The Eurovision Finals are upon us!
Trip Start
Apr 16, 2006
1
31
39
Trip End
Jun 07, 2006
Athens to Patra, Greece
Saturday, May 20, 2006
The first Eurovision competition in 1956 had seven countries in the contest. Each participant was allowed to submit two songs in the language they wanted but the performance was limited to 3½ minutes. The winner was chosen by a jury consisting of two delegates from each country who could award between 1 and 10 points.
I had to change the next paragraph because after watching the show I realized that I said a few things wrong due to a misunderstanding of a conversation I had with someone. That's what happens when you're half deaf.)
Anyhow, tonight are the Finals here, and there will be 24 countries with a representative competing to be the Grand Poobah of Singers/Songwriters. Greece is being represented too, by the very blonde and very flashy Anna. There are t-shirts all over the country with her photo on them. People are pretty obsessed, to make an understatement. I have seen a lot of scalpers trying to sell Finals tickets near the Athens Flea Market... seems it's a biiiig deal.
I don't know about the rest of the finalists... but after watching so many Turkish music videos lately I'm pretty sure that there will be a wind machine on hand to blow in the Turkish contestant's face as he sings. Because as I have mentioned previously, Turks like to be filmed singing into wind whenever possible.
Soooo, if you would like to watch the competition along with the rest of Europe, fret not my friend... THERE IS A WEBCAST! Just click on the first link and it'll tell you how to stream the show to your computer. Not that I actually think you care, but if you'd like to see what people on the other side of the world are obsessed about, here's your chance.
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I have a 7pm bus to leave Athens and head for Patras and then tonight I'm taking a ferry to Venice. I wasn't planning to go there, but I'm far from complaining. I love Venice, although it is one of the only places on earth that completely disorients my entire sense of direction. Honestly, I get lost there every time I go. This will be attempt number three for me to navigate the place & I've pretty much given up. I know I'll get lost and find myself walking in circles through canals again. Some things just don't change. And really, it doesn't matter as I'd rather be lost in Venice than in Lodi or Jamul or (insert name of less glamorous place here). Wouldn't you?
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Regarding my ear, I'm hearing more sounds every day. But as I said, it's like a broken speaker or a radio station that's not tuned right. So I'm actually missing the days of peaceful tinnitis because what I'm hearing mostly are treble noises today, mostly just the high pitched stuff and no low notes. I am looking forward to this phase of the healing process to be over soon so that I can hear pretty things in my left ear again. Instead I'm just trying to stay in quiet places so I don't have to listen, or I'm plugging my left ear with my finger when I need to. Because in Athens, quiet places aren't exactly easy to find. I'll be on a cruise soon though, and that will be a little quieter.
