Back to Greece

Posted by Joe Hallwood - 07:14 on 29 June 2009

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It's taken this long for me to feel that I can make the pilgrimage. It's nearly 10 years since I left Greece: the country where I spent 6 glorious years living and working as an English teacher.

Only now do I feel that I can safely make that return trip. Only now can I book a return flight safe in the knowledge that the sirens of souvlaki, swordfish and Zembetiko will not lure me into making it a one-way trip. It's indeed taken this long to know that only now have my Hellenic yearnings sufficiently subsided to make me confident that I will be able to bid a fond yassoo and step back onto the plane at Athens airport.

But, how will the Greece of the Nineties compare to the Greece of the Naughties? Will my favourite tavernas still be there? What will my old school look like? My students will be 10 years older, what will they look like? What will I look like? Although I like to think that I haven't changed a bit, others may have differing opinions. I recently got in touch with a couple of old students on facebook, they've changed!

In a couple of weeks I'll be out in Greece visiting old haunts like Nafplio and Methoni before heading to the centre of the Peloponnese, Tripolis, my old town. I'll keep you posted on my musings of how things are, that is of course if I can drag myself away from the souvlaki and her friends.

Back to Greece
The Road to Athens
An Awakening City

Your Comments

Comment by kellie at 18:35 on 29 June 2009.

I know just how you feel! For me it's Spain though. I lived there in the late 90's and I plan to return next spring to walk the camino to Santiago. And I fear that once I return I will never be able to leave. Spain has had a hold on me since the day we met. I love that country the way you love Greece. I've never been to Greece but I suspect I could easily fall in love with it, too! Good luck and don't feel badly about deciding to just stay there!

Comment by Euan Sturrock at 21:23 on 29 June 2009.

Yassou Joe (yassou Kostas), Its Euan here from the March course in Dundee. Im finally off to Greece in Aug to start looking for work in Thessaloniki for the September season. I will be driving down with all my treasured belongings and my Greek girlfriend as translator. Good luck to me and all the best to you for your return trip. I will keep you posted...

Comment by evelyn at 23:45 on 29 June 2009.

How lovely, am green with envy! Spent two fantastic holidays on Evia island, and visited the Acropolis, I adored Greece and it's delightful people, have a super time! Selfish cow!- but will someone else have to be my tutor now? hope to resume after I see the ortho-pod next week! good luck, and Bon Voyage! Cheers, Evelyn Hi Evelyn No, dont worry, I'm only going back for a visit. So, I'll still be your tutor. Cheers Joe

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