EARTHQUAKES
28 February 2008

I have never ever experienced an earthquake before - but in the last 2 months I have experienced 2! I have always been sort of scared about them, but still curiously been wondering how they feel like. After all, it's something quite fascinating about moving tectonic plates. Huge powers underneath the surface of the earth, constantly present, but which we never think about it.

Greece, January 2008. My Greek friends have told me about their earthquakes, but that nothing really happens, when they happen. But still, I was a wee bit worried when going here. Not really worried, but nevertheless, I was thinking about the risk. On an Athenian hill, at midnight we were discussing them and what to do when they happen. And, voilá, at 7:14 in the morning, I was thrown out of bed by a 6.4 on the Richterscale quake! How did that happen?! Did a Greek God hear me? And it was rather scary. 15 seconds shaking of the flat you are in and a deep noise from the earth is a very weird experience. It made me feel physically sick. But most of all, it makes you feel so small. And you get incredibly much respect for Mother Earth.

Wales, February 2007. Would you expect an earthquake in Cardiff? Na, not really! But never say never. I have lived almost 7 years in the UK and never experienced one. But only four hours after having arrived there this time, the biggest earthquake in 25 years hit (5.4 on the Richerscale)! What is that? Do I attract them?! 00:57, I was asleep, woke up and saw my Hilton hotel room moving... This one was not at all as scary as the one in Athens, and I fell asleep pretty quickly afterwards.