Yup. Literally stuck in Greece. You know...you would think that after three months of backpacking I would be getting better but I am apparently getting worse at planning. This is my theory: The high season of August has screwed over my easy-going backpackers mind-set. When I first started out in May everything was so simple. You book last minute or you don't book at all and it still works out. Well yesterday I went to go book our ferry from Athens to Samos (which will then take us over to Turkey) and was told the next available ferry is August 17!!!!!!!!!!!! ha! I fly out of Istanbul on the 23rd!!!!!!!!! How ridiculous. It's high season in Greece and NO ONE is staying on the mainland....everyone is going to the islands (which doesn't help me!) So basically there are two options I'm debating between...paying an extraordinary amount to take a very loooooong ferry in three days and or just showing up at the port and hoping there are cancellations. Problem with the second one is there may not be any cancellations and then....? If anyone has some genius brainwaves about this predicament please send them to me! Otherwise I may have to take up permanent residence in Greece...life as a beach bum prehaps? If you don't see me at the end of August then you know this is the road I went down!
Other not so great news...because of my ferry brain fart we've missed our Turkey tour. I've been getting a little tired of all the planning that comes with traveling. I do think it makes the experience better however I was looking forward to just jumping on a bus in Turkey and paying some professionals to do all the work for me! Well now Turkey is looking like I'll have to plan a 10 day blitz...so another favor: For anyone whose been to Turkey and has advice about places/accommodation/travel means that would also be appreciated! Funny how I planned to spend two weeks in Greece and a month in Turkey....I have now been in Greece for over a month and am looking at 10 DAYS in Turkey! Oh my horrible planning.
Now to get off my soapbox (I apologize). I've actually been having an amazing time in Greece. 5 days ago I picked up Ben from Athens airport, and then we took off with two of his highschool friends (Stef and Con...the two Athens boys who hosted me for a couple nights) to their beautiful house in Kiffalonia. Kiffalonia is an island on the Western side of Greece...basically as far away as possible from Turkey. Since being here our days have had a very set itinerary: 1. go to the beach 2. eat dinner 3. have a nap 4. stay out until 6:00 in the morning. Then wake up at 1:00 the next day and repeat. The Greek people have a crazy way of life. Everyone stays up late. I mean moms, babies, children, old men and women...restaurants don't even open until 10:00pm. To fight this system would be very detrimental. The schedule from your normal life doesn't matter...when you're here you do as the Greek people do. It's a fun life style but tiring. The last three mornings I've watched the sun rise. Last night there was a group of us sitting on the beach, having beers and singing along to the guitar as the sun was rising over the mountain. It was beautiful...one minute there were shooting stars everywhere and one minute later the entire sky was on fire. But the most wonderful thing about late nights is early morning bakeries. In Victoria our late night post-dance snack is greasy 99cent pizza... In Greece its home baked buns, cheese pies, spinach pies etc...made at 5:00am fresh from the oven. Stay up all night, eat buttery pastries and go to sleep. I've never known a better end to an evening. Also a word about the beaches here: They are rated 3 best in the WORLD! Watch Captain Corellis mandolin...that was filmed here. The water isn't crystal clear but rather this really really vibrant, almost cloudy bright blue. I thought it looked a little like koolaid with far too much powder dumped in.
Off to organize my life! Please send me good-luck-get-out-of-Greece-soon vibes!
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