Mittens 2005: The Return

[m0ds]

That's a really fun report, Peterri! Thanks for posting it up, I really enjoyed reading it! Hahahaha More comments when Im less tired though! Promise to have mine up soon, too *sleeps*

[Pumaman]

Hehe, very nicely written ... thanks for posting that, brings back memories of those hot summer nights in Greece 

[m0ds]

Here it is! Lots of people have been awaiting my photos from Greece, and I apologise for the delay! I've been reaally reallly busy & presenting it this way has been a bit of a mission....but as I said in the past, posting late helps bring back memories





The sign advertised the last bus to Terminal 4 at 23:30. I was there
in good time but it never showed, a bus fifteen minutes later arrived
and took me to the Central Bus Station at Heathrow. There, I asked the
driver what the deal was with a ride to Terminal 4. He replied; "Nahhhhhhhhhhhhh mate,
why would I go to a Terminal that's closed? The last bus there is at 10pm."

So it was 1am, nowhere near terminal 4, (which is apparently closed anyway)
and no tobacco. After exploring the terminal tunnels under Terminal 2 & 3,
my path to Terminal 4 was blocked - the only way to it was a metro-system,
closed until 5.25am... Which caused concern, seen as the flight was scheduled
to leave an hour later. I didn't walk it from Terminal 2 either, cos would
probably be 2 miles away, in a direction I never knew existed - and my rucksack was heavy, too.



SO I KIP ON TEH FLOOR.

At 5.10am a woman awakes me and the doors to the metro-system were open,
so I made my way to the platform and awaited on a train for 15 minutes or
so. When it arrived, and I trundled round to Terminal 4 to the delights of
fast moving destination shots on TV screens inside the cabin. At the depatures
area I bumped into AGA, CJ, Scotch, Dark Stalkey, Custard & Disco - all at the
front of the queue, so hahrahrha I went to the front too. So it all worked out
quite nicely timed, although AGA and co had been trying to call me, thinking I
had perhaps pulled out :p (I didn't take my mobile, I thought I'd be in terminal
4 at 1am1!). Anyway.



Disco hadn't organised something, or they hadn't gotten something
straight with him. So they called airport security & he was taken
away immediatley.



The flight to Geneva with British Airways was pleasent. Of course, the
catering polava had been continuing at Heathrow, so instead of in-flight
service - we were able to grab packs of food from a table at Heathrow.
I took a few. They had crackers and kitkats and stuff. Mmmmm. Stuff
GateGourmet, I prefer the "grab what you want" method. Some people
played Poker in Geneva (I tried, but failed) - and then we flew on to
GREECE!



And this was one of the first things we saw after lots of mountains, sea
& a billion houses and clouds. Athens international airport! Soon to be AGS International Airport! :p



So the poker resumes, and Disco comes out of a door marked "interrogation".
Just how he got to Greece we'll never know, but the main thing is he's happy
& well - and has returned*.



Scotch plays artistic chess, whilst Helm plays with hith hair.



HELM SPEAKS!!



Ben Jordan arrives! Disco held up a sign to greet him, sadly I
was in the wrong place to capture it. :p



A smiley happy welcome and hello from Farlander & La Lore, as they arrive
deep into the night whilst a few of us are half asleep in the busy airport
atmosphere & half way up an escalator on a trolley in our heads because of it.
Some are sleepier than others.



Awwwww! See.



People dropping off everywhere.



2ma2 arrives!



The next morning, or it may have been two mornings later - I can't
remember now, whenever we finally managed to leave the airport**, we
couldn't get through to Goldmund! Here's Helm trying, I don't
think he's pressing the right button. :p SO WE LEFT WITHOUT HIM.



And arrived in ATHENS, courtesy of the airport-athens bus. Here
is a typical back street in Athens. This area of Athens seemed
quite modern and "finished". They really do play up the "ruins"
aspect over there, in some areas some buildings seem to be left
, as if to get them to put themselves up :p



See Grundislav's picture for a Matrix style effect



Here is another typical street in Al Q'eada, another bus stop
on our journey to Agia Anna Beach!



Helm sits around. waits.

It's a bus depot.

Looks like someone else is waiting for Xenogia to hurry up, too....



ANYWAY...



Jet & myself enjoy the sights & sounds of Halkida.



Mmmmmmmm, tuck in Chris! Well - there isn't much that can be said about a bus depot. It was exceptionally hot, and I was just eager to head on to Agia Anna, through the mountains & to the camp-site!



There were lots of lucious colours! The bus had to climb one huge mountain, it took about an hour to get up and hour to get down it because of the winding road system. This system also proved to be quite dangerous, safety barriers along the high road existed - but were more frequently damaged than they were intact. On the last day at the camp-site, on the way back from the campsite to the bus-stopÃ,  we saw a car that had gone off the road. Luckily not off the MOUNTAIN road! ._.



This was a typical view from the bus on the way to the campsite!



Ten miles on and somehow we're still passing the same bit of mountain :p

Finally we make it to the camp-site! It's hot, there's wasps and the third taxi has disappeared! But soon it arrives and everyone is eager to get in, put up their tents and explore. A little later, Goldmund appears out of nowhere and cleverly recognises me. I show him to his camping spot and soon every AGSer is there to watch in wonder as Goldmund puts up his tent. However, he struggles a little and everyone tries to lend a hand. 18 AGSers later and it's still not up...





Finally, it's up! But no-one is quite sure how it got there.

That night it was time for some serious socialising! The crew headed for the beach,
just a hundred metres away from the campsite - past an aids ridden dog.



Discussion POV:



Enough of the beach - everyone floats back to the campsite.



The next evening, we decided to have a bit of a walk along the beach and find a restaraunt of some kind to eat in. This Greek bar seemed like the perfect place with a very nice view!



Everbody enjoys reading the menu...



It just wouldn't Mittens without a little bad-spelling...



Unfortunately, 17 of us couldn't speak Greek to order our food - thankfully one of us could. Helm proceeded to place everyones order. Cheers man!



Then we EAT! & by jove did we eat a LOT! Spot the Drum Gold on location in Greece.



Mmmmmm, Disco gives in and eats 2ma2...



It had become apparent by this point that one of the comical items joining us on our trip to Greece was CJ's chef-like hat, which he says he bought at Tesco for 2.99, though we know really that he just swiped it off the delicatesent counter None the less, it does the rounds. Firstly Scotch tries it on for size.



Then AGA



Lorena models the hat...



and so does a member of staff at the restaraunt.



Using our 1337 adventure game sk1ll0rz, a fire is started that evening (which seems to spur the interest of other holidaymakers and beachgoers, who then start lots of fires down the beach - which looks cool, because theres a fire every half mile down!!!)



I had the honour of sleeping with Tom in the tent, and poor Disco who had travelling through various airports wound up in...our porch. With no sleeping bag, no mat - nothing. Yet somehow, he seemed quite content?



After Berian's big drink up, brawl & fall - he wouldn't awake easily the next day.



That morning, more interesting things are happening: CJ, at first glance, drinks some brain:



The crew chat and laugh, though we know at the back of their minds they're wondering when the next wasp will strike...



So to clear our minds of paranoia - Goldmund decides to put a chair on Helm's head, and mystically levitate a water bottle above the chair. "I sense voodoo!"



My Greek way:



A drink I won't ever be drinking again - though I know Dominika & Goldmund love their Frappe's!



Anyway - enough drinking and smoking - it's time for some swimming! However, not everyone packed the right clothes:



Oh well - that never stopped Goldmund!



The water was nice and warm, this year there weren't jelly fish every square foot - and so swimming was pleasent and fun. Here's a POV!





I now love Greece!



We dominated the campsite, and elected a special corner for card playing, discussion and other activities! Cheetos were a popular choice of food...well for me, especially!



And THEN we had the idea to play basketball! But in true adventure game fashion, there were obstables!



Even though we USE Andail WITH Reception Staff, they were never overcome.

Instead - it was time for the much awaited Mittens Arm Wrestle Championships!!!!


(Petteri & Helm)


(2ma2 & Disco)


(Scotch & Tom - careful you don't snap, Scotch! :p)


(CJ & Andail)


(2ma2 & Helm)


(The final - Andail & 2ma2)

The end of another energetic day, and although I was feeling rough (I had suffered some kind of tummy bug, but Cheetos put me right) we all headed off to find somewhere to eat. Despite being turned down at one joint, we soon found another who were happy to cater for 18 rowdy bastards...


"Eeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

Poor old Chris, surrounded by all his fans - I think he felt a little suspicious of some!



AND SO HE SHOULD!



Hehehehe! You've been waiting for that one, right Petteri?

The next day it was time to venture off to unexplored land. A mini-bus took people every so often to a "secret beach", so we all clambered aboard and awaited our express delivery. However, an argument broke out between the bus driver & Helm. Helm won, of course.


(CJ makes sure everyone stays calm)


(Everyone is confused)

On arrival at the secret beach, Chris is presented with a dangerous feat - will he jump? Or will he just fall?



Luckily he made it, and teh not so sekrit beach was found!!!!



A few comments were made on how the secreat beach was actually a screen from Myst...



Luckily, food was inclusive at the campsite. Wasp ridden meals were available in the evening or at lunch, whichever you wanted. Campers were given tokens to use to get this food, and so we entrusted Helm with all our tokens.

Kindly, he took them for a swim, and made them void.



Hehehehe (It's okay, he got more for us!)

Hats of to 2ma2... To reach the secret beach, you had to walk up and over a rocky hill. It was only a half mile trek, but Linus didn't wear shoes. Respect!





After our visit to the beach of Myst, we stopped off at a little cafe to refill. Nacho enjoys a drink...



Then, Commander Far Lander contacts his co-pilot, Lorena:



As I was unable to catch "the argument" on camera, I made sure we had some proof of the crazy bus drivers antics. Unfortunately, he wasn't going ape in this picture - but still managed to pull off a pretty good Vin Diesel impression.



Then it was onto the gaming part. Several documents went around, including information on Station in Space, Try Not To Breathe and various other WIP's...





Another evening, another fire - only this time, we burn Grundislav...



(He did some great recitals!)

BUDDY SHOTS






Unfortunately, after that final drunken night on the beach - it was time to leave. Some were able to look around the Devil's church, and go up into the bell tower. I missed out on that, doh!



Waiting....waiting.......man it's hot....I could go for a popsicle right now...



On the way back to Athens, CJ got the best seat on the bus...



Apparently Greek welcomes YOUR myth! Not so sure they'd have mine though, it's a bit crude!!



BUT WAIT! Our holiday didn't end there!!!!! Oh no! We managed to get several hours in Athens before having to head home... We made our way to the subway...





There, we waited for ours to arrive. However once on board, things got a little sketch - and we soon became suspected Al Q'aeda terrorists...



We were THIS close to getting arressted! In the end he realised we weren't terrorists and cautioned us for using the wrong tickets...



We made it! To the Acropolis and other ancient ruins!





Some of us couldn't afford to go to the larger ruins. Students got in free but not all of us had valid proof, so we walked round in search of a secret entrance. We never found one, and decided to go and look at the "free" ruins...





Everyone looks up to Chris...t.







I enjoy the sights...



And just in case people think we photoshopped those temples in, here's proof that we were actually there!!1







I forget it's real name, but this wide path was apparently the great road that led to the acropolis!



Lots of Athens reminded me of Fate of Atlantis! I WAS IN HEAVEN!



There was also a museum! Though it was a bit sparse...



Two girls were escorted away for standing behind one of the headless figures - which is apparently an offence! Still, there was a little fountain so I broke the law and stuck a FoY post-it note plug on it.

Then I saw The Iliad!!! But I wasn't sure if that was a good, great or amazing thing....



And THAT was it.... Time to head back to the airport and catch our flight. Luckily we didn't have to camp out this time. We enjoyed our final, heavily salted MacDonalds trip & boarded the plane back to Geneva. At Geneva, we were kindly given food credits by a nice lady - and were able to purchase some food. However there was a very angry business man who was having trouble getting food quickly. We laughed.

I didn't take any more interesting photos, but I was impressed with Geneva's graphic fire escape design.



And no more than an hour and a half later, we were home



It was a superb trip - so hot, so relaxed & very fun! It was great to catch up and relax with everyone, and now I look forward to Spaaaain! I don't however, look forward to making a post like this with all my photos cos it took too damn long!!!


m0ds

* This didn't really happen
** It wasn't so bad :p

[Pet Terry]

That was a good read, great report! You didn't have truckloads of photos like some of us, but every one of your's was priceless!

It brought back memories, thanks a lot for posting it, it sure was worth the wait.

[Pumaman]

Great stuff m0ds, this has to be the pick of the week:

[Disco]

Very nice Mark, thanks for posting these . One thing though, why am I either eating or sleeping in your photos?  . This is all making me look forward to Brittens/Mittens more.

[vict0r]

"Vin Diesel" looks alot more like The Rock to me

[Helm]

ah, memories!