I have now spent two nights on ferries. I'm over it.
the first night I had to go from Greece to Italy. Then I decided I wanted to go to Croatia (what!?) so had to get on another over night ferry to Croatia...
Last night was the first time that I really felt homesick and was completely ready to be done with this trip.
Im over passport control (Ive been through 3 in the last 24 hours)
feeling dirty- dont even want to say how long its been since i had a shower....
having dirty clothes - hand washing doesnt work on a ferry...
sleeping on ferries (!!)
annnddd when I got to Italy my credit cards didnt work, which is always too stressful.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Corfu
After an all night bus trip I finally made it to Corfu, Greece.
The island is so different from the southern islands, no white houses with blue doors or donkeys. Corfu is also a big island so there is a whole population that lives there, unlike a Ios and Santorini that seemed to be run by the tourists. Since its so far north there is a huge Itallian influnce that really changes the dynamic of Corfu as well. Corfu has the cutest small villages that remind me of a movie or something -older women in kerchifes hanging clothes out to dry and older men just sitting around smoking playing cards. It was great. The first day I was there I got to go around on a scooter and see a lot of the island and the amažing landscape. There is a lot to explore in Corfu, I didnt explore as much as I could because once again I got sucked into the beach and spending wayy too much time out in the sun. I cannot seem to get away from the Med. Sea!!!!
Through my hostel, which really is like summer camp for backpackers, I went on a boating trip. It was awesome. I jumped off cliffs and went into a bat cave and spent all day on a boat, what more could I ask for. I could have eaisly been sucked into spending a week in Corfu but after two nights (which seems to be my limit everywhere) I decided to head to Italy...
The island is so different from the southern islands, no white houses with blue doors or donkeys. Corfu is also a big island so there is a whole population that lives there, unlike a Ios and Santorini that seemed to be run by the tourists. Since its so far north there is a huge Itallian influnce that really changes the dynamic of Corfu as well. Corfu has the cutest small villages that remind me of a movie or something -older women in kerchifes hanging clothes out to dry and older men just sitting around smoking playing cards. It was great. The first day I was there I got to go around on a scooter and see a lot of the island and the amažing landscape. There is a lot to explore in Corfu, I didnt explore as much as I could because once again I got sucked into the beach and spending wayy too much time out in the sun. I cannot seem to get away from the Med. Sea!!!!
Through my hostel, which really is like summer camp for backpackers, I went on a boating trip. It was awesome. I jumped off cliffs and went into a bat cave and spent all day on a boat, what more could I ask for. I could have eaisly been sucked into spending a week in Corfu but after two nights (which seems to be my limit everywhere) I decided to head to Italy...
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
what to do what to do...
I came to Greece with no real plan. The only thing I really have planned is to meet enza in rome on the 17th. Its a long time without a plan but its also really fun to not have a schedule.
I thought that I would spend more time in the greek islands but ferrys are more expensive than I thought, and I don't want to travel by myself around the islands. I thought about going to Istanbol, but that is the opposite direction of rome... So I decided after Ios to go back to Athens. In trying to save money I took a slow ferry that took all day long.
I booked a really cheap hostel in Athens and now I know why it was so cheap- it is in an awful location. there is a brothel across the street that did provide some entertainment last night from the roof top bar, but location is everything.
I found a dance studio in greece that I had planned on taking classes there for the next couple of days. I was trying to find the studio and on the map found a short cut that was close to my hostel. Well this shortcut was wayy more than I thought. I started to walk down the street and all of a sudden it starts to get pretty busy. Then somehow I walk into a group of dirty men who are hold syringes and injecting each other with what I would assume is heroin. I just froze, I couldn't move I just stared at them and then this group of people looked up at me. Finally I got myself to move and realized that everyone around me is completely strung out- at noon! I have never been so scared in my entire life. I got out of there as fast as I could but got completely turned around. I finally reached a main street and this well dressed clean cut guy comes up to me and told me I was sexy... That is when I completely lost it and decided that I had to leave athens. I've never felt unsafe traveling by myself until then. As a single woman I don't think I can stay in cheap hostels that are in bad locations, I can't afford that risk. Back at my hostel I fought with the guy to give me back my 13euros for that night, cause I was getting the hell out of there.
After that I really had no plan and more so than ever wanted to take ballet class. I decided that regardless I was going to find the dance studio and take class, just go the safest longest way possible. The dance studio was great, it had big windows that overlooked the acropolis. I never felt so happy to dance and have art back in my life.
I figured it out that I could take a 10pm bus to corfu, which is where I need to be to go to italy so off I go...
I thought that I would spend more time in the greek islands but ferrys are more expensive than I thought, and I don't want to travel by myself around the islands. I thought about going to Istanbol, but that is the opposite direction of rome... So I decided after Ios to go back to Athens. In trying to save money I took a slow ferry that took all day long.
I booked a really cheap hostel in Athens and now I know why it was so cheap- it is in an awful location. there is a brothel across the street that did provide some entertainment last night from the roof top bar, but location is everything.
I found a dance studio in greece that I had planned on taking classes there for the next couple of days. I was trying to find the studio and on the map found a short cut that was close to my hostel. Well this shortcut was wayy more than I thought. I started to walk down the street and all of a sudden it starts to get pretty busy. Then somehow I walk into a group of dirty men who are hold syringes and injecting each other with what I would assume is heroin. I just froze, I couldn't move I just stared at them and then this group of people looked up at me. Finally I got myself to move and realized that everyone around me is completely strung out- at noon! I have never been so scared in my entire life. I got out of there as fast as I could but got completely turned around. I finally reached a main street and this well dressed clean cut guy comes up to me and told me I was sexy... That is when I completely lost it and decided that I had to leave athens. I've never felt unsafe traveling by myself until then. As a single woman I don't think I can stay in cheap hostels that are in bad locations, I can't afford that risk. Back at my hostel I fought with the guy to give me back my 13euros for that night, cause I was getting the hell out of there.
After that I really had no plan and more so than ever wanted to take ballet class. I decided that regardless I was going to find the dance studio and take class, just go the safest longest way possible. The dance studio was great, it had big windows that overlooked the acropolis. I never felt so happy to dance and have art back in my life.
I figured it out that I could take a 10pm bus to corfu, which is where I need to be to go to italy so off I go...
spring break mtv style
Santorini is pretty, romantic, and stunning but we were ready for more excitement so I headed off with emily and joci for the island of Ios. The ferry was filled with 20somethings and "tonight's gonna be a good night" by the black eye peas were playing... Let the party begin.
Ios is a small island that gets completely overtaken in the summer by backpackers and Australians. Ios is nicknamed the spring break island, and that it is. Everyone just sits by the pool and on the beach all day and just party's all night. We arrived around noon and nothing was going on but within the hour the beach was packed, it really did look like a mtv spring break party. I stayed at a place right on the beach in a small hut without a real roof, I felt like I was camping and it was only 10euros a night.
Everyone goes into town for the night. So around 1030 we headed into town to get coffee (at a precious coffee shop), eat gyeros, and begin the night. I was glad that I was with a group of girls to party with and dance with all night. It almost would have been impossible to be on the island by myself. Walking back from the town at 5am was quite the adventure... Through small paths with donkeys and sheep on one side and the sea as our guide. I have never in my life seen so many stars. the two girls kept laughing at me because I kept talking about the stars, I don't see very many stars in philly and for sure have never seen that many!
Its a funny place, mainly because it isn't a real place. There really isn't any culture or substance just a non stop party. Every place has a limit, my limit for Ios was two nights. I was worried if I stayed there any longer I would have gotten melanoma or my liver would have given out. It was fun but I came to greece for more than a party and was over the tourist aspect of the entire place.
Ios is a small island that gets completely overtaken in the summer by backpackers and Australians. Ios is nicknamed the spring break island, and that it is. Everyone just sits by the pool and on the beach all day and just party's all night. We arrived around noon and nothing was going on but within the hour the beach was packed, it really did look like a mtv spring break party. I stayed at a place right on the beach in a small hut without a real roof, I felt like I was camping and it was only 10euros a night.
Everyone goes into town for the night. So around 1030 we headed into town to get coffee (at a precious coffee shop), eat gyeros, and begin the night. I was glad that I was with a group of girls to party with and dance with all night. It almost would have been impossible to be on the island by myself. Walking back from the town at 5am was quite the adventure... Through small paths with donkeys and sheep on one side and the sea as our guide. I have never in my life seen so many stars. the two girls kept laughing at me because I kept talking about the stars, I don't see very many stars in philly and for sure have never seen that many!
Its a funny place, mainly because it isn't a real place. There really isn't any culture or substance just a non stop party. Every place has a limit, my limit for Ios was two nights. I was worried if I stayed there any longer I would have gotten melanoma or my liver would have given out. It was fun but I came to greece for more than a party and was over the tourist aspect of the entire place.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Santorini
Athens isn't really that exciting its a great city but what makes greece exciting are the islands. I didn't know where or what island to go to but I decided to go to Santorini. Emily (who I bungy jumped with) and her friend, joci were also headed that way.
I took an all day ferry to get there, it was long and slow and really boring. when you get off the boat there are so many people with signs yelling to stay in their rooms and hotels its a little overwhelming. Since I was meeting the two girls there I knew where i was staying but trying to find the sign for the hostel with everyone yelling at me was a little crazy.
I got to the hostel and only cared about getting to the beach. I think I pissed the guy off at the front desk because I really wasn't listening to him. It was so nice though sitting on Perissa beach reading, it was great. I had to buy more sunscreen though since I'm deathly afraid of getting more freckles and it cost me 22 euros! Beach life isn't cheap but so so great.
The next day the two girls and I went on a full excursion of Santorini. We did a tour that took us on this cool old wooden boat to the volcano, hot springs, remote island (that I don't know the name of) and Oia. It was a long day but filled with a lot of fun. The volcano was a little bit of a hike and I had the wrong shoes on so my feet started to hurt but a lot of great pictures were taken of the sea from there and it was my fisrt time on a volcano. There was no lava or smoke... Which was a little disappointing...
The hot spring! It was pretty cool we had to jump off the boat and swim a good 50 yards to the spring. The sea was so cold and of course I screamed when I jumped in. I can't remember the last time I actually swam though so I got tired but also was having a great time. The hot spring was warm and I didn't want to leave.
Then we went to the remote island which was what I picture in my head greece being. Small, white houses with blue doors pretty water view, there were no beaches though just rocks. But it was great there was an old man working on his boat and donkeys chilling and stray cats running around and it was peaceful.
The famous sunsets Oia. Ahh so amazing. The small town is the cutest picturesque town ever. We were there for awhile walking around, going into the shops and eating the most amazing balkava ever! There are so many small expensive villas there with well dressed gorgeous people hanging around, I want to be hanging out with them! I also wanted everyone I know to be in Oia with me watching the sunset because it was so picturesque. Its funny the place is swarmed with people for the sunset and then everyone leaves and it becomes a ghost town. Ahh it was great though.
Santorini has been the first place that I've totally been ok with leaving because I know that ill come back one day.
I took an all day ferry to get there, it was long and slow and really boring. when you get off the boat there are so many people with signs yelling to stay in their rooms and hotels its a little overwhelming. Since I was meeting the two girls there I knew where i was staying but trying to find the sign for the hostel with everyone yelling at me was a little crazy.
I got to the hostel and only cared about getting to the beach. I think I pissed the guy off at the front desk because I really wasn't listening to him. It was so nice though sitting on Perissa beach reading, it was great. I had to buy more sunscreen though since I'm deathly afraid of getting more freckles and it cost me 22 euros! Beach life isn't cheap but so so great.
The next day the two girls and I went on a full excursion of Santorini. We did a tour that took us on this cool old wooden boat to the volcano, hot springs, remote island (that I don't know the name of) and Oia. It was a long day but filled with a lot of fun. The volcano was a little bit of a hike and I had the wrong shoes on so my feet started to hurt but a lot of great pictures were taken of the sea from there and it was my fisrt time on a volcano. There was no lava or smoke... Which was a little disappointing...
The hot spring! It was pretty cool we had to jump off the boat and swim a good 50 yards to the spring. The sea was so cold and of course I screamed when I jumped in. I can't remember the last time I actually swam though so I got tired but also was having a great time. The hot spring was warm and I didn't want to leave.
Then we went to the remote island which was what I picture in my head greece being. Small, white houses with blue doors pretty water view, there were no beaches though just rocks. But it was great there was an old man working on his boat and donkeys chilling and stray cats running around and it was peaceful.
The famous sunsets Oia. Ahh so amazing. The small town is the cutest picturesque town ever. We were there for awhile walking around, going into the shops and eating the most amazing balkava ever! There are so many small expensive villas there with well dressed gorgeous people hanging around, I want to be hanging out with them! I also wanted everyone I know to be in Oia with me watching the sunset because it was so picturesque. Its funny the place is swarmed with people for the sunset and then everyone leaves and it becomes a ghost town. Ahh it was great though.
Santorini has been the first place that I've totally been ok with leaving because I know that ill come back one day.
jumping!!
For my second day in athens I planned on going to the museums to submerge myself in the ancient culture, but everything changed. When I woke up a girl from my hostel, emily, asked me if I wanted to go bungy jumping with her. Probably too quickly I said yes. It was crazy but soon off we were with other guy to go bungy jumping on the corinth canal. We had to take an hour bus to get there but the bus dropped is off right in front of the place. Within 20 mins we had harnesses' on and were on the bridge looking down at the water. I was so scared, I just kept shaking and really didn't know if I could jump. I made emily and this other guy we were with go before me. I watched as both of them counted down and then jumped off. Finally it was my turn.
I went onto the platform and grabbed the instructors shirt and would let go. I had to close my eyes while they were getting everything ready finally everything was ready and I had to walk to the edge which was almost impossible. I made it out there my toes to the edge and put my arms out, then the instructor started counting down. I closed my eyes. 5, 4, 3 I opened my eyes... And started to count 2... 1... And I jumped and screamed my head off. I stopped screaming for a moment and it was incredible, I heard nothing only saw the water and the rocks and it was surprisingly peaceful, the I started to bounce and started to scream again. It was fun swinging down there upside down I felt like I was flying. It was really fun and over too fast. When I got up to the platform I had to sit down because I was still shaking. I'm still shocked that I did it, but I did !
I went onto the platform and grabbed the instructors shirt and would let go. I had to close my eyes while they were getting everything ready finally everything was ready and I had to walk to the edge which was almost impossible. I made it out there my toes to the edge and put my arms out, then the instructor started counting down. I closed my eyes. 5, 4, 3 I opened my eyes... And started to count 2... 1... And I jumped and screamed my head off. I stopped screaming for a moment and it was incredible, I heard nothing only saw the water and the rocks and it was surprisingly peaceful, the I started to bounce and started to scream again. It was fun swinging down there upside down I felt like I was flying. It was really fun and over too fast. When I got up to the platform I had to sit down because I was still shaking. I'm still shocked that I did it, but I did !
Friday, June 4, 2010
greece greece greece
flying from egypt to athens was really exciting. I looked outside the plane and saw the Mediterranean sea and the greek mountains, it was wonderful I was so happy. Getting into athens and to my hostel from the airport was really easy- it was a nice change from egypt. The first thing I did when I got to athens was find a laundry mat and wash everything. I don't know when the last time I used a machine was! Ahhh clean clothes is such a great feeling.
My hostel is in a perfect spot, right next to the acropolis. the bar on the roof has a perfect view of the acropolis lit up at night, its insane. The first night I was there, a group of us went out from the hostel. All being new to the city, and drinking too much the acropolis was our only guide back to the hostel which was an experience in itself.
I went on the big tour around athens the first full day. I think I am on overload of ancient ruins. I have seen some amazing human wonders of the world that its starting to be hard for me to comprehend any more. I walked all around the acropolis in the middle of the day, but I feel like I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have. I got tons of photos though so at least I can say I've been there.
My hostel is in a perfect spot, right next to the acropolis. the bar on the roof has a perfect view of the acropolis lit up at night, its insane. The first night I was there, a group of us went out from the hostel. All being new to the city, and drinking too much the acropolis was our only guide back to the hostel which was an experience in itself.
I went on the big tour around athens the first full day. I think I am on overload of ancient ruins. I have seen some amazing human wonders of the world that its starting to be hard for me to comprehend any more. I walked all around the acropolis in the middle of the day, but I feel like I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have. I got tons of photos though so at least I can say I've been there.
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