11.28.2004
catching up:
sept 4/04
First time had a chance to sit and write something. Thoughts dont require staying still but recording them does; it has more staying power if it's mulled over. Athens is getting further and further away as the ferry sails towards the island of Paros; one of many in the series that constitute the greek islands. its been an interesting week. 12 days ago completely un-inspired and idle I received an approval for a visitors visa from the greek embassy in san francisco. looking at the olympics schedule I realized that wrestling and takewondo competitions took place in the last few days of the games, that meant I had to leave immediately. It all clicked into place and I kicked myself for not thinking/planning it sooner. TIME OFF, OLYMPICS, IN GREECE, WHERE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO VISIT, WITH A PLACE TO STAY, CLOSE TO IRAN FOR THE FOLLOW UP TRIP, ROOTING FOR MY COUNTRY MAN IN THE OLDEST INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN THE WORLD... I bought an airline ticket at 2:30 pm on the same day while driving around trying to make last minute plans in preparation for the journey, lets just say the dirty dishes were still in the sink when I left. I flew out the following day to arrive in NY and continue on to Athens. The trip to say the least was a nightmare. The SF - > NY part went smoothly but trouble began in JFK where I had a 10 hour layover. had it all worked out; I check in as soon as I get there securing an exit seat with a lot of leg room, then grab a cab into the city for lunch with a few friends and be back with plenty of time on the clock. obviously plans never work out the way we think so not only I was not able to check in in advance, the airline alowed me to board the plane only an hour before the flight after numerous conversations/letters/faxes between me, them and the greek embassy in san francisco. The last words of the super-super-supervisor was 'We will allow you to board the plane but we are warning you that you could be turned back by the immigration in greece'. I thought of cuting my losses and turning back. so there I stood after 36 hours of sleepless chaos through cramped middle seats and long airport corridors looking at the immigration officer thumbing through my passport. 'where you staying?' 'with a friend' 'is he here?' 'yes' he started grumbling 'your passport expires in 2 months'. SHIT. after all this expense/time/effort it would utterly suck for him to send me back. I was so fatigued that would set my bags down in the middle of the airport and go to a long nubming sleep. next time I see someone like that I know exactly what they've been through. 'Yes, but I'm planning to renew it here'. more grumbling. 'How much money do you have?' 'thousand dollars'. he grumbled some more and finaly stamped the passport with an unsatisfied look on his face, like I've come back to avenge the burning of persopolis and he had no other option to let me in. I knew the chances of them turning me away was slim. Thanks to Americans scaring the crap out of everyone and requesting an incredible amount of security the attendance was down and they could use every single euro. I was through with a big sigh of relief. To be honest I thought to turn back at every step through this hasty trip thinking the big guy is trying to tell me something, scheduling conflicts: dont go, issues with the ticket: dont go, passport problems: dont go. When the mind is weak and tired it will start to wonder and grab things out of thin air; it wasn't meant to be, maybe the plane is going to crash? maybe its not worth it? ... But now that I think about it with the sun in my face relaxing on the deck of a ship on the blue waters of meditterane I realize that it was just flawed thinking. most of the problems were either due to unforseen circumstances or lack of planning. we do the best we can and hope for the best. thats as close to a warranty we can get to.
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sept 4/04
First time had a chance to sit and write something. Thoughts dont require staying still but recording them does; it has more staying power if it's mulled over. Athens is getting further and further away as the ferry sails towards the island of Paros; one of many in the series that constitute the greek islands. its been an interesting week. 12 days ago completely un-inspired and idle I received an approval for a visitors visa from the greek embassy in san francisco. looking at the olympics schedule I realized that wrestling and takewondo competitions took place in the last few days of the games, that meant I had to leave immediately. It all clicked into place and I kicked myself for not thinking/planning it sooner. TIME OFF, OLYMPICS, IN GREECE, WHERE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO VISIT, WITH A PLACE TO STAY, CLOSE TO IRAN FOR THE FOLLOW UP TRIP, ROOTING FOR MY COUNTRY MAN IN THE OLDEST INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN THE WORLD... I bought an airline ticket at 2:30 pm on the same day while driving around trying to make last minute plans in preparation for the journey, lets just say the dirty dishes were still in the sink when I left. I flew out the following day to arrive in NY and continue on to Athens. The trip to say the least was a nightmare. The SF - > NY part went smoothly but trouble began in JFK where I had a 10 hour layover. had it all worked out; I check in as soon as I get there securing an exit seat with a lot of leg room, then grab a cab into the city for lunch with a few friends and be back with plenty of time on the clock. obviously plans never work out the way we think so not only I was not able to check in in advance, the airline alowed me to board the plane only an hour before the flight after numerous conversations/letters/faxes between me, them and the greek embassy in san francisco. The last words of the super-super-supervisor was 'We will allow you to board the plane but we are warning you that you could be turned back by the immigration in greece'. I thought of cuting my losses and turning back. so there I stood after 36 hours of sleepless chaos through cramped middle seats and long airport corridors looking at the immigration officer thumbing through my passport. 'where you staying?' 'with a friend' 'is he here?' 'yes' he started grumbling 'your passport expires in 2 months'. SHIT. after all this expense/time/effort it would utterly suck for him to send me back. I was so fatigued that would set my bags down in the middle of the airport and go to a long nubming sleep. next time I see someone like that I know exactly what they've been through. 'Yes, but I'm planning to renew it here'. more grumbling. 'How much money do you have?' 'thousand dollars'. he grumbled some more and finaly stamped the passport with an unsatisfied look on his face, like I've come back to avenge the burning of persopolis and he had no other option to let me in. I knew the chances of them turning me away was slim. Thanks to Americans scaring the crap out of everyone and requesting an incredible amount of security the attendance was down and they could use every single euro. I was through with a big sigh of relief. To be honest I thought to turn back at every step through this hasty trip thinking the big guy is trying to tell me something, scheduling conflicts: dont go, issues with the ticket: dont go, passport problems: dont go. When the mind is weak and tired it will start to wonder and grab things out of thin air; it wasn't meant to be, maybe the plane is going to crash? maybe its not worth it? ... But now that I think about it with the sun in my face relaxing on the deck of a ship on the blue waters of meditterane I realize that it was just flawed thinking. most of the problems were either due to unforseen circumstances or lack of planning. we do the best we can and hope for the best. thats as close to a warranty we can get to.
