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ESC 2008 Belgrade (Serbia)


How should I even start this post? 3 days has passed since the Eurovision is finished. I still can't quite get enough sleep. Spending every day in the press center in the middle of it all can be a bit tough. What is this phenomenon called the Eurovision? I've only started watching it couple of years ago. I really can't say I'm much of a fan of the contest. Let's face it, not many really famous people participate there. It's interesting to get to know artists that are popular in their own countries tho. I don't like the fact that they are mainly trying to sing in English (tho some of them have a really bad accent, like this years winner Dima Bilan).

But let's go from the start. Eurovision, for me as a volunteer, started on may the 10th. My first day of work. What did I do on that day? Well, nothing special. Came in the press center in the morning, went to the airport to wait for a friend that was staying at my house for those 2 weeks, and then didn't even bother to come back to "work". Why would I? It's the first day. Like usual, our organizators were making finishing touches in that first day, and even the 2nd one. We do everything in the last moment here in Serbia. It's just who we are... Quite normal really. Some people find it annoying, but not me. Being late? Why not... I do admit that sometimes it's not nice, but who cares...

Anyway, to continue with the story. First day I can't say I did anything interesting (in the press center). After my friend came with her mom, now that was something. We spoke for so many years on the internet that it was about time to meet her in person. It's an interesting experience. I really liked both of them! Nice people, hope they'll come again some time soon to Belgrade. Only on that first day did we find some time to actually show them some of the wonderful sights that Belgrade has. They've seen only the very center of the city, Knez Mihajlova Street as a walking zone, our beautiful fortress and 2 rivers. There was this stunning sunset, but ok. The weather was simply perfect through the entire 2 weeks of the Eurovision madness. In those 2 weeks I couldn't find any time to watch the television. Spending all the time in the press center had put me in the middle of it all, yet I couldn't see how huge it all was being the part of it. You walk in the holes of the center and you're able to hear all those languages. Mainly English, and Russian of course because of the all ex soviet republics. Oh I love that language so much! Real work started on the day 3. Monday... The rehearsals began. Each country had a press conference after its rehearsal. I don't even have to mention the fuss at the Serbian press conference. Day after day after day... Interesting moment: Evgeny Plyushchenko's arrival. Day of the Russian rehearsal. I read it in the papers, that Plyushchenko is coming, but I thought it was only rumors. Imagine my surprise when I saw him!?! You all know who Plyushchenko is, right? If not, then shame on you! World figure-skating legend. He does wonders on ice. Like my sister said, he makes people believe they can fly. So many times I've seen him on TV, and so many times I thought: "If I could only see him in person once..." And there he was. All of us volunteers, standing at the entrance, waiting for the Russian delegation. They were already late because there were some problems at the Arena, but they were in no hurry I'd say, since the singer, Dima Bilan, stopped at the entrance to cuddle the cat. I thought it was cute, but hundreds of other people that were waiting for him didn't think it was that sweet of him. But who cares. Let me tell you something about Dima.. He's like a grown child. He enjoys his fame and he's so confident in himself but he's also kind and sweet with everyone, also patient with his fans. He obviously likes the fact that he's famous. In Serbia I must say, all the volunteers that were waiting for the Russian delegations didn't care at all about Dima. Some of them even asked me who Dima is. They were all waiting for Plyushchenko. That skating legend. The man that can fly on ice. Yes, they were waiting for him... You should see his face actualy, when the Russian delegation entered, and when everyone started yelling his name and applauding to Evgeny, and not to the star singer Dima. Those were the volunteers, not the journalists of course. The press conference went well; we got invitations for the Russian party, and me, as a Russian language student... Well, I simply had to go there. You can't even imagine my happiness when I got to take picture with Plyushchenko and later the violinist too. Since I've started talking about the Russian delegation (they did win the Eurovision contest), I could as well finish the story with them. But not to worry, plenty to write more...

At the conference violinist showed us the violin that was more then 300 years old. Violin that Paganini used to play. If you don't know who Paganini was, then I'm really sorry... But I'm sure you do. He even played for us on that same violin one small part of Molitva, last year's winner that gave us the opportunity to organize this festival here in our small country. It was a major event for us and a huge honor. Eyes of the 43 participant countries pointed at Belgrade. I think we did well... What do you think?

I should probably stop talking about the Russia for a moment. There were other participants. Let's take Belgium. They didn't pass to the finals, but they had the cutest song in this imaginary language. I loved it! Unlike some people obviously... I met the singers. I have to say, all the singers were so nice. I don't know if that's because they wannet us to vote for them, or because they simply are nice.. I hope it's the 2nd reason. Next country I'd like to mention, from those that I met, is Latvia... Pirates... If you saw the finals on TV, you have to remember them. Maybe the song isn't that great (but I still loved it!). The singers are so so nice. They are hyper, always laughing, happy and very friendly! Not to mention how cute they look with the costumes. I have to say, they are the best contestants of all the 43 countries, the best people if I can say it like that. I simply love them!

Let me tell you about Moldova. I was at their press conference too. The woman that sings the song, she is a jazz singer. At the press conference, she was saying such a smart and nice things, in Russian, but unfortunately, she had a bad translator that didn't translate even half of what she said. And I do like her son, even tho it didn't pass in the final.

Cyprus... Femme Fatal.. The song is catchy, the singer looks like Cleopatra, so beautiful, with powerful voice. The biggest plus is that she's singing in Greek. I loved it! Didn't pass to the finals either...

Lithuania? Now that's the country I'll have to praise the most. I'm sitting in the Arena, at the rehearsal for the 2nd semi final. One after the other, singers perform on the stage. All of them having stunning stage performances. It's enough to look at the Ukraine or Greece to know what I mean. Then comes this man from Lithuania. Jeronimas Milius. He deserves his name to be remembered. All of you, who got this far with reading this post, please remember the name. This man, with amazing eyes, enters the stage completely by himself. There was no backing singers, no objects on the stage, no instruments, and no pianos. Just one man holding a mic. One man and his voice. I was under a spell. Is Lithuania only country with musical taste? I wannet him to pass to the finals. He didn't... One man who could sing. Maybe it's not right from my part to talk like this because of the other contestants, because there were a lot of nice songs this year, but Jeronimas from Lithuania really showed what the music really is. His performance left me speechless. I just have to be thankful that I have the opportunity to hear him live. For me, he is the true winner...

I got kind of lost talking about the elvish-looking Lithuanian singer. I'll continue with Croatia. Their song brought me back to my youth, when my dad was teaching me how to play old Serbian town songs. Melody was quite a like... I loved it! The old man that is talking in song... I took a picture with him also. He's so kind and sweet and... I loved him really!

Their neighbors (and ours) Bosnia... Completely opposite... "Pokušaću da te poljubim a ti se pravi luuuuudaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!" GO LAKA! I'm glad they passed to the finals. Really fun song! Don't even have to explain how crazy Laka is... and his sister too... I have to say that all the volunteers cheered for the Bosnian singer. Probably cause he decided to mention us at the press conference and to say what great job we're doing (and they don't even pay us). lol.. but anyway, really sweet of him.

I have to mention Belarus. Their song was not amongst my favorites, but when I heard the Russian version of the song, I loved it! Unlike the English one. The reason why I'm mentioning them is because of this wonderful woman that was the head of the Belarus delegation. She put so much effort in organizing and making sure that every performance and press conference of the Belarus goes well. I really did my best to help her out as much as I can. I have to say that the only reason why I liked Belarus that much is because of her. But unfortunately, they didn't make it to the finals... I was at their party. Real success! Of course, since they knew I was a volunteer, they kind of asked me to help them. So I did of course, and it was working as much as partying for me. But it was interesting never the less... bigsmile

I'm thinking of more countries that deserved to be mentioned. Countries like Switzerland, San Marino, France, England, Finland or Turkey... I have to say I liked their songs. Some of the singers I met in person and talked to them a bit. They are all nice people. There is this one country I'd like to leave for the end. The country that should have, if it wasn't for the Russian genius stage performance with Plyushchenko and violinist, won the competition. The song that gives me shivers whenever I hear it. Before I mention that song, I'd like to write a bit about Denmark. I don't think anyone has got this far reading this post, but I don't care. I'm writing it mainly for myself, so if someone is still reading, then I'm truly honored.

The country I'd like to mention next is Denmark. It's one of the 3 countries I've voted for. 2nd was Russia, and the 3rd one I'm leaving for the very end.

Denmark... Simon Mathew... I don't know if you saw his performance. With this cute beginning of the 20th century look, old-fashioned hat on his head and catchy and relaxing rhythm combined with sweet relaxing music and nice lyrics, he was one of my favorites this year. I can't say the song is better then some other ones, musically speaking, but I felt so relaxed and nice during and after his performance that it just made me vote for him. I'll have to send him some e-mail to congratulate him on his performance and thank him for the song.. It really made my day brighter. Since the moment I heard the song in the live performance in the Arena (and that was the first time I heard it), I was simply in love with it. I'll have to pay for that love when my phone bill arrives, but oh well... Simon Mathew people... All night long.. Remember that song and look it up. It will definitely make your day... bigsmile

The country that is the last to be mentioned is at the same time the country with the best song of this years Eurovision song contest. I know the thing I said for the Lithuania. But that guy put a spell on me, so it's not really fair. If we really really listen to the music, performance, voice and everything in general, Portugal would win, not Lithuania.... Vanya is the name of the singer. Song was composed by the famous Croatian composer Andrej Babic. He is famous, at least in Balkan, believe me... If I know his name, then he is famous... lol

Portugal... Where can I find the words to describe the beauty of this song? Senhora do Mar (Žena mornara in Serbian.. yes.. she made a Serbian version). You think that's the reason I liked this song so much? Well it's not... It's true that I heard the song in my own language, I started to cry... People who know me actually know that I don't really cry. I laugh (cause I find my crying funny) and tears are dropping at the same time. It really is funny.. But never mind that, I'm talking about the song now. http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=MFpfYWmVnIs here is the link. Portuguese is such a beautiful language! Enjoy the song... I'm sure it's not as powerful sounding as when you hear it live, but listen to the song really carefully. The combination of her voice with the backup vocals... It's just amazing. Music as well... One of the comments I've read there in Spanish... This song is too good for this festival. It really is. But people don't appreciate real music. Ukraine and Greece at the 2nd and 3rd spot proves that. I'm not saying those songs are bad... Well, they are, but that's only my personal opinion. The point is that those songs will be this year hit, and then everyone will forget about them... But songs like Portuguese one... They literally touch your heart and soul. They leave some trace on you. Give you something to think about. Songs that actually tell the story through music and voices, not only lyrics... That's why this song is with Lithuania my number one song.

The songs I'd like to be in the top and that i voted for: Russia (for the performance of Plyushchenko. The song is not bad, but can't be compared to Portuguese one), Lithuania (just the sheer magic of his appearance and voice. One man, alone in the stage, and music surrounding him) Denmark (Simon Mathew people... It's the most enjoyable and relaxing song I've heard recently. It really made my day! I can't describe how much I enjoyed it and I'm really gratefull that the song was made.. simply wonderfull) and Portugal (the most beautiful song of all. You can feel the story behind it, since the waves crashing, feel the pain purring out of the song and curse the ocean that feeds you but takes you away the most precious things you own).

Is this a good way to finish the post? I just realized I never mentioned my own country. Do you want to know what I think of our song? Of course you don't, but I'll tell you anyway... It's nice. I like it. We always send songs in our own language, and I'm proud of that. Beautiful music, beautiful lyrics, ethnically colored. It's a nice song... And singer is really sweet and kind. Thank you for representing us the way you did Jelena... That's all I can say.

The contest in general was well organized; the volunteering was fun, although difficult at the times. The friends I've made there, the experience I got, the singers and other persons I had the opportunity to meet... No one can take that away from me. All in all, I'm happy that I was a part of it... And to all of you who think badly of my country, I hope you'll change your mind now... We're not that bad in the end... hehe screw the politics, that's the only thing that spoils our image in the world I'd say... Well, maybe not the only thing, but.. Ok, I'm starting to loose my track of thoughts now. This post was about the Eurovision.

That would be it. 2 wonderful, yet tough weeks of music and partying and simply hanging around. If you want to experience something similar, then come to Belgrade next summer by all means, when we'll be organizing 2009 universiade. Now that will be something!

Ok, now I will definitely finish this post. For all of those who had the patience enough to read it entirely: Well Done! I don't know if you consider it the waste of your time. Those were just some of my thoughts and messy impressions from this music event I was part of... Hope you have the idea what I wannet to say in the end (cause I'm not sure if I had any idea). I'm starting to loose the track of my thoughts again, so I'll stop writing in a moment. Thanks again for coming this far with reading and hope you had fun at least.. lol

Can't finish it with "lol" so I'll just put

Hugs and kisses and best regards from Belgrade!

Milena

JAVIER SIERRA



Por fin tengo su firma!! bigsmile bigsmile
Ayer fui al centro de Belgrado, donde estaba Javir Sierra, firmando sus libros. Hay mas de un ano que yo lei La cena secreta. Es un libro fantastico!! Bueno, muchas gracias a senor Sierra por firmando me el libro, porque yo llege ahi justamente cuando el tenia que irse... Es un hombre muy amable y muy simpatico, ah, claro, y muy joben para un escritor... Bueno, resumen, me encanta!!
Aqui teneis su pagina oficial, si en caso alguien quiere ver.. bigsmile
http://english.javiersierra.com/index.php

Day before


Day before what? Let's see... Hm, tuday is tuesday.. So it must be the day before the wensday!! HA!
LoL I'm having operation tomorrow.. let's hope they'll make mistake and kill me accidentaly.. Jk.. I'm not that lucky p
Nah, I don't have suicidal thoughts (like some pillows for example)... I just enjoy black humour.. haha

Another day


First thing people usualy do in the morning is waking up... Although some like doing that in the afternoon.. I would to, after the sleepless night, partying and stuff like that.. But I do that in the morning.. Most of the time. This morning was no different then others... Day wasn't so special either. I just wish I'd find some excitment. I keep coming back to my previous thoughts and constantly comfusing myself. What's the point of this post? Well, I hav absolutly no idea. I just needed to write something. I do feel better. That's the important thing, isn't it?
Hehe, insane.. Well, to whoever is reading:
ENUFFY ON PARIM!! wink

Back-o

Supressed anger...
lol

Eurosong week..

Maybe I am a bit late with the news, but just so you know: Serbia won the Eurovision conest!!

Read more...

Back...

[/COLOR]O man, it's been a loooong very long time... A ver.. Nothing new here.. well, many things happened, but I'm way to lazy to write about it.. So I'll just continue putting photos I guess... O well, eh, um, right rolleyes
bigsmile





Vacation

Hey everyone! Greetings from Hamburg... I just got back from Paris, and it was wonderful! Well, just stoped bye to say hello. Don't have a chance to go to the internet much.. Ok, hear you all from time to time.. byyyyeee smile

ITALY WINS!!

So... Cup is finaly finished!! bigsmile bigsmile YAAAAAY!!! GO ITALY!! I like France.. i only prefer Italy... hehe
Well, i can only say: Congratulations ITALIA!! Really, they rule!! And that stadium, it's amazing...
well, can't find any words now... yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Part three

(just to write one more before i go...) lol

Athaniel woke up early, finding Ithalquin preparing some breakfast and singing quietly to himself - some Elvish song. She looked at him with amazement. He looked so different. His rugged hair was falling down his shoulders, his lips slightly parted, eyes fixed on the fire, but his look was absent, like he was thinking about something both beautiful and painful... She could also feel some strange relief in him. Sun shone on his face and Athaniel thought of Aragorn and Faramir, and how similar now he looked to them, like a high prince of Gondor, proud and tall, skilled and with happiness in his eyes, mixed with an untouchable sorrow. Slowly, a tear fell down his cheek. She looked at him in wonder, breathing deeply. That made a sound loud enough for him to hear, and he raised his head and looked her with tired eyes, the result of pain and lack of sleep.
Would you like some breakfast?” he asked, ignoring her surprise.
No thank you.” she said proudly, although she was very hungry.
"As you wish...” he said, sitting down and eating his own meal. There was some strange change in their hearts, but they weren't prepared to admit that. She stood up and walked proudly to the spring. He was looking at her carefully, not because he was afraid that she would run away, but because he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He has seen her eyes, which were exactly the same as Itharis's, so blue, so beautiful. He remembered that day when the Elven lady came. He was 4 years old, and he remembered his mother yelling and demanding that they let the Elvish woman go. But the men were drunk and she was hit and fell into the mud. Itharis was so terribly drunk; and that night he did that terrible thing that made him go mad. Italquen couldn’t believe that this girl was made that horrible night, that so much beauty could be born from so much pain. Pity started to take over, and love also, although he wasn't aware of it. She felt uncomfortable while drinking the water, feeling his eyes on her. She noticed that she now cared about how she looked, about how he saw her. She noticed that something was deeply changed in him, and his eyes were different. Now, he reminded her of Aragorn or Faramir, powerful and wise in their beauty and skillness, and with deep sorrow in their eyes. She realized that she was starting to admire him deeply and sincerely. But she tried to fight that feeling. Slowly, she looked at the water, and it seemed to her that she could see her father, the mighty Elven lord, looking at her from the water. She smiled at that sight, and a tear fell to the water, destroying the illusion. She washed her face and slowly returned to the fire, sitting there in silence. After a long moment, he talked first:
Listen. I.. I’m not usually like this. I mean, I’m not usually this cruel and, I never wanted to hurt any of you, or your family. My father… He sent me to capture you and revenge Itharis’s death. He… He killed your parents. Itharis was his brother. I don’t know if you know the whole story, but…
Yes. I know… I wish I was never born. Men are so… I can’t find the right word to describe you… And what’s even worse, I’m one of you…” and now she was close to crying, but she could still hold her tears.
No. Don’t say it like that. There are also good peoples in this world. You are one of them. And King Aragorn and Queen Arwen also - they are people that I admire very much. There is also Éomer, and Éowyn, and Faramir of course. And I’ve heard stories of Boromir, his brother, who was killed in the War of the Ring.” He spoke with a trembling voice.
How come you know so much of these people? How can you admire them when you are literally their enemy?
He then looked at the ground with sorrow:
My mother… She was Gondorian. My father kidnapped her and married her by force. He loved her in his own way, but she couldn’t love him at all. When I was little, she used to tell me stories about Numenor and the old Elven kingdoms. About the Valar and Eru and about Frodo and the Ring. She was hoping that one day I would go to Gondor and serve the king. I was 4 years old when your mother, the Elven lady, was captured. Itharis was drunk, like all the men around. It was horrible. I cried the whole night. My mother, she tried to stop them, but they hit her and she lost her consciousness. You know the rest… Itharis went mad when the next day he realized what he had done. My father tried to comfort him, but without any success. I think that the death that your father brought him was like liberation for him. Like a blessing… Three years later, my mother managed to escape from my father and I suppose she’s in Gondor now. I hope she’s happy… She’s suffered a lot and she deserves some other family and new life. I’m sorry for your parents, but I couldn’t do anything for them. My father was too angry because of Itharis’s death. He loved him very much. He was a good man. He used to teach me how to hunt. Like me, his mother was also kidnapped, but she was a lady of Rohan. He wasn't bad but he had his moments... You don't look like him, except for the eyes." He flushed a little and put some wood into the fire.
She looked at him, slightly surprised at his willingness to talk, so she decided to take this opportunity and find out something more about her real father.
"So, how was he? My father... Tell me something more about him."
He looked at her, then at the sky, and began his story:
"Itharis had told me a lot about him, but my father also. They were best friends, almost brothers, and since their childhood, they were together. Itharis’s mother was the lady of Rohan. It was exactly 46 years ago when he was born. Those were dangerous times, the war of the Ring was about to start, evil was stronger then ever, and was patiently preparing its invasion. His father was pureblooded black Numenorean and was proud of his family tree, every one of them enemies of the Elves all the way from the sinking of Numenor and before. He was, also, one of the descendants of the last king of Numenor and was a very evil man. Since he was so "pureblooded", their parents demanded of him to marry a Numenorean woman, but he met lady Elenven one morning, far away from his home in hunting. The difference between his and my mother was that his mother actually fell in love with his father. She was wandering lost in the forest, looking for some food to survive. It's a rather long story how she got there in the first place."
"Well tell me, I would like to know." She looked interested in his story.
"Very well, I shall tell you that..." and he started the story just as he remembered his mother was telling him: "She was a poor girl, her mother was ill and her father was always away, since he was a soldier serving king Théoden. She had to take care of her family, of her mother and her sister, who was 16 years old, 2 years younger then her. The thing was that every man in the village wanted to marry her, since her beauty was beyond compare. It was extraordinary, even to the lady Éowyn, who was also one of the most beautiful women those days. Well, a very rich man came to propose to her, and she eventually said yes since she felt sorry for her mother and wanted to make the sacrifice for her; for that man was rather old and wary but also very rich, and was from Gondor. On the day of her wedding, her mother died. Shocked and grieving, she cancelled the wedding. Now, that man still demanded that she should wed him since she had given her oath, but her younger sister told her to run away from Rohan and go somewhere else where no one knew her, to start a new life. But she couldn't do that and she went south towards Gondor disguised as a man, to ask mighty Boromir for permission to fight in his army. Of course, she had no intention to reveal her true identity nor to admit that she was a woman, for then they wouldn't let her fight. With nothing but her horse, her father’s old sword and a shield, she went towards Minas Tirith. On her way, she had to use the woods and hiding places for the road was very dangerous. It happened that she was in the wood when he attacked her, thinking that she was some Rohan soldier and wanting to kill him. Although she was surprised by this attack, she was the daughter of a soldier, a mighty maiden skilled in fight and defence. Those were the evil times and the women of Rohan had to learn how to fight in order to protect their families when their husbands were away (which was quite often). She was one of the most skilled women in the realm, even for the man, so she started to fight this stranger with only her rusty sword and a shield. After a long and a difficult fight he managed to break her sword, leaving her empty-handed. She was so surprised and angry at this that while he was pointing his sword in her chest, she hit it with a shield with an enormous speed, and with her bare hands she rushed at him and fell on him. Now, he was on the ground and she was standing above him, holding his hands. Her helmet fell off from the force of the strike, so her golden hair flowed down her shoulders, touching his cheeks. Her anger started to disappear and wonder appeared in her eyes, but not as great as the admiration and wonder in his, at finding out that she was a woman."
February 2012
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