HEY ZEUS!!!

Once upon a time there was this God-guy.....not the Gee.Oh.Dee...but I'm talking the guy with the white beard....the thunderbolts....the togas.....the strap-like sandals that were once appropriate for the male gender to sport daily.....the puffy white clouds.....yeah....that guy....you know him.....you love him.....B-lock and Anna have a cat named after him......OH HEY ZEUS.....hahaha take a minute think about what you just read.....Hey Zeus....haha get it? OK ANYWAY.....right then...back to my story.....well we all know of the Gods and Goddesses....but where did these mythological characters chill on their down-time....where was a place to call their own in the earthly world we now currently live in.....well I'll tell you. Mount Olymus. Thats right...... Mt. Oh. LYM. PUS.....and why is this story significant? Well, I'll tell you. I rocked it. I climbed it. I owned it. I schooled it. I got my ass kicked by it and I currently can't walk up or downstairs so I have resorted to taking the elevator at all costs. I'm currently sporting my t-shirt that I paid 10 euros for....and it was SO worth it....it marks the elevation of purchase....and I am feeling super awesome rocking it out for everyone to see....because it says

"oh hey look...there is Heather...."

..... "oh cool....yo dude what is she wearing? ....is that a t-shirt from Mt. Olympus...the ones that you can only get at one of the refuge's where its between a 3-4 climb/hike but mostly a climb that is really intense and makes you want to drop off the cliffside that is basically where you are hiking because its about 3 feet from the small narrow and dangerous path where you have to climb through?"....

"for sure".....

"nice, homegirl is awesome"

...."yeah dude....yeah"

(note this conversation is fabricated for dramatic and necessary effect, thank you.)

THAT'S what my T-shirt says....right now....CURRENTLY......I'm very excited...can't you tell.....so you want to know of my adventures? My climbing escapades? My experience trying to be like padre and brosef in their prime of scouting and Philmonting and stuff and things?

I thought you did.

SO THERE I WAS. Bright and Early on Saturday Morning October 18, 2008.....4 hours earlier I was still out and about enjoying a Friday night as intensely as I could.....I'm pretty sure I was still rocking it out when I woke up on that Bright and Early Saturday Morning....but Allie had this journey planned, mapped, and ready to go....so I decided it was do or die.....no regrets.....do it all while I can....and this was going to be WAY cheaper than the trip the school had planned a few weeks earlier for the Study Abroad students....ergo.....I went for it......Allie, Danika (Allie's sorority sister who is studying with CYA in athens), and myself were ready to rumble and make the trek to chill with the Gods....I had my backback and prep-ed myself for the tundra that would be waiting for me......needless to say....we were all pretty stoked to get started.....SO pumped right here......as you can see......

We headed down our street to the Kiosk...got some much needed water and snacks....snacks were CRUCIAL for our adventure....and found ourselves in a cab headed toward the fabulous bus station in Thessaloniki. After a short bit of confusion and not being able to comprehend things, we found the appropriate ticket booth and filed in line....where once again confusion set in.....listen....sidenote action time: WHAT PART OF LINES don't GREEK people understand.....oh you want to buy a cookie....ok wait behind the person, who was here WAY before you, to make their purchase....then it is your turn.....right...? RIGHT......Right? WRONG.....this wasn't just at the bus station this is everywhere in Greece....why stand in line when we can all just force ourselves into the same direction and wait for something to happen! GREAT IDEA....and so, I appreciate the soul who created the line....math or not....line or curve....there are reasons....there are purposes....and I'm really glad that the American society has this on lock down...no cutsies...no butting...just some innocent jumped a few sneaks here and there....not huddled masses of people.....right then....

SO we obtained our 8 euro tickets to Katerina....easily found our bus...popped on board...(also note...they have assigned seats for busses here? awkward? kindof....) AND we were on our way.....minus the fact that the bus stopped and we were the only ones left on the bus....and well we just didn't know what to do with ourselves....so we got off once the awkward feeling set and and hopped on another bus to Litchoro....and seriously if we didn't get the rush of awkward what should we do feeling....we would have missed the bus....as soon as we got on it was cruisin and movin. Luckily it was a short trip from Katerina to Litchoro and before we knew it we were THERE gazing upon the mountain we were about to conquor....we grabbed some shots of zues and some shots of the mountain from where we were.....ran to the little market store...grabbed some tp.....after our first realization and our first broom stop in this little town....they were squaters....awkward AND inappropriate kindof haha either way.....we had to persevere and this was the just the beginning of our "just do it/ impossible is nothing" attitude. JUST LOOK HOW PUMPED I AM!!!

SOON enough we went to the taxi stand where we jumped in off we went to bypass 6 hours of climbing and get to a resonable place to start our ascent. It costs a whopping 23 euro to get a cab up to this place....we were constantly zig-zagging...it was like Santorini all over again....HOW in the world do these people drive the way they do?? I mean....they are practicially driving on the edge of a cliff at devestatingly fast speeds.....I mean they must go to special driving schools because if I were to drive up or down these roads someone is bound to get hurt....and someone is definitely me....ANYWAY so we made our way up to the top....grabbed a few important and crucial shots of our beginning AND off we went.....

FINALLY SEASONS!!!!!!

We began in a spring-summer climate and walked straight into fall. It was absolutely AMAZING...to smell fall and walk through fall...it was like being home.....I love the fall....I really do....and the colors were so intense....seriously. I don't think I have ever really appreciated nature like this before....I was walking through it and all the leaves were mostly still on the branches in different and vibrant shades of yellow, red, brown, and orange....it was so awesome......However, atleast 5 minutes into our trek....it dawned on me....and the fact that I was out of breath....that this was going to be SO hard......We found a rock with Zues and Hera painted on artisticially and took a serious stop once we reached some benches and it seemed like it was a designated place to rest.....Looking out....we were literally walking through clouds.....with the Gods......on Mt. Olypmus....HOW cool is that.....SERIOUSLY....how awesome is that! AND so we decided to document our trek by film which will be edited and posted once my multimedia class kicks into video mode...until then I just have blurbs I'll post in this and you can see how awesome haha and how ridiculous my commentary really is....ahhh haha maybe TV isn't meant for me...though it is still on my list of things I should probably do when I grow up.....LUCKILY Allie brought a marker and just like hundreds of people before us, we decided to leave our mark.....I left my words on Mt. Olympus......and I left the mark of 32......I'm not sure why I decided to write what I did....but something told me that I needed to.....I made a promise and wrote it down in my creative writing class after April 16......I do, because 32 can't.....and what better place to keep it in my mind and in my heart...than with the Gods where impossible is nothing....

AND so our journey continued with PLENTY of breaks, lack of air, sweat like you WOULD NOT believe, video documenting, and silence.....YOU try talking to people when you are out of breath and struggling up rocks.......seriously.....we legit were scaling the sides of this mountain....both hands for gripping....it was really intense....We stopped at this really HUGE rock top...where other hikers were taking a break.....I'd like to emphasize what kindof hikers were there that we made friends with....they all had serious hiking backpacks, serious hiking boots, serious hiking poles, serious hiking gear, and looked like they were ready for everest.....and there was us....with day backpacks, american incrusted t-shirts, and sneakers.....that's it....Oh hey beginners on a seriously serious Mountain....well so I thought it was....

We paused for a photo session, yoga, and some snacks....but yet again we were on our way....by the 3rd or 4th hour....I was ready to get to the stinking refuge....I was nasty.....and so was Allie and Danika.....I was tired....and my legs have never had that intense of a workout EVER...this puts all of my pre-season, in-season, and post season practices, workouts, everything TO SHAME....that intense...yeah how bout it....on the upside...everyone we passed...was extremely friendly and nice......Yay for Greek class and learning hellos and things like that.....so eventually it got to the point where we were just about to hurt something or someone with our exhaustion....WE just wanted to get there....no big deal.....and finally I asked someone who had just come from that direction....GREAT NEWS....only 10 minutes till the refuge...and so we started to REALLY book it....and once we got there....it was the greatest feeling/thing EVER....seriously.....I mean....we climbed for hours.....and made it through some intense elevations.....from fall straight to almost Christmas weather.....not to mention documenting the aftermath of such a long and intense hike....ew gross.....and stretching....we really could not WAIT to go inside and get some food.....

We headed inside the refuge and it was packed...there were a TON of people there...all the tables looked decently full....luckily there were fire places...THIS was a great thing! After cleaning up a bit and taking off our shoes....and I really wish someone would have filled me in about the whole no shoe thing in the refuge because those shoes they gave me to wear were really awful....BUT we ordered some food which was actually pretty good and then we weren't really sure what to do with ourselves...just the fact that we were all so drained from everything we could have passed out right then and there....BUT we weren't ready to call it a night yet and it was only around 7(WE would have played cards but we weren't allowed to play cards in the lodge.....WHAT!? it's considered gambling....ok I think that this is just silly and stupid....what would I gamble with??? all I had were my shoes and my backpact....i mean sure lets bet my gross-ass sneakers that are covered in mud and have trampled over yack/goat poop all afternoon.....right......ok anyway) by the time we had gotten ourselves situated and payed for our beds....this mountain guy took us around and explained things about how everything worked...the refuge works off a generator so at 10:30 it goes to pitch black.....no heat....BUT they give you TONS of blankets so I was really comfortable the whole night...minus the fact that we decided to pass out around 8 and then I found myself awake at 1 in the morning unable to sleep anymore....this sucked the big one....I just wanted to sleep but I found it really difficult...maybe i was sore....or maybe it was the weaksauce matress pad on the bed....but either way.....sleep was just not happening for me....MEH.....AND finally when I did wake up....I felt like I had just gotten to sleep...WHY does this ALWAYS happen!!?? Not many people were stirring when I was awake and out of the room...but I saw the light on in the hall way...I was in different building than Allie and Danika which I didn't mind at all....just sleeping.....but I saw the light on and I was pumped for the morning because pitch-black with no flash light other than my cell phone...borderline really creepy....and I mean REALLY.....so we were up and ready to go....grabbed some breakfast...which was called "breakfast" when you ordered it...and let me tell you what....to pay 4 euros for bread with some condiments and a cup of hot chocolate....was WAY over-priced....BUT what are you going to do....I was too far away to do anything about it....SOON we were outside and ready to go for day two....this time....we were CRUCIALLY geared for the cold weather....AND of course we had time for a fabulous photo Op....AND day two filming.

October 19, 2008

.....so the first day, I was ALL about it....I was in the lead....moving fast....since I'm a fast mover...it was going well....no problem....day two.....MEH meh MEH!.....I had NO motivation whatso ever.....it was like pulling teeth trying to get myself up to the top......we had a few stops and it got cold really fast......downside is that it was all so steep and it was looking rather dark from up above.....it was a good thing we left early because we were able to see everything without the clouds covering up the rest of the world below us...but don't worry, we were soon in walking through them just like Zeus did/does....you know whatevs. We got to a good stopping point and I was defintely ready to quit......well not quit....but dub it our "top" we were at a cliff's edge it looked as though it was the top....but ALLIE was in "i'm going to the top" mode....if she hadn't 1. pushed me to go on this trip 2. pushed me to go to the top I would have regretted it for the rest of my life....so shout out to Allie....homegirl you rock.....SO we went even further and it sucked....and it was hard...but we did it.....as it was starting to snow....it was absoultely incredible.....so there were clouds everywhere below us and I could see clear across to other mountain tops....but when it came down to it....it wasn't the actual height we reached...it was the fact that I did it....that I pushed myself that hard...and to be honest this has been the hardest thing I have yet to do in my entire life.....there was such a rush of accomplishment and pride and just LOOK what I can do....haha and then I had a serious ephihany.......besides that I don't exactly "hate climbing/hiking" in fact I'm pretty sure I really liked it....it was a lot of fun...and though I'm paying for it now...it was one of the best experiences I think I will ever have....ok but back to my ephihany....ok so.....no I didn't "find myself" on Mt. Olympus...it wasn't anything that life altering....I think through this whole Grecian process I've really developed a sense of who I am......but it isn't about finding yourself....it's about learning yourself.....you can't find yourself....I mean....I was never lost.....but I just learned alot more about what I can do if I push myself....though it was a different kind of push....and I've realized more about Hlo in the past 5 weeks then I have in the past 3 years...it was SO AWESOME....I wish I could have more words to describe it....but seriously....thats like it....it was just AMAZING!

SO at the top we took more film haha which was fun....complete with seperate shout outs to my girls in Kappa Delta.....I FREAKING MISS YOU ALL.....and I rocked my letters on the top of Mt. Olympus....which was awesome....check me out kayDEE...holllaaaa.....and I did a shout out to the fam....AND Joann because I ROCKED Mt. Olympus and what better way to do an independent study on Roman and GREEK mythology than to actually EXPERIENCE it first hand....you know how I do.....AND we met our friends at the top who took pictures of us earlier and I had shared a room with at the refuge.....haha best thing about them was def...."DO you have the FACEBOOK!" OF COURSE I have facebook.....in which case I am waiting for new friend requests and pictures that they took of us.......ahhh aweome....

SOONER than later we started out trek down....it was a SERIOSLY sweet change to go down and not up....but holy moly my toes and knees started to KILL.....OOOOoooobaby....I'm still feeling it.....and WE COULD talk on the way down.....which was awesome....finally not out of breath and just watching our foot placement....we all had several slips on the way down to the refuge because there were just loose rocks EVERYWHERE.

WE finally made it back to the refuge WAY faster than going up....we grabbed food....postcards WITH the offical stamp OF elevation (OH HEY SCRAPBOOK) and my 10 euro t-shirt....woo...which is freaking awesome by the way....there is Greek on the back of it....that spells LEGIT all over it.....annnnnnd then soon enough we were heading back toward our starting point. EXCEPT when we hit the more forest part of the trek like in the beginning with all of the fall colors......the trees and leaves completely changed....it was like walking through a movie...I KID you NOT....it was SO beautiful....seriously......it was like all the orange and brown leaves decided to coat the ground over night.......it was like walking through leaves in October in PA way back when and then jumping through them slash getting ready to carve pumpkins....(no pumpkins here...I KNOW right!?) But it just reminded me to smell the change in seasons WHICH is my favorite scent....musk if you will.....and BAH....it was so awesome....IF only you could have been chilling with the GODS like I did......

SO we made it back and we were SO exhausted......once we saw people dressed in normal clothes we knew were in the right place....note: if you are going to walk in the woods...don't wear heels...I don't care if you think it's cute/ that's what you do....don't wear heels in the woods if you're walking on a trail...that's stupid....ok....don't be dumb" ANYWAY so we got a cab BACK down the mountain and our taxi driver was so awesome.....ok so it did cost another 23 euro...BUT he took us straight to the bus station....and then to the train station so Danika coud go back to Athens AND THEN back to the bus station and he only charged us 6 euros for quite a bit of carting us around....AND helped us out major and tried to explain things the best he could...you go cab driver....you go.......AND so....ALLIE and I grabbed some snacks....I LOVE popcorn and I FOUND it here....in which case...I decided that we should get it....and of course chocolate...because I just sweated and worked off atleast 10 lbs of my life......and this top we thought we would be smart and get off the bus at Katerini....only we weren't supposed to......HOW are we supposed to KNOW this......anyway....so we got back to Thessaloniki in two and tired pieces and had the cab driver take us STRAIGHT to CORNER pizza....because Allie and I have decided to dub that our new Sunday tradition....

moral of the story: I learned myself on Mt. Olympus, don't wear heels in the woods, impossible is nothing, and I really like Corner personal Pizza......and that i'm still in crucial pain and cannot walk up or downstairs but luckily there is an elevator that takes me from my second floor apartment to the ground floor.....who's going places? This kid is.

Until next time sports fans, this is Hlo signing off......

AND THIS WEEKEND......I'm off to Berlin and PRAGUE......check me out nowwwww funk show brothaaaaa

love. love. love

-H