to learn how to live with it. It is a 'he' I guess, and as we all know none of the 'he's in my life are normal. Yip is perfect at picking problematic males even he is a camera! They need care always, decide not to work all of a sudden, run out of batteries even if loaded recently...ooof! Life is hard! :)

There was a man with a wheelchair around the Evangelismos metro station. He was acting like Grouchy Smurf and I got scared to take a pic of him by showing. For that reason I hided myself behind the metro map thing, and try to catch him between the metal lines. It was like a paparazzi shooting. I could take a wonderful pic if a stupid teenager didn't stand in front of him for 20 mins by talking on the phone. Kill Vodafone because of its special offers!!!!!!!!!!

I walked to the Monastiraki square, and then decided to go back to eat something. The street from Syntagma to Monastiraki was my favorite place. I know that there are 3 different ones but my best is the very left one when you give your back to the Syntagma square. I went to a cafe that I planned to go before. They didn't have so nice things to eat but the concept was good. There were some Chinese girls next to that were speaking very fast! I called Katie when I was there, and we spoke for half an hour I guess. Now, I miss it too much. To call her and talk to her that long...ouf! :(

After that I had a walk to Flea Market to see the graffitis at night. Ayh, it was perfect...and there was a fashion shooting there. I stayed for a little while and helped them a little. Then I realized that I'm on holiday, why was I still standing there??? It is a professional deformation, that we can't stop ourselves....

Because Katie mum told me not to be too late, I decided to go back, also it was almost midnight and I didn't want to walk back to hotel. Walking to the center was fun but going back? Hell no!

Ah, and I spoke Greek all night. In the cafe, on street, with the guy who asked for my lighter...Nai, I did it! :)

Day 7 - Episode 1 - Bad Day

Actually I don't have much to say about this episode because I was feeling so bad and couldn't be able to leave the room till afternoon. Previous two days were the very best performance of mine to tell the truth...it was all about a woman stuff which kills me in normal, but this time I really performed by best :)

Anyway, after getting a little better I went out and meet Katie&Bert. They were in the park close to Syntagma and we were having a little trouble about job. It was Bert's last day...so we walked a little and decided to go to Taf before they leave for the airport. I was excited to be in there but for my luck, they were reconstructing :((( So, I couldn't be able to see any exhibitions. Thank God, somebody drew a nice woman in a toilet cabin and wrote very meaningful (!) phrases!

Then the time came. Bert was leaving and I was feeling bad. Because it was something new for us. Most of the time we are not able to leave the office together. One of us must stay there. This was an exception and I loved it. Although not being like this now, I decided not to be business partners with my close friends. If it happens, we will never be able to go on vacations together. It's too bad!

I went to my room to have a rest again (because my head was spinning) and then go out and have a night in Athens with my camera.

Day 6 - Episode 2 -Dinner with G and Inception

After having a long walk back to my hotel, I only had enough time to take a shower, get dressed and leave. G was already at our dinner place which was in Evangelismos, close to my hotel. I again walked there and while trying to find the place I realized that we are speaking in Turkish, English and Greek :)

Whole dinner was like that actually, a perfect combination of 3 languages. I wasn't fully energetic this time because of not having a rest and also a special condition that always stucks me to the bed unlike this time. The table was full of meat, each kind of! Kouneli, chicken, pork...but I was into the potatoes and the yoghurt filled yufka. Actually I adore everything with yoghurt and Katie says that I'm eating 'Cacik' all day! Yes I do, and we are so happy together. 

For a while, I put my head down to G's lap, she was caressing my hair and I felt like I could stay like this forever. Closing my eyes in a silent city, under a gentle wind, after a delicious meal, and hearing Bert's voice like I'm home. It really felt like home, aaah ah! 

Our plan was to go and see Inception in an open cinema but I wasn't so good. I was hardly staying awake but on the other hand it was Inception! So, of course I ended in the cinema...

I was behaving like a catatonic during each 3D and post-touched scene and Bert was looking at me to see my grief :) They were good...really so so so good. Yes, there were some problems in editing and some camera angles but I think the movie wasn't selling audiences a pocket unlike most of the Hollywood mainstream movies. It was complicated and had confusing transitions but it wasn't hard to realize what's going on if you watch it carefully. I liked it, I really liked it...but I guess I'll watch it again in order to examine all post production once more :)))

After the movie, it was time to go home but I thought my dress (it was a black chic dress which is not my usual style) would be suitable for a night at Omonia :p 

I couldn't sleep immediately...I was thinking about the movie...and maybe about something else. But just a little :)

Day 6 - Episode 1 - Bert+Yip Around Acropolis

On our second day, we were like old people. We didn't know why but we both said that 'I couldn't wake up, my head was heavy like stone and now I don't want to do anything'. It was weird that both of us felt same way but also was good in a way, so that we picked a place for breakfast and stayed there for at least two hours. 

Neither me nor Bert remembered our conversations later, they were really just talking. This was perfect for us...just sitting without doing anything, not talking at all, living like a catatonic. What we need is this! Because of feeling that way, I thought about our holidays and work flow. We both went on 9 days long vacations in July, how come we need to rest that much? Then it flashed; we did 4 jobs in a month! Yes, we really did...off what was it! :))

Then we decided to take 'my train' and see Acropolis. Bert was poli poli funny in the train :) As we reached the ticket office, we were surprised with the price. It was expensive, we sat on a rock and discussed about it because we both have been in Ephesus and we weren't sure that we would see something very very special up there. We used our 'telephone joker' choice and called Katie. As a responsible mother, she told us to go back somewhere and prohibited my drinks only by orange juice :)

We walked the way down, took photos, spoke on the phone for work and again ended in a peaceful square. But before this, we watched a protest of trucks. There were about 20 trucks horning like vuvuzelas and police men around them. In these days, it is possible to see something like that everyday in here. 

As an old couple we again went one of the places. Actually it was because of me this time. I'm trying to train them both by asking for basic needs of a child 'I'm hungry! I'm thirsty! I have to pee!' :))

Sangria...fruit salad...frappe...books...drawings....old lady...photos...insects...slow Greek life...those are the summary of our stay!

Katie called us after all those happened. We were going to have dinner with G, so she was going to pick Bert and I was going to get my sun glasses from the cafe.

There was nothing special with my walk except the gentle touches of Rodriguez. He wants me back but I'm not sure to go back to him. An ex one cannot be a next one I think :))))

Ah also I kept listening Mad World continiously (donnie darko ost), I was stuck!

Day 5 - Episode 2 - Uzo and Ferrari's Birthday

Olakala, the perfect night!

After resting for 2 or 3 hours, my parents called and told me to cone to Syntagma. Because of spending time with G, I was late this time :) I jumped into the car by saying 'kalimera, kalinixta, epitelous, tsouhtra...' and all the Greek word I know and I saw the weird glances in Eleni's eyes :)

We were going to the port and mum got lost. While this was happening I was raping Eleni's brain because I was full of energy again. Finally we made it...but with a little mistake. As we placed on our table, and looked around, they realized that we were in the wrong place. There was another restaurant which has the same owner and we were at the wrong one. Bert and Katie started to say 'We knew it! There was something wrong!'

On the table, we had everything that you can imagine and they were extremely wonderful! I loved Eleni, she is a poli poli poli objective commenter and a poli poli good observer I think. Besides she is cute and funny :)

A guitar player stopped by us. This was the incident which turned us upside down because he started to play a song of Mahsun Kirmizigul and continued with Ibrahim Tatlises (turkish arabesk singers!) when he learned that we are Turkish. Bert and I were completely surprised and had fun :)))

After various serious topics, politician called Eleni and said that he is about to enter the bar so we left...for the birthday!

Ferrari, as usual, was standing there in a very cool way :))) I talked to him fir a little while and he laughed for many times but his laughing was again in a cool manner. Ok, we know that he is the boss but I can't understand how come he can be like this all the time? :)

I meet with Eleni's boyfriend (and I think he is a very nice man too), Savvas 'the Kounoupi' who Bert and I both know from his facebook comments, and Niki 'the Blonde' :) 

It was unusual for me to be still alive after 2 glasses of uzo, and I was continuing on drinking apple martini's. I have no idea...something happened to me in this country. Also we have a difference in here; in Istanbul Bert just puts me in a cab and sends home after my first drink because I really get drunk in the middle, but in here we xan stay out together till the end of the night. This was something really new for us, never and ever happened before! :)

G and the 'mysterious guy' Aris showed up later on (still I'm not corrected by anyone, so I guess I write his name sosta). 

I stepped back for a while and loed at us. Bert was talking to Eleni and her boyfriend, Katie was talking to soneone else and I was just chatting with everyone...it feeled like home. It was like we went out for a drink and meet our company. This was strange but so familiar, like we were always been with those people. Gee, I really want to stay here!!!!!!

Because everybody's going to work next day, we left early this time. By early I mean 2.30 or something...and before leaving I confessed to the birthday child that I'm calling him Ferrari. But he said ok, of course with a 'cool' standing again! :)))

This night was a Facebook group meeting for Bert and me actually. Like we know each other through a group on Facebook and then decided to make it real :))) 

Anyway, as a conclusion ; I loved all of those people. And I'm glad to see them alive :)))) 

Day 5 - EpiSode 1 - Bert and Yip!

Yep, as usual, he woke me up :) But this time it took a little time for me to get out of the bed because I'm not used to have drinks everyday. As I got ready, I asked him where he is and this was our conversion;

-Where are you?
-I'm in a place full of butchers! 
-Ok, I know that place. Wait, I'm coming!

Yes I really knew that place buy I used to be there because of being lost. So, I couldn't make it and got lost again. It took a while for me to realize that I'm lost & find my way out, that's why we decided to meet in Monstraki. As a funny Turkish company, we went to eat souvlaki and again welcomed by everyone because of being Turkish. I really can't umderstand people who say that Greeks generally have problem with us. No, they don't! They all are lovely!!!

After that we started to search for the place that sells camera lenses. Katie was sending us pinned maps and we were trying to use our own map desperately. Guess what? We got lost for a while. Guess why? Of course because of me again :))))

During our way, we took some photos. I asked Bert to shoot some photos that I want to with my camera because he is taller than me. Sometimes I cannot arrange the frames because of my height but it's good to have a huge man with me. I told him about the mysterious guy I meet before and we just realized the whole story looks like the short movie script of a friend of his. Even the name of the guy, even the running at the airport, even the strange standing of the situation! I guess I'm starting to be afraid!!!

Then mum called...the very real one and she again asked where we are. I really can't understand that woman, she keeps asking that. 

-Where are you?
-I'm in Athens Mum! 
-Of course I know that, but where ard you in Athens?

We can't understand her, she has never been here! :)))

The shop wasn't a place for our expectations but we again spend a little time over there. Then we decided to go to the cafe I found a few days ago, with the nice live Greek music whole day and night. Bert liked it so much too. You see, I'm not a tourist anymore, I have specific places :) While we were there, we realized that we got tired of walking. Our plan for night was to have a dinner with fish & uzo and then join Ferrari's birthday party. So we went back to our hotels in order to get some rest. And the night will come with the next post!