I took a trip to out of the country to get away from work (and to take my new wife on a honeymoon to Greece), but the Business Journal and Orange County seemed to be everywhere I went.
Most Greeks know little about California outside of the Governator and our wine (which is only “okay” compared to Greek wine, according to most Greeks).
Mention OC and it’s a whole different story. Many Greeks can name local hotspots and celebrities, thanks to television and the international attention OC has received recently.
Even the Business Journal got a shout out while I was there, as a local news channel mentioned reporter Mark Mueller’s recent story about Igor Olenicoff’s crusade against Zurich-based UBS AG, the world’s largest investment bank for the wealthy.
We weren’t the only Americans with OC business ties touring Greece. My wife and I spent a lovely day checking out the various wineries in Santorini with the Northeast controller of Irvine’s Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC, a grocery wholesaler, and his wife. He was as surprised as I was to find someone who knew about the Business Journal and read it regularly. At the insistence of our wives, we weren’t allowed to talk about work.
But we were allowed to shop.
Despite the downturn, businesses seemed to be doing fine at Athens’ Ermou Street, an outside version of South Coast Plaza with many of the same shops.
The paved street was packed with countless people shopping at stores with brands such as St. John Knits, Oakley and Quiksilver. Most of the hotels I stayed at had LCD TVs from Irvine-based Vizio Inc.
While wandering the shops in Crete, the people were friendly and engaging, especially when they found out we were from OC. Seemingly every shop we went into gave my wife and I glass evil eyes, designed to keep evil spirits away (a newlywed tradition).
And one could easily mistake the winding streets of Fira, the capital of Santorini, for Laguna Beach, only Fira had more hills and a mostly inactive volcano where the Pacific Ocean should be.
Maybe next time I should take a vacation at home.
,
Michael Volpe
