Seems like people get worried about me when I decide to take trips around the world. Wednesday before my flight, Clara told me to be safe and to make sure that I return back to the monastery. I told her that she doesn't need to worry since I am a very bright guy and can manage to handle any situation I am put into. Since I was leaving, Clara gave me the opportunity to continue packing somethings for the trip. The truth is I really don't start packing for any trip until the day I leave. I think it works out better this way since you are sure not to forget anything and still have everything you usually use for the week. I only make a small pile of things that I must make sure to bring, but everything else is last minute.
It started to get late and I was making my way back to the hostel when I ran into some guy who was trying to talk to me. I already knew where this was going, but still insisted on talking with the guy anyway. He took me to this bar that he supposedly owned, disappeared, and I was stuck with these three women trying to get money out of me. They kept insisting on me buying them drinks, but I continued to refuse. I did however have to pay a ridiculous amount for the one beer I drank. I just left and planned never to do that again.
When I returned to my hostel, I found another traveler in my room. His name was Mitch and he was doing a study abroad in Florence. He was also supposed to meet up with one of his friends, but they kept missing one another. We decided to hit the town looking for some adventure, since both of us could not find our friends, and walked for miles. We finally stopped at this little place to get something to drink. We both decided to try this beer called Mythos, which actually turned out to be pretty good. Both of us were very tired from walking around all night and nothing really gets started here in Athens until after midnight, so we made our way back to the hostel. I told Mitch that I wanted to stop by the apartment my friend lived in and try to find him. He decided to tag along since he had nothing better to do. With luck the apartment complex was open and I could hear chris' voice. I knocked on the door and he opened it with a surprised look on his face. He asked how did I know he was here and I just said I followed your voice.
Mitch and I walked in, introduced ourselves to chris' roommates, but Mitch decided to leave shortly after that. I decided to stay and hangout with Chris, which meant staying out until 5 am. We had some drinks just waiting for the other people on chris' study abroad to make their way to the apartment. There were only maybe ten or so of us that actually went out that night, because the others wanted to stay in since they were planning on going out Saturday for some one's birthday.
Once again I started my Friday off by sleeping in most of the day. I didn't expect that we would stay out so late, but I guess it can't be helped. I decided to spend my afternoon shopping for others back at Sacro Speco along with getting myself somethings that I needed and also wanted. I managed to find a beautiful winter jacket, a purple tie, and a bag for small trips like this one. I figured that I would probably need another bag, since I was buying all of this stuff. I got Pinnucia a t-shirt, Italia a sculpture of the last dinner, Clara a t-shirt saying it's all Greek to me. I just couldn't find one in Italian, but since Clara does understand and speak some English, I figured it wouldn't matter. I got my teacher Anna-Lisa this little sculpture of an owl, which apparently means good fortune in Italy. And for Cecilia I bought this little 3D picture of a cat and a motorcycle. She really has a thing for cats, so I figured she would love it.
When I got back to the hostel, there was yet another roommate I had to meet. This time his name was David and he was from Mexico. I chatted with him for a little while, but wanted to go over chris' place and see what they were going to do for the night. I decided to make a little stop at Grill and Pita, the place we all went to for gyros two years ago. Some of the people on chris' trip had never been there and I had to give them a taste of what they were missing. I ordered cheese, tomatoes, onions, and chicken all stuffed between two pieces of pita bread. I gave Chris the heads up that I would be bringing food tonight, so when I got there they all dug in and ate it all up. They said it was delicious and all I could say was that's what you have been missing all this time.
We sat around for an hour or so trying to figure out what we wanted to do tonight. Someone suggested that we go to a hookah bar, and I had no objections. Once again the group was pretty small, maybe 6 people or so, but it still was an awesome time. We ordered two different types of hookah; one cherry flavored and the other was watermelon. They also ordered this drink that tasted like warm cinnamon, which was delicious. While we were enjoying our drinks and the hookah, Chris pointed out these two girls that kept looking over in our direction. I invited them over to our table and we chatted for awhile. They were also here in Athens on a vacation and were around the same age as us. One girl, named Christina, was from Russia, while the other, named Raina, was from Greece. They were traveling with their friend named Peter, who also joined our table. The girls of chris' group were really into him even though he was only 17. They were trying to rob the cradle, as some would put it. Not a bad night considering I made more friends around the world, so if I ever decide to head back to Greece or go to Russia, I will have a place to stay and have someone who could show me around.
People have to start to think that I am lazy considering that I slept in again Saturday. It was another long night, because I didn't get back to my hostel until 5am again. I once again made my way around Athens trying to find new places to see and things to buy. I did find this little flea market where I finished all of my souvenir shopping for everyone back at Sacro Speco. I had only wished that I had seen this place before, because I could have saved myself the trouble and bought everything there.
After I was done shopping, I had to complete this little homework assignment that Anna-Lisa gave me before I left. I had to send a postcard to the monastery in Italian saying whatever i could. I just basically wrote that I arrived, it was difficult to find the hostel, and that I remembered how dirty Athens was. There was a garbage strike for two weeks, so all of this trash was just piled up on the sidewalks. It was funny, because as soon as I got there, the strike ended and all the trash was being picked up. I guess they had to clean up Athens for my arrival.
Tonight was the big party for one of the girls on chris' trip. She was turning 21 and everyone wanted to celebrate in the biggest way possible. They went to some all you can eat place for only 10 euros. Not a bad deal, but people were definitely ready to pass out because they had all eaten too much. I didn't tag along with them for the dinner, because I think it would be kind of weird for some guy to show up, who half the group doesn't even know. I just went to the apartment and waited with Chris until everyone showed up. chris' girlfriend was there, because she was paying Chris a visit all the way from Germany. We only managed to chat for a little while until everyone else showed up five minutes after I got to the apartment. That's when things just started to get out of hand. Music was blasting, people were drinking, and trying to dance in the apartment. Now the apartment is but so big, but that didn't bother some. One of the girls knocked down this mirror, almost breaking it. Luckily I was there to catch it before it hit the floor. Chris was fed up with the craziness and said that we all had to go out now. We were all supposed to meet up at this club called candy bar, but the traffic was ridiculous and we all got split up. Our cabbie took us some roundabout way to where we wanted to go charging us a ridiculous amount.
Looking back on it now I wish I didn't got out last night. I rushed back from chris' apartment to the hostel, threw on my bags, and walked all the way to the bus stop. I was just exhausted and all I really wanted to do was sleep, but I couldn't trust anyone around me. I forced myself to stay awake at least until I got on the plan. I was so tired that I was confusing the simplest questions when checking my luggage. I think the ladies even knew, because they helped with everything. My eyes must have been red and I must have looked like I was drunk, because I was stumbling around shaking my head to stay awake.
When I boarded the plane, all I wanted to do was get to my seat and sleep. Well there was this smelly guy blocking my seat because he wanted to board the plane before he should have. I was hoping I wasn't going to have sit behind him, but it was just my bad luck that I was sitting right behind him. Even though the smell would normally keep me up, I fell right to sleep and didn't wake up until we landed.
I think this was the first time flying that I didn't have any problems with anything. The way it usually goes is that my flight gets delayed, I get searched, or loose my bags. The only random thing that happened was when one of the guys doing searches at the metal detectors told me to hide my comb. I use this metal pick for my afro, because nothing else would work at this stage. He thought it was some weapon and almost took it from me. I just explained what it was used for and that was enough for him.
When I returned to the monastery,I found out that the other volunteer made had made his journey back home. The time has come for us to return home because we are drawing closer to the 90 day mark. Since he got here a little before me, he left earlier. I decided that I would leave this Friday, even though I could stay until next week. It just make more sense for me to go home now and work on this visa thing. I am not even going to talk about this because it makes me become frustrated.
Later that night I met Don Luigi's family that had traveled from Sardegna. I met his two brothers and his two sisters. We went to go eat at the same place again down in Subiaco. Once again it was too much food for most of us to finish, but that didn't stop me from trying. The crazy thing was that Don Ignacio actually tried to eat this pizza with cheese on it. We all urged him not to considering he has a bad allergy to cheese. but he still managed to get a few bites in before Don Luigi forced him to stop. The rest of the night was spent with us talking about how the pizza was too much for just one person. Imagine eating a large pizza by yourself including a fried appetizer, because that's what we did. It's ridiculous how much we are supposed to eat sometimes.
Christmas is drawing closer and closer. Monday I spent my time with Clara decorating the shop for the holidays. I must say that I am pleased with what we did in the time we had. She even managed to find this little Christmas tree and found a place for it on one of the tables covered with angels. I also handed out all of the gifts that I bought for everyone on my trip. I really think of it as early Christmas gifts, since I also dropped the bomb that I would be leaving this Friday. I know that my time isn't really up until the end of next week, but I figured if I leave early, I could return earlier. So you could imagine all of the sad faces when I told everyone that my time had come. It's a shame that I have to leave for a period of time, but I guess it can't be helped. I just have to wait until March before I can even think of coming back.
In the afternoon I spent most of my time talking with Mattia talking about laptops. He was interested in buying a new laptop, because the one he has now is pretty old. Being the apple supporter I am, I suggested that he get a macbook. I think apple should start paying me for how many times I suggest their products.
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