Thessaloniki in the fog

Thessaloniki in the fog, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Pols, like zombies, keep on coming back to public life no matter what

Pols, like zombies, keep on coming back to public life no matter how many times you get rid of them, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Aristotelous Square

Aristotelous, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Fog bound this morning. Strangely though, the top of the square was bathed in sunlight.

Extreme parking

Extreme parking, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The lack of car parking facilities in Thessaloniki has forced local drivers to take things into their own hands.

Actually, I was going home from a lesson when I saw this parked inside a local video store. The driver had left his car just up the hill from the place but the handbrake had failed letting it roll into the shop. Luckily, nobody was hurt.

Uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ on 15 Jan 08, 10.41PM EET.

Port worker's demonstration

Port worker protesting, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Port workers in Greece are protesting government plans to privatise the industry.

Gatecrashing the party.

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Tonight I gatecrashed some fancy do with lots of pols. I was going from lesson to lesson when I saw that there was a do in in the Velleidio conference centre. Parking the Vespa, I just took out my camera and strolled into the place and started taking pics.

It was yet another chance for the chattering classes to congratulate themselves on...what exactly? I haven't the faintest. Something to do with sport I think. Like they need an excuse?

However, unlike this bunch on self-serving blow hards I had work to do. So I missed all their wonderful speeches in praise of themselves.

Sluicing the crap out of my ears

After hearing this particular member of the government's speech at the OKANA (an organisation the helps people deal with the effects of drug addiction) I just wanted to sluice out the bullshit from my ears. I'm constantly amazed by their self - love and total unwillingness to accept any responsibility for any mistakes, they or their party have made.

Instead, pol after pol droned on about how he has been trying to get more funding, but mysteriously they have all failed due to the "establishment" or "special interest groups."

I'm sick of them playing pass the buck whilst trying desperately to sell the idea of themselves as rebels fighting the system.

OKANA exhibition opening

OKANA exhibition opening, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

During the soviet era Russian citizens had to get permission to have a gathering of more than four people. If things continue as they have been recently any gathering of more than four people in Thessaloniki will need to have the presence of Panayiotis Psomiadis, the publicity crazed head of the local prefecture.

Life on the streets

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Life on the streets here is harder than I can possibly imagine.

I meet this guy in the summer as he was quietly drinking retsina under a tree in the centre. Then, by chance I bumped into him whilst I was taking pictures during a student demonstration.

Uploaded by Teacher Dude

Students demonstrations

Pictures from the Demonstration by TEI (technical institutes) over lack of funding for their branch of higher education and education in general in Greece. Often these places are seen by the government as a cheap dumping ground for young people wishing to study beyond high school. they lack facilities and the staff are paid abysmally (and often even that pittance is delayed for months on end).

See here and here for reports in Greek.

Manolis's story

Manolis, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Thankfully, some stories have a happy end. Last week I wrote about Manolis, a busker who I often bump into whilst taking pictures in the centre.The last time I saw him he was looking very depressed and nothing like his usual cheerful self, the reason being that he had been served a deportation notice that told him that that after ten years of legal residence in Greece he had 30 days to return to Albania. Luckily, I had on me the number of a lawyer who deals in such cases and Giorgos, despite being swamped with work this week was more than willing to help out.

Now instead of being summarily expelled from the country Manolis has a fighting chance to being able to stay in the country as his case will have to undergo judicial review which he has a good chance of winning.

Hommage to Hitchcock

For all those fans of Hitchcock's The Birds.

Last day off

Last day before I go back to work full-time so I thought I'd roam the city and take pictures in my free time. I decided to take in different places throughout Thessaloniki.

Abandoned

Abandoned, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken from the top floor of a deserted tobacco warehouse on the west side of the city. Strangely, the place still smelt strongly of tobacco even though it must have been abandoned for years.

Luckily, I went there before I watched I am Legend otherwise there is no way I'd enter a dark gloomy building full of shadows and who knows what.

Feeling Good

Feeling Good, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin on by you know how I feel

(refrain:)
Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel

(refrain)

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, dont you know
Butterflies all havin fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
Thats what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel"

Feeling Good by Nina Simone

Helping out

I got the chance to help someone yesterday. While buying bread in the centre I bumped into Manolis, who I often see busking in Aristotelous Square. We always chat and catch up on our news. Unfortunately, after 10 years residence in Greece he was served with a notice telling him that he had 30 days to quit the country. As you can imagine the man was gutted and at a loss as to what to do. He has no money to hire a lawyer to fight this decision and without his papers he becomes a non - person unable to earn a living, living in fear of every cop or official who crosses his path.

Luckily, I was able to put him contact with a lawyer friend who specialises in such cases and a after a couple of calls later we were able to pop by his office and at least see if his case could be contested.

Dude by Minas

, originally uploaded by minas_of_the_north.

One of great things about meeting up with other Flickr users such as Fragitsa and Minas is that you can talk about pictures, photographers and influences to your heart's content knowing that the others are not going to enter glazed eye mode within 30 seconds.

The other advantage is that you can take endless pictures of each other without annoying the others. Geeky? Nerdy? Absolutely. But when you see results like this by Minas then who cares what others think.

Minas - at least that's what he told us

Minas, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Minas and Fragitsa

Last night I had the chance to go out and have a great time with Minas and Fragitsa, both of whom are wonderful photographers. It was great being able to chat about life, photography and Czech beer.

Minas - www.flickr.com/photos/minas_papadopoulos/

Fragitsa - www.flickr.com/photos/fragitsa/

Any similarity between this and Minas's work is purely intentional.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Charles Caleb Colton

Happy 2008

I hope that those of you celebrated New Year had a great time. I certainly did, surrounded by friends, eating and drinking to my heart's content. A few images from then, then.