I am sitting with my wife in the Aegean lounge at the Thessaloniki airport after a wonderful few days in this city to deliver a speech on how Breakthrough IT can help companies become more flexible to deal with the Greek economic crisis. The people, food, and city have been wonderful, although I can barely comprehend having to live through this economic crisis. Business owners I spoke with mentioned everything from wondering if their company will succeed, to concerns about their children leaving Greece as they see little future here. Heavy stuff and much more real than the TV images and editorial commentary that glibly places blame without consequence.

We are now off to Istanbul, the supposed sister city of Thessaloniki from the Byzantine period, and a place we have never visited. I’m looking forward to more Mediterranean food and exploring this amazing part of the world.