wow, such a long time....
Wow, its been forever since I last posted I just realized. So much has happened. But I’d like to think I’ve been talking with you guys in other mediums and keeping you posted, so its not a huge loss. But regardless, I figure I’ll give a huge account of my life in Greece to date. I apologize for the length and possible summary-nature of it. I wrote this all once before and was one sentence away from posting when *fucking* internet explorer crapped out and I lost it all. Anyways, enjoy!
So, two weeks ago I went with my entire program to Crete for a week. WOW. Just AMAZING. That island is so fucking beautiful, it basically goes beyond words. We hopped on a ferry at like 10pm at night on Friday, ate a very late dinner and then slept for a wakeup at 5:30. We literally spent half the trip on boats and busses. Well, I had some fun on the ferry…. Its tradition here to have booze with dinner. So, I bought a GIANT bottle of wine to share with my table but no one would have any. So, I downed it myself. Only dinnertime and I was very nearly drunk. Then, someone bought a bottle of some liquid and I partook. I simply couldn’t refuse. As I said, in hindsight, probably not the best bit, since I had to wake up at 5:30 for breakfast. Y’see, they supplied us with breakfast on the trip every day and left us to get the other 2 meals ourselves. Well, Europeans don’t really “do” breakfast. What we got was a piece of bread (not toast, bread), a raw egg, a slice of meat and cheese, butter, and orange SODA. Because everything here has to be carbonated. Haha, in retrospect, its funny as hell. It wasn’t actually too bad either because 1) I did NOT get a hangover of any sort and 2) I proved yet again that I function BETTER with less sleep. Sersiously? 2 hours of sleep and I was the most awake there the whole day (of course, at about 10pm that night I just DIED, haha). So, the first thing we all did (all like 200 of us) was pile onto some busses (see??? Busses and boats, that was our life!) and drove to Knossos. Wow. I took some video, which I’ll upload later when I get my comp back (I’ll explain later), but the place really has to be seen to believe. For starters, its HUGE. Secondly, it really just evokes the most amazing feelings out of you for both its age and its beauty. Even in ruins, its just breathtaking. And for whoever might think bad about Evans’ reconstructions, they definitely help give the place the feel it’d lack otherwise. They’re like a glimpse into the past.
So, after that, my group (about 30 kids) piled onto another bus and INVADED this small town. On the ride over, I saw my first and only horse in Greece. It was a GORGEOUS black stallion. Anywho, we invaded this small town for lunch. We literally pulled up, they opened the doors and say “Have at it! See you in two hours!” I split off with a group of 2 girls and we went really out of the way to this little taverna. Then the teachers showed up and said we’d found the best place in town! We did the traditional Greek bit and ordered a TON of sides and just dug in. We also got some wine, because apparently this town makes the best stuff in the Mediterranean. As a wino, I’d have to say I was pleased. I also have to say I am now in love with roast rabbit and fried zukini. And Zatziki. God that is some good dip. When I get back to the states, we are so doing that at least once a week at the school! And then, this is where I am really impressed with myself, they served us the traditional complimentary drink. It’s a little bottle of booze that’s like 40% straight alcohol. This stuff puts hard vodka to shame. One wiff of it and you’re on the way to being drunk. Now, keep in mind that we just finished off a bottle of wine. But its poor manners to at least not have SOME. So, we poured a bit into each of our shot glasses (yes, its served in shot glasses), toasted and drank. You’re supposed to sip it. Haha, I downed it like a shot. Then I held my breath for about a minute to keep from having my eyes water out of my head. God that is strong stuff! We kept pushin through tho, and eventually had only about one shot left in the bottle, but couldn’t stomach it. I’d already had 4 and even with the wet rice cakes they serve with it for taste (yum by the way!), I was done. The two girls had had 2 each. This is where I’m proud. They were totally gone. I wasn’t even buzzed! Tolerance, here I come!
So, after lunch we went to this really out of the way site. We hiked up a mountain, jumped a rusty fence and found ourselves in an ancient cemetery that no one basically knows about! There weren’t even guards! It was like a classicist’s playground! We could go wherever we wanted and explore without any ropes or guides or anything!!!!! I went inside a tholos (beehive tomb) and a virtual labyrinth of crypts! It was probably the best experience of the whole trip. Then, we left and invaded a hotel for the night as we would every night. I was impressed, we actually cleaned this restaurant out of food. They had nothing left! But its cool, because the service and food SUCKED! Haha, it was fun. I felt like part of an invading horde.
We did some other sites, all of which were cool and all of which I video taped, and did some more invading and pillaging. I’m happy to report that in one small pocket of the island I am now known as the Dread Pirate Cardinal David de Richleiu. :D
The second to last night we stayed in the island’s main city: Iralkion. A group of us went to a taverna for dinner, which turned out to be a seafood one. Any of you who know me well know I don’t touch the stuff. But I was adventurous. I ate everything put in front of me. Let me say this now: kalamari? Yum. Octopus??? OMFG, YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha, that sum it up? Afterwards, I herded a couple people together and we went to a hookah bar. This was my first one, so I was excited. We got there and it was this really chill spot with music ala Dobra Tea playing in the background. But as soon as we sat down basically, disco lights came and they started blasting Indian techno. We were like WTF Mate? But then this GORGEOUS belly dancer came out. My eyes wouldn’t leave here the entire night. Wow. Hookah and one of the most beautifully women I’ve ever seen. A night certainly not to be forgotten.
The next night we went to another town on the NW side of the island. I set out to find another hookah bar. I found a spot that had hookah. It was good enough for me. As I was smoking at like midnight (I had to be up at 4), an older guy saw me and asked to sit down. We just hit it right off and chatted for like an hour and a half. It was seriously one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. He just told me all about his life and it was amazing. His name was Slyvester and he was born in the US. He moved over here as a kid though to help take care of his aging father. He served in the Greek military, and rode his bike through all of Europe, America and half of Asia. And now he works on Crete as a waiter in the good season and collects unemployment and chats with people like me in the off season. He speaks like 8 languages too. One of the most interesting individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I told him if he’s ever in Athens, to look me up and we’ll go out for a beer and catch up again.
The next day we hiked this really famous gorge. OMG, It was GORGEous (get it? Haha). I brought my camera and taped some of it, but its beyond pictures. Just daunting and beautiful at the same time. I’ve never been, but I can only compare it to the Grand Canyon in its beauty. At one point I just stopped for a half hour, sat down and wrote. I was that inspired. And I totally broke my writer’s block on my book while there, so awesomeness! My muse for novelism had returned! So, at the end of the hike (13 miles), we came to the ocean for some much deserved swimming and sunbathing. I got a great tan (though its gone now). But let me just say this: GOD DO I HATE THE FRENCH. Haha. I’ve been going through total withdrawal lately. No computer, internet, music, tv, or movies. Why no music might you ask? What happened to my MP3 might you ask? THE FRENCH. Haha. So, there I was, standing on the dock, waiting for the ferry to come in. Now, mind you, this is a very small dock, and there are a lot of people, and some of them are French. Needless to say, I got pushed in. With my MP3. In the water. This is not a good thing. Haha. So now I’m without music. When I get home I can only hope my warrantee covers me against “French.” :P
So why don’t I have a computer? Well, about 3-4 weeks ago, my DVD drive broke. Well, after 3 weeks of arguing with HP we concluded that I am in fact under warrantee so I was finally able to get it looked at. So on Monday I dropped it off and am now waiting to get it back (whenever that might be). As a result, I’ve been going through total withdrawal from a lack of activities. Last weekend I read the last of the books I brought with me: Seabiscuit. WOW. Amazing book! I’m totally in love with it. I flew through it in two days! It made me miss my barn so much though and Seeka. So I emailed Dawn-Marie to see how everyone was. She’s doing great and I was THRILLED to hear Seeka’s on lease there for another two years!!!! Who knows, maybe I’ll have enough cash by then and be successful enough as a rider to buy him… :D
So, as I was reading Seabiscuit and thinking of horses, and craving to listening to my Irish pub tunes, I got to thinking about where I wanted to go on fall break. I have 9 days off so anything’s fair game. SO, I decided on Ireland! The old country! Its all but finalized. I’m just waiting to book my tickets (travel agents are arguing the airlines down a few extra bucks for me) and I’m set. I’m spending the 27-30 in Dublin at some hostels and stuff, and then going out to the countryside the 30-4 to stay with the fam at our B&B, where I plan to do much riding. Who knows, maybe I’ll even meet a cute redhead with an accent there…
God, my weekends are busy though and quickly filling up. This weekend I’m going with my class on a trip to the Peloponnese/Argolid to see Mycenae, Delphi, etc. Then next weekend I’m going to Brauron with another class and then afterwards hiking Mt. Olympus. Then after that is fall break so Ireland. Then, my parents come to visit. Then, I’m going to London on an impromptu 4 day trip. Then, Istanbul, Troy and the island Delos sometime before I split? Ya, I’ve definitely got the travel bug and I’m not even making an attempt to resist. But I figure, why not? This is my one chance really until I’m older. Plus, I checked and I still have like 2700 left in my bank account! What the fuck and I saving it for if not this? So, Dublin, London, world, here I come!!!!
Well guys, that’s all I can think of now. Oh, btw, Greek Ikea is just as awesome as the US ones. I got an awesome throw rug which I’m SO bringing back home for my dorm room. Hopefully I’ll get my computer back soon so we can chat more regularly. I have skype now, so if you can scrounge up a mic and download the program, we can talk for free! Miss you all so much! Hope this gives you a sense of the awesomeness of being abroad. And Kels? *Happy hugs of congratulation!