SO....when Wednesday afternoon hit I decided on a very important decision. To do or not to do...that is the question? So you know what I said? Let's do it. AND before I knew it, it was Thursday morning and I was walking down to the center with Heather. OK note to self...shopping in the morning is what needs to happen from now on for always because the stores are all open and they are NOT crowded...THIS is great news...also note. Thursday is the day to shop because everything is open WAY later than any other days during the week....fully noted? NOTED. Right then...SO Heather and I...ok I know...heather and heather...whatever, that is beside the point...SO we walked to the center looking for the travel agency that she used on wednesday that would secure my fate for one of the most amazing weekends EVER. Right then...so...we walked...and walked...and missed it...and skipped it...but eventually...WE FOUND IT! Ok lets be honest...a little run down if you will. Let's go with a top 5 list...ready? me too.
1. Heather (not me...though I think I should be included in this) has no sense in direction....or is it that she has a bad memory...either way it doesn't matter Girl is freaking awesome...
2. Heather makes my name look baller...and she's reading this blog...right now...currently....creepy.
3. Travel agency: Sketchy, helpful, and decently cheap
4. How does Sketchy and helpful go together?
5. They don't.
SO as you can see...the travel agency was worth the walk because they got me ready, set, and geared-up to go...I'm talking the ferry tickets, the train tickets...everything... the whole "kit and kaboodle" (how often do we get to say this...because I really think this is an underrated phrase that may or may not have been coined as a key phrase for a dogfood brand..mostly may) ANYWAY...AND side note...after I got tickets...oh yeah I got a cell phone....clearly a remarkable morning and a prelude to an even more remarkable festive weekend....OK so let me get to this...enough of the suspense....where exactly DID I get tickets to?
ok well I'll tell you...you really shwant to know shwhat it shwas? Mehharlight....I'll tell you shwhat it shwas...
I got tickets to....SANTORINI...ok...take a minute...lets pause for a moment of awesomeness....
pause...
insert SOTP PICTURE HERE....
1. Heather (not me...though I think I should be included in this) has no sense in direction....or is it that she has a bad memory...either way it doesn't matter Girl is freaking awesome...
2. Heather makes my name look baller...and she's reading this blog...right now...currently....creepy.
3. Travel agency: Sketchy, helpful, and decently cheap
4. How does Sketchy and helpful go together?
5. They don't.
SO as you can see...the travel agency was worth the walk because they got me ready, set, and geared-up to go...I'm talking the ferry tickets, the train tickets...everything... the whole "kit and kaboodle" (how often do we get to say this...because I really think this is an underrated phrase that may or may not have been coined as a key phrase for a dogfood brand..mostly may) ANYWAY...AND side note...after I got tickets...oh yeah I got a cell phone....clearly a remarkable morning and a prelude to an even more remarkable festive weekend....OK so let me get to this...enough of the suspense....where exactly DID I get tickets to?
ok well I'll tell you...you really shwant to know shwhat it shwas? Mehharlight....I'll tell you shwhat it shwas...
I got tickets to....SANTORINI...ok...take a minute...lets pause for a moment of awesomeness....
pause...
insert SOTP PICTURE HERE....
AND done.
Thats right....Santorini...this is the place that when you hear Greece...THIS is what you think of...the little old
lady's that look like they should live in shoes and if we were in Russia we would certainly call them bahbushkas (actual babushka pictured on the left)...this is the place with the white-washed buildings sitting on clifsides...houses that have no sense of even ground...this is the place where Blue roofs and red roofs are the only kind of roofs you'll see...this is the place where donkey's are not just an animal..they are a way of life for EVERAYBODAY. This is the place where the streets really aren't streets at all and they are just stone walks lined with stores and people and with the traditional white linen clothes....THIS is the place where people are begging you to rent a VESPA or a four-wheeler...(note: the demographic on the island was a little off when we went....and by off I mean that we were the minority...it was about 98% asian and then 2% us....and those asians...just LOVED the vespas...Good for them...I imagine its difficult to do in China where you can't really walk...or breathe...I should probably just go there...and stop stereotyping...yeah...about that) ANY WAY...this is just a PLACE that just thinking about it...google picture it...whatever...it doesn't matter...either way...it takes your breath away.
SO we went to class after our extremely productive morning and before I knew it I was ready to rock, ready to roll...and waiting for a train to Athens. OK SO....it didn't take us too long to figure out how the train station in Thessaloniki works...I mean it wasn't too hard..just not in English...like everything else....which isn't a problem..the problem here really begins when I don't know Greek...that's the problem...taking a class can only get you so far in life....ANYWAY so....WE figured it out and waited on the platform...ok let's get excited for a second...why? I'll tell you....
When was my first time on a train? ok last spring when Becca boo and I went all the way to philly and when we were so excited to see Tristan Prettyman and we get there and findout its cancelled...and let me tell you...bitter taste in my mouth still...very bitter..train was bad juju...so I'm a little apprehensive about this...until...chugachugachoochoochoooOuuhhhhshhhhhhhh stop. The train was here. Ready to go. (side note: please excuse my spelling and the fact that I keep changing my tenses....internet is awful here....and I have a lot to say...tense change needs to happen regardless...and spell check just doesn't happen slash my mind moves faster than my fingers on my keyboard....so I'm explaining now that errors are, will, and have already happend)
SO as I was saying...the train was here....ready to go....unfortunately my seat was not with Heather and Danica....(whom also went to Santorini...Danica goes to TECH....WHAT are the odds!!) SO they got a wagon-seating section, where as I was in an open/assigned seating area....they walked to their car which was connected directly to the car I was in...and I just took a seat....feeling a little uncomfortable...and saying to myself over and over again...do NOT put this bag down...so I decided to hug my bag....the entire trip....people are sketchy....I was NOT about to risk someone stealing something....especially THIS BAG....SO as I was saying...I took my seat....there was an empty space beside me...but that just means that a stop along the way someone will sit there...and across from me were two small old ladies.....they were hardcore Greek....and they were hardcore outgoing.....I can definetely see them a few good years ago being ballsy and loud....insert voice from the avid reader here: "But Heather....how could you determine that by simply looking at those two old ladies sitting directly accross from you?" Well avid reader....I'm glad you asked....
I have talked to Greek people before...not that big of a deal....I didn't know anything really...but now....it was time to put my Greek class to the test....they started talking to me....it was awesome....a little humiliating....and funny as all get out.....The woman did not speak an OUNCE of English...but I managed to say that I was a student in Greek WOO me...and said some other things.....it was getting a little frustrating and the woman next to the one that was talking me was laughing her ass off while it seemed she was yelling at her friend...apparently I think she was saying things she should NOT have been saying...however....it took me about 5 minutes to understand that she thought I was pretty....I liked her already...but THEN Heather came down the car and said that no one was in their wagon and I should sit with them...and I was all about that....sooo haha as I stood up....the two women were laughing so loud and talking to me...and soon everyone else was laughing at the situation too because I was trying SO HARD to speak/ understand what in the WORLD was going on....needless to say....it was an awesome conversation in which I have no idea what was said...but it was fun all the same....so I go back to where Heather and Danica were and....let me tell you a serious of emotions/ words that came to mind when I stepped into this incredible car:
-WHAT!?
-Where is Harry Potter?
-SIX FLAGS
-Insert Harry Potter Theme Music Here
-They don't have Jelly Beans in Greece......not even the any flavor ones....bummer.
SERIOUSLY.....we spent 6 hours in the life of Harry Potter...it was the greatest most uncomfortable experience ever....it was so worth it....minus the SKETCHY Greek guys that kept on
being really inapprop....ergo we closed the curtains to the door and that was the end of that...
also note: I literally hugged my bag the entire time....yeah...you thought that didn't happen...but guess what avid reader....I did...yeah...how bout that.
6 hours later....its still dark out....its in the mid 60's in the early morning....and we made it
ATHENS....first time really being in Athens...though I have not seen much of it....only when it is dark have I seen Athens...but have no fear...what I have seen...I don't like it as much as Thessaloniki....its too big....AND we have a trip in November to see all the important things....BUT the Metro in ATHENS is really nice....it's new-ish and that was fun....we just popped right on the metro to the port where our ferry was waiting and already bording for the Grecian Islands! (I hugged my bag the entire brief metro ride) SOON enough we were at the port and jumped on the ferry....blue star to be exact....we found a place to call our own for 8 hours....but....I don't think we realized that boats mean wind...wind means cold....but south means warm....SO eventually it was to get warm....BUT the boat was pretty intense...an 8 hour tour.....whatever happend to a 3-hour tour? Gilligan's Island please? NO 8 hours....it wasn't a bad trip....we slept a bit...played cards a bit...Heather likes to call it OJ but mom and I know that it is called shanghi....and that is NOT how you spell shanghi but.....that's ok...we had that conversation about spelling issues...its all about getting this blog out! RIGHT....ok SO.....I owned.....a bit....Heather did well too...and Danica...well.....she's a good sport.....she tried!! Remember that's what matters.....the effort...not the outcome....right? haha WELL the boat stopped at several islands on the trip to Santorini.....we got to see them all really....naxos...that other place...haha and another one? haha the whole trip was really great because we had things to look at other than water...and it started to warm up....SPEAKING of things to look at....so it is really difficult to tell if someone knows Engish or not.....Insert very attractive guys here....they sat directly behind us....and myself being the ignorant American began talking normally....saying well stating the obvious....that they were both really attractive....WE should talk to them...next thing I know....they were speaking English in really great Austrailian/Brittish IT DOESN'T even matter accents....downside: they heard us say everything also downside: they understood everything we said...downside again: no contact was made......so as you can see....when you assume...you really do make an Ass out of U and ME....OHY VEY! SO some island pictures are necessary and then we'll get into the heart of it all....
Thats right....Santorini...this is the place that when you hear Greece...THIS is what you think of...the little old
lady's that look like they should live in shoes and if we were in Russia we would certainly call them bahbushkas (actual babushka pictured on the left)...this is the place with the white-washed buildings sitting on clifsides...houses that have no sense of even ground...this is the place where Blue roofs and red roofs are the only kind of roofs you'll see...this is the place where donkey's are not just an animal..they are a way of life for EVERAYBODAY. This is the place where the streets really aren't streets at all and they are just stone walks lined with stores and people and with the traditional white linen clothes....THIS is the place where people are begging you to rent a VESPA or a four-wheeler...(note: the demographic on the island was a little off when we went....and by off I mean that we were the minority...it was about 98% asian and then 2% us....and those asians...just LOVED the vespas...Good for them...I imagine its difficult to do in China where you can't really walk...or breathe...I should probably just go there...and stop stereotyping...yeah...about that) ANY WAY...this is just a PLACE that just thinking about it...google picture it...whatever...it doesn't matter...either way...it takes your breath away.SO we went to class after our extremely productive morning and before I knew it I was ready to rock, ready to roll...and waiting for a train to Athens. OK SO....it didn't take us too long to figure out how the train station in Thessaloniki works...I mean it wasn't too hard..just not in English...like everything else....which isn't a problem..the problem here really begins when I don't know Greek...that's the problem...taking a class can only get you so far in life....ANYWAY so....WE figured it out and waited on the platform...ok let's get excited for a second...why? I'll tell you....
When was my first time on a train? ok last spring when Becca boo and I went all the way to philly and when we were so excited to see Tristan Prettyman and we get there and findout its cancelled...and let me tell you...bitter taste in my mouth still...very bitter..train was bad juju...so I'm a little apprehensive about this...until...chugachugachoochoochoooOuuhhhhshhhhhhhh stop. The train was here. Ready to go. (side note: please excuse my spelling and the fact that I keep changing my tenses....internet is awful here....and I have a lot to say...tense change needs to happen regardless...and spell check just doesn't happen slash my mind moves faster than my fingers on my keyboard....so I'm explaining now that errors are, will, and have already happend)
SO as I was saying...the train was here....ready to go....unfortunately my seat was not with Heather and Danica....(whom also went to Santorini...Danica goes to TECH....WHAT are the odds!!) SO they got a wagon-seating section, where as I was in an open/assigned seating area....they walked to their car which was connected directly to the car I was in...and I just took a seat....feeling a little uncomfortable...and saying to myself over and over again...do NOT put this bag down...so I decided to hug my bag....the entire trip....people are sketchy....I was NOT about to risk someone stealing something....especially THIS BAG....SO as I was saying...I took my seat....there was an empty space beside me...but that just means that a stop along the way someone will sit there...and across from me were two small old ladies.....they were hardcore Greek....and they were hardcore outgoing.....I can definetely see them a few good years ago being ballsy and loud....insert voice from the avid reader here: "But Heather....how could you determine that by simply looking at those two old ladies sitting directly accross from you?" Well avid reader....I'm glad you asked....
I have talked to Greek people before...not that big of a deal....I didn't know anything really...but now....it was time to put my Greek class to the test....they started talking to me....it was awesome....a little humiliating....and funny as all get out.....The woman did not speak an OUNCE of English...but I managed to say that I was a student in Greek WOO me...and said some other things.....it was getting a little frustrating and the woman next to the one that was talking me was laughing her ass off while it seemed she was yelling at her friend...apparently I think she was saying things she should NOT have been saying...however....it took me about 5 minutes to understand that she thought I was pretty....I liked her already...but THEN Heather came down the car and said that no one was in their wagon and I should sit with them...and I was all about that....sooo haha as I stood up....the two women were laughing so loud and talking to me...and soon everyone else was laughing at the situation too because I was trying SO HARD to speak/ understand what in the WORLD was going on....needless to say....it was an awesome conversation in which I have no idea what was said...but it was fun all the same....so I go back to where Heather and Danica were and....let me tell you a serious of emotions/ words that came to mind when I stepped into this incredible car:
-WHAT!?
-Where is Harry Potter?
-SIX FLAGS
-Insert Harry Potter Theme Music Here
-They don't have Jelly Beans in Greece......not even the any flavor ones....bummer.
SERIOUSLY.....we spent 6 hours in the life of Harry Potter...it was the greatest most uncomfortable experience ever....it was so worth it....minus the SKETCHY Greek guys that kept on
being really inapprop....ergo we closed the curtains to the door and that was the end of that...also note: I literally hugged my bag the entire time....yeah...you thought that didn't happen...but guess what avid reader....I did...yeah...how bout that.
6 hours later....its still dark out....its in the mid 60's in the early morning....and we made it
ATHENS....first time really being in Athens...though I have not seen much of it....only when it is dark have I seen Athens...but have no fear...what I have seen...I don't like it as much as Thessaloniki....its too big....AND we have a trip in November to see all the important things....BUT the Metro in ATHENS is really nice....it's new-ish and that was fun....we just popped right on the metro to the port where our ferry was waiting and already bording for the Grecian Islands! (I hugged my bag the entire brief metro ride) SOON enough we were at the port and jumped on the ferry....blue star to be exact....we found a place to call our own for 8 hours....but....I don't think we realized that boats mean wind...wind means cold....but south means warm....SO eventually it was to get warm....BUT the boat was pretty intense...an 8 hour tour.....whatever happend to a 3-hour tour? Gilligan's Island please? NO 8 hours....it wasn't a bad trip....we slept a bit...played cards a bit...Heather likes to call it OJ but mom and I know that it is called shanghi....and that is NOT how you spell shanghi but.....that's ok...we had that conversation about spelling issues...its all about getting this blog out! RIGHT....ok SO.....I owned.....a bit....Heather did well too...and Danica...well.....she's a good sport.....she tried!! Remember that's what matters.....the effort...not the outcome....right? haha WELL the boat stopped at several islands on the trip to Santorini.....we got to see them all really....naxos...that other place...haha and another one? haha the whole trip was really great because we had things to look at other than water...and it started to warm up....SPEAKING of things to look at....so it is really difficult to tell if someone knows Engish or not.....Insert very attractive guys here....they sat directly behind us....and myself being the ignorant American began talking normally....saying well stating the obvious....that they were both really attractive....WE should talk to them...next thing I know....they were speaking English in really great Austrailian/Brittish IT DOESN'T even matter accents....downside: they heard us say everything also downside: they understood everything we said...downside again: no contact was made......so as you can see....when you assume...you really do make an Ass out of U and ME....OHY VEY! SO some island pictures are necessary and then we'll get into the heart of it all....
SOON enough.....after cards, some snack-age, changing, you know.....we see it.....the white buildigs, blue roofs, the cliffs...everything.....OH HEY SANTORINI!!! that's what I thought to myself.....OH HEY for sure.....so we docked and got of the boat in a hurry....we found a quick way out instead of
waiting in lines trying to get out of the boat....however...i'm not really sure the way we went was the right way to go....we ended up exiting where all the cars and vehicles were on the boat....hmmm....ANYWAY so we walk out...and there are TONS of buses and vans....and there was a mas of peopl holding signs and brochures.....trying to get people to stay at their hotels....we walked over and looked at some one the places.... little oldman caught our attention...I saw a picture of a pool...and I though to myself....DONE.....(though dissapointment was going to set in eventually....) HOWEVER he started to give us prices....started at 45 a night for all three of us....mehhh no thanks....so he went to 40....and we though meehhhh no thanks....and then he asked us how much were we thinking.....and I said between 20-30....and he took 30....WHEW...but....his Wife Anna....DID NOT LIKE THIS....ANNA is to come later on.... SO he took us to a van and we got on with several other hotel go-ers and off we went up the cliffs....it was way intense.....it was back and forth up this island.....imagine the zoom zoom commercial....and the z shape......over and over again.....zig-zagging the entire way up to the top....and there were HUGE charter buses doing the same....it was this monstrous caravan of HUGE vehicles carting up tons of people....to drive a charter bus or just a regular car on these roads is INSANE....no guard-rail....and you're basically driving on the edge of the cliff....it was borderline scary....but mostly beautiful because we could see everything from where we were.....eventually our van made several stops at different hotels....especially the one with the pool that I saw in the picture....but nope...not for us (dissapointment major)....and then we finally got to our hotel....."ANNA's" hotel......and let me tell you what.....she was not going to let anyone forget that it was her hotel either!
waiting in lines trying to get out of the boat....however...i'm not really sure the way we went was the right way to go....we ended up exiting where all the cars and vehicles were on the boat....hmmm....ANYWAY so we walk out...and there are TONS of buses and vans....and there was a mas of peopl holding signs and brochures.....trying to get people to stay at their hotels....we walked over and looked at some one the places.... little oldman caught our attention...I saw a picture of a pool...and I though to myself....DONE.....(though dissapointment was going to set in eventually....) HOWEVER he started to give us prices....started at 45 a night for all three of us....mehhh no thanks....so he went to 40....and we though meehhhh no thanks....and then he asked us how much were we thinking.....and I said between 20-30....and he took 30....WHEW...but....his Wife Anna....DID NOT LIKE THIS....ANNA is to come later on.... SO he took us to a van and we got on with several other hotel go-ers and off we went up the cliffs....it was way intense.....it was back and forth up this island.....imagine the zoom zoom commercial....and the z shape......over and over again.....zig-zagging the entire way up to the top....and there were HUGE charter buses doing the same....it was this monstrous caravan of HUGE vehicles carting up tons of people....to drive a charter bus or just a regular car on these roads is INSANE....no guard-rail....and you're basically driving on the edge of the cliff....it was borderline scary....but mostly beautiful because we could see everything from where we were.....eventually our van made several stops at different hotels....especially the one with the pool that I saw in the picture....but nope...not for us (dissapointment major)....and then we finally got to our hotel....."ANNA's" hotel......and let me tell you what.....she was not going to let anyone forget that it was her hotel either!to be continued........
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