Greek In the Big Apple

It is a beautiful sunny day in Brooklyn today and thoughts come to mind of the flavors and smells of this great city. Have not posted in a while since I've been here and specifically to Brooklyn but one thing I must say is that I've eaten and I've been fed very well since I've been here! My hosts who are amazing are also amazing cooks! The concept of comfort food comes to mind and of offering food as a way to welcome someone and make them feel at home. New York is known as a city of the best restaurants in the country and in some cases the world. New Yorkers are foodies and they love to experiment with flavors and tastes influences by every country represented here. The flavors and tastes here are so diverse and different that one can only be excited at the prospect of trying new things.  I had the opportunity to try southern cooking, Thai cooking, Mexican cooking and everything in between only in one day. As we prepare for the holidays...

Brooklyn New York.... 6 am waking up for  my first practice here and its cold and crisp outside. Feeling a little stiff this morning as my body is still not balanced after traveling 4000 miles from Greece. My hosts are also up and getting ready for work and they are in their morning routines...They have so graciously allowed me to part of the "family" and my stay here has been effortless. I realize I'm part of the city slowly integrating myself to its rhythms, as I walk down the local subway station to take the Q train to my morning yoga practice. New Yorkers are very into their programs and routines, they have their morning coffee from the same coffee stand every morning, they read their book on an electronic device to keep to themselves on the subway and for the most part its like a choreographed dance... Every now and then, that choreography is interrupted by single events, noises, people shouting their own frustrations in the street... but then again as usual the...

Waking up in this lovely City.... Its a beautiful Monday morning in New York City.... The Sun is shining bright and although its December the weather is surprisingly mild for the season. The plane ride from Zurich was lovely, I was sitting next to a young bride from India who had just gotten back from Mumbai where she had spend two weeks of celebrations for her nuptials. She had some lovely henna designs on her hands as its traditional for brides to have on the day of their wedding.... We spoke about moving away from the people we love and about travel, she was sad to be away from her new husband who had stayed back in Mumbai and was to travel back to New York to meet with her later in the week.  She was some great company on a bit of a lonely trip. As I arrived in New York and got my luggage... (the last coming off the plane!) my heart was racing and happy. I called my friend Carrie who greeted me with such a wide smile on the elevator or her home, and came...

The night before the last night..... Its Wednesday evening.... talking with a dear friend, while my two cats Dylan and Fatty are curled up beside me, listening to Keith Jarrett's....Koln Concert. Two days before the departure to New York, with dreams, expectations and emotions that span the spectrum of fear, joy, sadness and excitement.... I'm sitting  in my kitchen in Athens at Maison Helene, my home of four years, and now that I am packing up, putting away and letting go of my memories and moments here, I can't help but wonder what the path ahead will have in store. There is a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment in what lies ahead, and I look forward to it, with some trepidation. We all know that the only mystery is the future and the only knowledge is of the past. So at present.... quietly sipping a glass of white wine, I understand that this is a lovely journey and with great humbleness, I put myself and this new step...

From the island to the city.... Its a quiet night in Mykonos where I'm spending one last weekend packing up the house and seeing some dear friends and loved ones here, and I came across one of my favorite artists... singing one of my favorite songs about New York City... Could be none other than Billy Joel singing New York State of Mind... but the particular version of the song and performance that I found on Youtube was recorded in March 1978.... the month of my birthday. I love making quircky parallels and this one is no exception.... Enjoy Billy Joel singing New York State of Mind at a BBC recording of the song March 14th, 1978 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZh8YjbDiVk

Pre Departure Jitters.... This blog is born out of a great conversation with two dear friends, artists, confidants and soul sisters. They prompted me to start writing about this trip I am making to New York. Their idea was a brilliant one and my journey writing about my upcoming trip is starting in the eve of Thanksgiving. Its a rainy day in Athens, Greece and I'm in the last few days of preparation before my departure to New York for a short or long period of time. Lots of thought has gone into this trip its destination known, but its journey still a mystery. Many roads are open and many possibilities are being explored and this new page in my life has brought up so many thoughts of how life should be from now on. The love, hospitality, care and friendship that I have received from my dear friends old and new in New York as been no less than a miracle, and a testament to true friendships maintained over the years and over thousands of miles apart.