Around (half of) the World with 732 Euros

Ok, finished. I have just booked the last flight for my trip to US. Total cost? 732 Euros. And all this being inflexible about the dates (I searched for exact dates), choosing decent departure time (after 10.45 am), choosing decent airlines (British Airways, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, United Airlines) and booking all the flights in less than a month in advance. A great help was the search engine Travelocity.com, which seems to be quite professional and cheaper when compared with other similar search engines I tried the last days.
Here is the break down of the prices and the routes that I will follow:

-> London-New York (377E round trip)
Departure this Saturday, 29th of March
-> New York - Houston (127E)
Friday, 4th of April
-> Houston - Austin - Los Angeles (54E+78E)
Monday, 7th of April
-> Los Angeles - New York (96E)
Saturday, 12th of April
-> New York - London
Wednesday, 16th of April

732 Euros is the amount of money that somebody earns working 45 hours in a simple job in London, such as a Receptionist in UCL's Language Center (hourly rate 16,21Euros with the current exchange rate Euros/Pounds). Which is one week's work plus 5 hours overtime :)
Not a UK resident? Come to London for a month - unless you are restricted by Visa issues - and find a job, it is so easy. Upload your CV in monster.co.uk and they will quickly contact you with a couple of job offers, specially fitted to your skills.

This makes me wonder, whether our 'life goals' and 'life dreams' like a trip to the other part of the Atlantic are so difficult to achieve, or they are just a state of mind. Why do we unconsciously put such kind of barriers to what we want to achieve? A first approach to the solution of this riddle will take place in The Book :o)

Oh, and for those critical thinkers who object by saying that a trip is not only the ticket fares but also the accommodation, please check the couchsurfing.org site. You stay for free and enjoy the company of a local, whom you have chosen according your preferences, by browsing the personal webpages of the couchsurfing community members :o)

Or maybe traveling to America is a long trip to a far away destination? Distance. Another mind concept. Los Angeles - New York are two cities 5 flying hours apart. This is less than the time needed to go from my city in Greece, Thessaloniki, to Athens by the normal speed train. 1oo years ago a long distance trip was to go from a village to the next one.

Or maybe the preventing reason was the lack of knowledge that this kind of trip is possible? Now you know it is possible. Do you want to do it? Probably yes. Will you do it? Probably no. Why?

So, the barrier is neither money, nor distance nor time nor ignorance; the barrier is called mind. But what's the real reason behind this reaction of our mind against our will? Maybe inertia? The fundamental property of the matter to resist to any attempt for change of its current state? Mind is also matter? What's happening around? What prevents us from flying? Am I getting crazy or is this a part of a starting-being-rational procedure for the first time after a long period of hypnosis?

Btw, all these remind me also of the Tag Heuer advertising campaign You can have a look of more nice campaign photos at the official Tag Heuer site

To be continued:)

London and "28 Days Later"

Do you remember the movie "28 Days Later"? I am sure it was shot on Christmas day. Why? I will tell you through a story.

Today I was invited by my ex-girlfriend to have a Christmas eve dinner with 2 more friends. I went, had a good time, and left. On the bus I realised that I took by mistake her cash card, don't ask me why. I found it very funny, and called her to ask for her pin number in order to buy myself a Christmas present offered by her, and I couldn't help laughing. Then we realised that my friend had also forgot his bag there. I continued laughing. And after 5 mins I realised that I forgot also the bag with the presents I bought for my family and my flatmates. Then I stopped laughing. (but after a minute I started again). I would leave for Greece in two days, so I had enough time to go and get them. But, had I?

Christmas day is the only day in this city that there is nothing working, and above all the transportation, not even rare bus routes. It is a strange feeling to realize how bounded we are with such fundamental things, like the freedom to move from one place to the other on demand, which we take for granted. I felt like being trapped in my house (well, it's not so dramatic, it's not the first time to stay at home for a day, but it is the first time I have no other choice).

It's not bad of course, since I think these people did it on purpose to let London relax for one day; I will call it striking. My family and friends will call it something like "Dimitri stop thinking these kind of stuff and find ways to improve your memory"

PS I am thinking to have the presents delivered by post to Greece (Btw I live in NW London and Vicky lives in SE - Greenwich)