Armageddon

I was out on the roof late last night and I felt the urge to shout “Armageddon!”. This wasn’t because of a failed feltching session but rather because of what I saw in the sky. For a brief moment I thought there was a fire raging on somewhere. But no, it was just the sky going crazy and the end of the world coming.


The cloud rolled in over Herzliya and things went crazy there for about half an hour.

Better never than late

OK, I have been given fair warning this year regarding the fact that I was going to get my birthday present at a fashionably late time.

It seems, however, that someone has a rather mean sense of humor. As some of you may know I went to a cousin’s wedding last night. The wedding was great and we all had a lot of fun. As I was making my way to my car I could see that someone had left something on the windshield. “Just another flyer” I thought. Imagine my surprise when I found out what it really was:

Parthenon and Anderson

Yassas friends! I’m back from Greece and even though my first visit there was marked by some bad timing all in all I enjoyed myself and will probably be heading back there again one day.

The heat wave that has been following me around Europe showed up also in Greece. Luckily I had some short pants otherwise I would have died (not that wearing a suit there was a great pleasure...)

After wrapping up the meetings I hurried to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon and other sites there. Unfortunately the site is under repairs so most pictures taken there would have shown mainly scaffolding.



The view of Athens from the acropolis was great and it also allowed me to spot this little piece of heaven in the city – maybe I should equip my roof in a similar manner...



While in the acropolis I heard music from the amphitheatre. After discussing the matter with some Greeks It turned out that there was going to be a concert there that same evening. Apparently Laurie Anderson was going to perform.

Ok, so I didn’t know who she was either. But what the hell – if there was going to be a show at the amphitheatre at the acropolis I was going to be there!



As it turned out we (I was traveling with someone else from work) arrived late and they wouldn’t let us go to our seats (which were in the lower tier). We went to the top tier and were thankful for it, and for being late. This Anderson type is a weird one. While it is basically a musical show the music isn’t very harmonic, she doesn’t really sing, and since this is an as-of-yet unreleased album no one really had any idea what she was going to say. So everyone just sat there and listened carefully.


When the show finally came to an end everyone clapped their hands politely. This was just too much for me – I started shouting like I had just been to a Metallica concert and this seemed to rouse the crowd – everyone started shouting and whistling like crazy. It was really funny. Ay, those crazy Greeks.

That’s it for now... kalispera.

Bern, baby, Bern

Upon arrival to Bern I got completely wet. This was due to:

1. The fact that it was raining.
2. The fact that I couldn’t find an ATM (I needed Swiss Franks for the Taxi).
3. The fact that the taxi driver took me on a 30 Frank ride instead of the 1 minute walk I actually needed to get from the train station to the hotel.

Still, I was relieved to find that there were no demonstrations going on. This might have been due to:
1. The fact that the Swiss Parliament was in session while I was in town (which is also why there were almost no available hotel rooms in Bern).
2. The fact that the Swiss have absolutely nothing to demonstrate about.
3. The fact that there seemed to be a convention of no-parking signs in Bern:


All in all though, Bern is a lovely place to hang out in. It has a charming ancient center where you can stroll through the streets, do some people-watching and find some interesting shops. One of these seemed to be selling Yamaha made merchandise, which included both Pianos and Motorcycles:


Much like the rest of their European neighbors, the Swiss love their bicycles. There are plenty of them to be found in every street. So much so in fact, that I ran into some models which were previously unknown to me – check out this two person contraption:


I know I threatened some people that the next post must be theirs or else. I’ve also promised to help them with that post so I’m giving them a pardon until such time as I actually get around to helping them (hopefully during this weekend).

BTW – we’re all meeting on Saturday. Be there or face my wrath!

Living la vida Vodka

Unlike my first visit to Moscow, which was 2fast2furious2fuckinghot (37 degrees in Moscow?!?!), this visit found me a in a deeper state of relaxation. I had a lot of free time and I set out to discover the mysteries of the red square. As is the case in many of my travels I found myself in the middle of yet another demonstration. Luckily for me it was a quiet one and it was about the environment so no one got hurt (in other words – it was pretty boring ;) ).


I continued my foray deep behind the iron curtain and marveled at the fact that it was a beautiful day and that I was walking about this place as if it was just another tourist attraction in some sunny part of the world.


Everything was so bright and colorful, the sun was out and people were about.


Only my dear old friend Lenin reminded me of the history of this place. Shalom Haver.

I had intended to go into the mausoleum but there was a big line of people and I have never been a person to stand in line. Especially not in Moscow :)

One final note – I expect the next post here to have some nice pictures from Nepal. If not – I shall have my revenge. The people I’m addressing – you know who you are – beware! I know where you live!