2nd May

Thessaloniki to Zurich. Mind-rocking experience, flying times 0445 to 0615 (local time in Switzerland). Most quiet airplane I' ve ever seen (Swiss Air I beg your pardon), that's for sure, yet I could not sleep but a mere half an hour. Vasilis on the contrary slept instantly, he even missed the little yoghurt and raisin-bread stewardesses offered. Arriving to Zurich, in less than an hour getting on another plane (Helvetica airlines I believe) and 0815 local time arrived in Manchester. Our hosts were already there to pick us up. They weren't so happy to hear Thalia is not flying due to a disease of the last minute, but they preferred to laugh about it. They offered a cup of coffee and then we took off. Alec Johnston will be hosting me and John Brooks will be hosting Vasilis. Myself I am from now on called “Panos”, as it is so much easier for english men to pronounce and therefore remember it.

Our hosts live on the superbs of Manchester, only like 20 kilometres away from Manchester city. Numerous detached and semidetached houses, lovely gardens and a LOT of green. All roads betweeen villages have pavements for people to jog or take a stroll, many many trees. And the countryside is just lovely. The “village” I am staying is Macclesfield (50,000 people population), where many football players (Man United here we go!) live. All houses here have magnificent gardens and my hosts even have a greenhouse! Most houses look very alike; red bricks, (some gritstone was it? Or something like that) pointed roofs, very nice.

Midday we went on a horse show in Lower Withington, just a few kilometres away. At least 50 horse owners, luxurious vehicles for them, luxurious vehicles for their horses. One thing is for sure. These people out here are not starving!!! Little children wandering about, riding horses. The show was a kind of charity of NSPCC (national society to prevent child cruelty). They would raise money to fund “stop child cuelty” campaign (“Child cruelty must stop. Full stop.” was the moto). Traditional english food and sweets were made by some good ladies and they offered us a lunch; lots of recipes, lots of colors lots of tastes (pasta, cheese, ham, chicken, bacon, green salad, greek -I know!- salad, bread, cheese pies, chocolate cake. It was quite all right.

At night me and Alec with John and Vasilis went downtown at Alderley Edge. They sort of have a men's club where only the members can get in and have a drink or two. Alec and John bought us a beer that is actually produced a few kilometers away in Macclesfield, in a small local brewery we will be visiting in the next days. We played snooker, which is nothing like the pool we know back in Greece. The table was three times the size of ours. Alec and I were the team to lose, thanks to me!

Goodnight rest followed. It was so full a day today!