George Myzalis, Paris

Tell us a few things about yourself, so we can get to know you better: your full name, your age and date of birth, your zodiac sign, the place you grew up at, where do you live now and what do you do for a living (and your next project, if there is one).

My name is Giorgos Myzalis, I was born on February 6^th 1978 and I have spent most of my life in Chalandri, where I still live. I am a musicologist, a journalist, a writer, a lyricist, a blogger, a vlogger and an amateur runner.

Photo © Charis Sfakianakis

Photo © Charis Sfakianakis

Which is the place you love going to the most, and how often do you go there (and a couple of reasons why) ?

Out of all the cities I’ve visited, I love Paris the most. I always have the most wonderful and intimate feeling when I walk around Paris. I have travelled to this city in all sorts of fashions: alone, with a big company, with my team – called “myathlete”, and in my imagination from time to time. I have run in races in Paris, I have run the streets with no particular destination, I have listened to my favourite bands, I have drank amazing wines, I have tasted foods that I will remember forever, but most importantly I experienced a magical Christmas vacation back in 2008 that changed me as a person.

Paris Photo by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash

Describe yourself in three words (or less)

Eager, lucky and grateful.

What is your favourite colour, your favourite taste and your favourite hobby?

My favourite colour is yellow, my favourite taste is that of freshly-baked bread, and my favourite hobby is running (with a yellow vest).

What makes you get out of bed each day?

Realistically speaking, the things that I have and the things that I want. Romantically speaking (which I prefer), the eagerness to live the things I have dreamed of. And I prefer to speak.

With Alkinoos Ioannidis

Did the Marathon race make you a better person? Tell us a few words about the reason behind you decision to participate in the Marathon race for the first time, and how has all this helped you?

I don’t know if the Marathon race made me a better person than I already was before I participated for the first time. I don’t know if that race even has that potential. For me there are no good or bad people, because we are both. It just depends on the situation and on who you are up against. I run my first Marathon in 2010 in Athens “by mistake”. A friend of mine registered me into the race and I thought I could do it. Up until that point I had only run 12 kilometer races only. I struggled to finish, but that feeling and the thrill after my first Marathon made me participate in 11 more Marathon races around the world. Running (and not the Marathon race alone) has helped me find peace. It taught me to set goals and achieve them. It allowed me to travel to cities and places that I might not have visited if it weren’t for the races.

Photo © Andy Astfalck

Photo © Charis Sfakianakis

Through your love of travelling, and the Marathon races, what is the image you remember the most?

Countless images. But I will never forget March of 2016 in Paris, after a half-Marathon in which I performed really well, and my eagerness to reach the phone in order to all my coach, Nikos Dimitriadis. He picked up and asked me: “How did it go?”, and I answered: “Have I ever let you down?”. And we laughed it off.

Photo © Charis Sfakianakis

One of the destinations you really like, and visit often, is Paris. Tell us a couple of words about it, and what is Paris to you?

Paris is by far the most artistic city I have visited. It’s like every single person is living in an artistic way, whether they are actually artists or not. From the way they hold the door, to the countless art exhibitions or the video art that is accommodated pretty much everywhere. Paris is the first destination that I visited while being all-alone (and a bit terrified in the first couple of hours). That’s where my love for lone (and unique) travels began.

Paris Photo by Nil Castellví on Unsplash

What do you like/dislike about that city?

Walking in the streets of Paris feels like playing in a movie. And not a Hollywood movie, like you feel in New York, but a more underground movie, known by few. There is nothing to dislike about Paris. Maybe the vibe of the city after the terrorist attacks, everyone is much more uptight.

Why is Paris so impressive and how is it unique?

Paris is a very historic and beautiful city. You see people holding hands or kiss in the streets. Even the way they smoke has a certain dynamic. In addition, you can see countless artistic actions in the most unthinkable and imposing places. I will never forget a video-art by freshmen of the School of Fine Arts in the Grand Palas in 2008.

Paris by Alexander Kagan © Unsplash

Paris by Luca Micheli © Unsplash

Which place, or scenery, do you love the most in Paris?

I really like the wider area around the Place Republique. It’s a very vivid place and that’s probably why the terrorists chose that exact place to make their heinous acts. When I returned to that place after the events had transpired, it looked like everything, and everyone, was deeply affected by it.

Which activities would you propose to a friend that had 48 hours to spend in Paris? Places to go, what to see, where to eat, where to drink, what NOT to miss etc.

For some great food I would definitely suggest the Le Verre Vole, which is a small diner with 4-5 plates and around 200 different types of wine. It would be best to pick the second shift (22:30) because you can stay till late. Moreover, there are so many places to see: the Louvre Museum (not even 48 hours are enough to experience that, but it’s definitely worth a visit), the Champs Elysees, the Monmartre, the Opera and, of course, the Pere Lachaise and the grave of the shaman Jim Morrison and many other famous personalities (the graveyards there are stunning).

Paris Photo by dxiane on Unsplash

Champs Elysses Photo by Marlon Silva on Unsplash

Which habit of the local people amazes you the most?

Their love of red win and “stinky” cheese.

Favourite thing to do in Athens?

Lone walks (either by foot, or motorbike) and live performances – especially in outdoor places.

Where would you like to be now?

At a Coldplay concert. Or a Springsteen concert. Or a Coldplay concert (even though I have never actually seen them). Or a Springsteen concert.

What are your future plans?

I will publish a digital single as a song-writer (for the first time I’ve written the lyrics and the music in two songs), but not as a singer. My songs will be performed by Kostas Parissis and Giorgos Dalaras. And I would like to add a word here: Gratitude. And another: pure.