Leon Logothetis's Blog, page 17
September 19, 2013
Kindness One: A Chance Meeting Reaffirms a Traveler’s Faith
Fraser, left, and Leon Logothetis cross paths in Zagreb, Croatia.
“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be”
Voltaire
As I was attempting to find a free place to stay at a hostel in Zagreb, Croatia and I had just been unceremoniously rejected, I trudged out to the courtyard and heard a familiar accent.
The post Kindness One: A Chance Meeting Reaffirms a Traveler’s Faith appeared first on Leon Logothetis.
September 15, 2013
Kindness ONE®: In Italy as night falls, traveler’s plea for help fails
Leon Logothetis curls up in the sidecar of Kindness ONE, the Chinese motorcycle that's transporting him around the world. In Como, Italy, it also served as his hotel.
“Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.”
Denis Waitely
When I began this adventure I would have jumped at the chance to visit Como, Italy. It’s exquisite lake, 19th century buildings and Italian flair made it high on my list of places to check off my list. However, had you told me I would have to sleep outside as a rain storm cleared everyone from the streets (except me) I wouldn’t have been so thrilled…
Well, my friends, I got my wish of experiencing lake Como, unfortunately I also got the unwelcome reality of sleeping in Kindness ONE ® for the night. Here is how it all began.
As I arrived the sun had already set and the city was coming to life. Rich pickings I thought. Surely I would find someone to put me up for the night. I walked to the main square and connected with locals, foreigners and even a policeman. I had no luck with a place tostay but received lots of high fives and blank stares at this madman traversing the earth on kindness. At one point I had a crowd around me as I was shouting at the top of my lungs if anyone had a place to stay for the night. No takers.
Rejection after rejection is not easy. Understandable. Yes. Easy. No.
As the church bells signaled 3am, I had little choice but to resort to Plan F. Plan F involved spending the night with my lucky red jacket and Kindness ONE ® as my only companions. I was well and truly stranded. I had made it from Los Angeles to Como on the Kindness of others and now the chain had been broken. Hopefully the next days would bring with them some better news…
September 12, 2013
Kindness ONE®: In France, music drives Kindness ONE and inspires the soul
Tchale, left, and Finnesse, right, extend the hand of friendship to around-the-world traveler Leon Logothetis in Aix en Provence, France.
“If music be the food of love, play on”
William Shakespeare
As I was walking through the cobbled streets of Aix en Provence in France I was captivated by a soft and powerful melody wafting through the streets. Captivating. Vibrant. Inspired.
I felt a subtle urge to find my way to the music and came upon two men busking by a café. I sat down transfixed by the tunes, my heart singing merrily along. When they finished collecting money from the café I gently approached them. They were from Benin, Africa and had been practicing their trade on the streets of the world for twenty years. They were driven by their music. Driven by their passion. Driven by a need to inspire their fellow man through the art of music.
They invited me to join them for lunch and took me back to their one bedroom house. Soon they had offered for me to stay the night. They played again and again, lifting my spirits with their unique blend of African and Reggae music. Whilst sitting on the couch, it reminded me that it’s the connections and the inspired people one meets along the road of life that create the fabric of all of our lives.
Thank you Tchale and Finnesse. Play on my friends. Play on…
Kindness ONE®: In France, music drives Kindness ONE and inspires the soul
Tchale, left, and Finnesse, right, extend the hand of friendship to around-the-world traveler Leon Logothetis in Aix en Provence, France.
“If music be the food of love, play on” –
William Shakespeare
As I was walking through the cobbled streets of Aix en Provence in France I was captivated by a soft and powerful melody wafting through the streets. Captivating. Vibrant. Inspired.
I felt a subtle urge to find my way to the music and came upon two men busking by a café. I sat down transfixed by the tunes, my heart singing merrily along. When they finished collecting money from the café I gently approached them. They were from Benin, Africa and had been practicing their trade on the streets of the world for twenty years. They were driven by their music. Driven by their passion. Driven by a need to inspire their fellow man through the art of music.
They invited me to join them for lunch and took me back to their one bedroom house. Soon they had offered for me to stay the night. They played again and again, lifting my spirits with their unique blend of African and Reggae music. Whilst sitting on the couch, it reminded me that it’s the connections and the inspired people one meets along the road of life that create the fabric of all of our lives.
Thank you Tchale and Finnesse. Play on my friends. Play on…
September 6, 2013
Kindness ONE®: After transatlantic crossing, biker faces higher hurdles
Leon Logothetis navigated some situations on the first part of his around-the-world journey, but the transatlantic crossing wasn't one of them.
“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”
Christopher Columbus
Finding that elusive shipping company willing to take Kindness ONE® and I across the Atlantic Ocean (for free) was no easy task. It took weeks of rejections and false hope until the magic call arrived. When I finally found the brave souls who believed in the journey I was elated, the dream of crossing the world on a motorbike with no money lived on.
As I boarded the ship I was full of excitement and mild trepidation. The excitement was swirling with the reality that I was about to embark on my epic trip: A timeless voyage that in today’s world of airplanes is very much the road less travelled. The trepidation, which gnawed at my mind: a result of the very real vastness of the Ocean that lay before me. One never knows what weather will come your way or what ailments (both mental and physical) will afflict you. I had to prepare myself. For anything and everything.
Kindness ONE ® was safely in the container and it was now time for 10 days of R&R. Relaxation that was much needed after my nearly two-week trek across America. After having spent that time relying on the kindness of strangers for my food, gas and accommodation I was now going to be in the hands of the crew. There would be no shortage of food and accommodation and no need for any gas for good old Kindness ONE ®. Just rest.
Eat. Sleep. Eat. Eat. Rest. Eat. I was making up for lost time whilst I had been in America and recharging my batteries for my ambitious trip from Barcelona to Vietnam. Soon I would be arriving in Europe traveling through the Gibraltar Straits and seeing land for the first time in ten days. When I touched down in Barcelona the daily “Kindness” grind would begin again and so too would the journey of a lifetime. Land my friends. It’s a beautiful thing…
Kindness ONE® – After transatlantic crossing, biker faces higher hurdles
Leon Logothetis navigated some situations on the first part of his around-the-world journey, but the transatlantic crossing wasn't one of them.
“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”
Christopher Columbus
Finding that elusive shipping company willing to take Kindness ONE® and I across the Atlantic Ocean (for free) was no easy task. It took weeks of rejections and false hope until the magic call arrived. When I finally found the brave souls who believed in the journey I was elated, the dream of crossing the world on a motorbike with no money lived on.
As I boarded the ship I was full of excitement and mild trepidation. The excitement was swirling with the reality that I was about to embark on my epic trip: A timeless voyage that in today’s world of airplanes is very much the road less travelled. The trepidation, which gnawed at my mind: a result of the very real vastness of the Ocean that lay before me. One never knows what weather will come your way or what ailments (both mental and physical) will afflict you. I had to prepare myself. For anything and everything.
Kindness ONE ® was safely in the container and it was now time for 10 days of R&R. Relaxation that was much needed after my nearly two-week trek across America. After having spent that time relying on the kindness of strangers for my food, gas and accommodation I was now going to be in the hands of the crew. There would be no shortage of food and accommodation and no need for any gas for good old Kindness ONE ®. Just rest.
Eat. Sleep. Eat. Eat. Rest. Eat. I was making up for lost time whilst I had been in America and recharging my batteries for my ambitious trip from Barcelona to Vietnam. Soon I would be arriving in Europe traveling through the Gibraltar Straits and seeing land for the first time in ten days. When I touched down in Barcelona the daily “Kindness” grind would begin again and so too would the journey of a lifetime. Land my friends. It’s a beautiful thing…
August 29, 2013
Kindness ONE®: First leg done, now a transatlantic ship trip awaits
Kindness ONE reaches New York, not without incident. Next leg of the journey: across the Atlantic in a cargo ship.
“Let’s all be awesome!”
The voice in your head
Travelling across America on Kindness ONE® has not been an easy endeavor. You see, Kindness ONE® has a nasty little habit of getting a little bit too grumpy. (Editors note; in his defense Leon, he is a 1978 built bike after all!!). He doesn’t particularly like the mornings. In fact he hates mornings and sometimes won’t even get out of bed (that’s code for the bike just will not start). To add to his neurosis he is not very fond of cities, as he dislikes the stopping and starting. Oh those pesky traffic lights I keep teasing him… However, for all his grumpiness he is a true workhorse and managed to bring me safely to New York City. For that I am eternally grateful.
As finally I arrived in Times Square, with Kindness ONE ® overheating, again, I was struck by the magnitude of what we had ‘all’ achieved. I say all because Kindness ONE®, Leon Logothetis (that would be me!) and the good people of America have done this all together. I know that we have by no means completed this journey across the globe but the first leg has been navigated successfully
The next stage of the adventure involves a container ship from New York to Europe. Before this adventure started I needed to do a bit of pre planning and called many shipping companies asking them for free passage across the Atlantic. Both for me and Kindness ONE®. I received a rather luke warm response and was beginning to feel the haunting winds of dejection wash over me. It was absolutely imperative that I cross the Atlantic for free and my only hope was a cargo ship.
As my confidence waned, I eventually found a company willing to help the cause. Their kindness and generosity has made it possible for me to continue this journey on the kindness of others. I leave tomorrow on an 11-day journey across the vastness of the Atlantic. Europe awaits and so does a lot of time for contemplation…
Kindness ONE® – First leg done, now a transatlantic ship trip awaits
Kindness One reaches New York, not without incident. Next leg of the journey: across the Atlantic in a cargo ship.
“Let’s all be awesome!”
The voice in your head
Travelling across America on Kindness ONE® has not been an easy endeavor. You see, Kindness ONE® has a nasty little habit of getting a little bit too grumpy. (Editors note; in his defense Leon, he is a 1978 built bike after all!!). He doesn’t particularly like the mornings. In fact he hates mornings and sometimes won’t even get out of bed (that’s code for the bike just will not start). To add to his neurosis he is not very fond of cities, as he dislikes the stopping and starting. Oh those pesky traffic lights I keep teasing him… However, for all his grumpiness he is a true workhorse and managed to bring me safely to New York City. For that I am eternally grateful.
As finally I arrived in Times Square, with Kindness ONE ® overheating, again, I was struck by the magnitude of what we had ‘all’ achieved. I say all because Kindness ONE®, Leon Logothetis (that would be me!) and the good people of America have done this all together. I know that we have by no means completed this journey across the globe but the first leg has been navigated successfully
The next stage of the adventure involves a container ship from New York to Europe. Before this adventure started I needed to do a bit of pre planning and called many shipping companies asking them for free passage across the Atlantic. Both for me and Kindness ONE®. I received a rather luke warm response and was beginning to feel the haunting winds of dejection wash over me. It was absolutely imperative that I cross the Atlantic for free and my only hope was a cargo ship.
As my confidence waned, I eventually found a company willing to help the cause. Their kindness and generosity has made it possible for me to continue this journey on the kindness of others. I leave tomorrow on an 11-day journey across the vastness of the Atlantic. Europe awaits and so does a lot of time for contemplation…
August 22, 2013
Kindness One®: The Angel of Pittsburgh
Tony (at left) gave me a place to stay when my luck seemed to be running on empty.
“My religion is very simple. My religion is Kindness.”
Dalai Lama
It is indeed a rare day that I am lost for words. Today was one of those days, a day that literally took my breath away. I was on the receiving end of an act of kindness that touched the deepest place in my heart. A simple, yet profound act.
I had ridden Kindness ONE® from Amish country and found myself in the center of Pittsburgh. I had spent a few unfruitful hours trying to drum up some support for my journey. Although I had met some kindhearted people no one was willing to take a risk and put a stranger up for the night. I was feeling a little despondent (as tends to happen after the 12th rejection) and then an angel popped his little soul into my life.
I was walking through a downtown park and crossed paths with a man who exuded a positive vibe. We struck up a conversation and he revealed that he was homeless and lived in a dilapidated car park with a few friends. To my astonishment he offered for me to stay the night with him. He then proceeded to feed me, give me a new set of clothes and recount his stories of hope and hardship. Tony was truly an angel. Here was a man with practically nothing, and the small something that he did possess he gave to me.
The most important gift he gave me was a tender piece of his heart. I shared with him that he was the wealthiest man I had ever had the good fortune of meeting, because true wealth does not come in the form of a hefty bank account. True wealth comes in the form of a full heart and an overflowing spirit: Both things that Tony had in abundance.
If your reading this my friend, thank you for bringing me into your life and letting me sleep beside you on a windy and rainy summers night. I will forever cherish the time we spent together and am sincerely grateful that our paths crossed.
Kindness One® – The Angel of Pittsburgh.
Tony (at left) gave me a place to stay when my luck seemed to be running on empty.
“My religion is very simple. My religion is Kindness.”
Dalai Lama
It is indeed a rare day that I am lost for words. Today was one of those days, a day that literally took my breath away. I was on the receiving end of an act of kindness that touched the deepest place in my heart. A simple, yet profound act.
I had ridden Kindness ONE® from Amish country and found myself in the center of Pittsburgh. I had spent a few unfruitful hours trying to drum up some support for my journey. Although I had met some kindhearted people no one was willing to take a risk and put a stranger up for the night. I was feeling a little despondent (as tends to happen after the 12th rejection) and then an angel popped his little soul into my life.
I was walking through a downtown park and crossed paths with a man who exuded a positive vibe. We struck up a conversation and he revealed that he was homeless and lived in a dilapidated car park with a few friends. To my astonishment he offered for me to stay the night with him. He then proceeded to feed me, give me a new set of clothes and recount his stories of hope and hardship. Tony was truly an angel. Here was a man with practically nothing, and the small something that he did possess he gave to me.
The most important gift he gave me was a tender piece of his heart. I shared with him that he was the wealthiest man I had ever had the good fortune of meeting, because true wealth does not come in the form of a hefty bank account. True wealth comes in the form of a full heart and an overflowing spirit: Both things that Tony had in abundance.
If your reading this my friend, thank you for bringing me into your life and letting me sleep beside you on a windy and rainy summers night. I will forever cherish the time we spent together and am sincerely grateful that our paths crossed.
