"Friday" although do I really have to consider it Friday? People are still out from Thursday night as I am getting on our train at 4:30am. I called my father to inform him that he was getting off a plane while I was getting on a train. Mind you it was only 9:30pm (Thurs) for him. I also interrupted John's Thursday night Bible study because well...as much as I didn't want to believe it, my brain knew it was Friday, for me at least. I didn't realize until I had already gabbed on forever that he was in the middle of something. And then I felt really bad. Told him to tell all the guys I said hi and hung up quickly.
So we sit down on the train, and it's pretty much deserted. No one else is on there. And this guy walks on a few minutes after us and sits in the sit right across the isle from me. Really? Was that necessary? But then I realize why, he wants to strike up conversation. In Italian. Not happening sir. It's 4 in the morning. Only English. So when we tell him we don't speak much English, he doesn't seem to care and keeps on chatting. I catch bits a pieces. He doesn't have a ticket, or doesn't have the right ticket. He isn't sure how to get the ticket he needs. Or what train to switch too to get to where he's going. Something a long those lines. Well sorry bud, you sat next to the wrong girls. We couldn't help him. And after a while I think he got bored of us not responding. So he left.
Our train rolls in to Bologna at the lovely time of 6:00 am! And our next train, to Milan, leaves in exactly 44 minutes. It turns out to be a much more comfortable train that what we had previously been on and I think to myself (what a wonderful wooorld...) that I might actually get some sleep. And I did. A little. Oh! Imagine our luck! The girl sitting next to Nora is from Athens on her way home for the summer, and she's on our same plane flight too! Brilliant! She was very nice, helped us find the shuttle from Milan Stazione Centrale to Milan Malpensa Airport. Once at the airport we found our way really easily. My Italian comprehension is awesome!
Sidenote: I don't think I have mentioned Nora and I's quest for the crispy M&M's, for which we have seen none of in the States for EVER! So we've been on the hunt, and been quite unsuccessful until Malpensa airport! We found some! No lie! :D
Anyways, back on Greece. Our flight to Athens was quite short maybe two hours but I doubt that long. So remember how proud I was of my language comprehension in Italy. Greece is a whole different story. No idea! What-so-ever. It was pretty funny. Thankfully the airport and train station had English signs too for the most part. So we find the train we need, hop on, 8 stops, get off and switch to another train and find our stop. We were so proud of ourselves. We did it! And found our hostel too. But turns out our room is at a different location...so we get to walk some more. Finally we get there, get to our room and guess what...there is air conditioning! Could it get any better? I submit that it could not! Nora turns in on and we marvel in this wonderful invention. After getting settled, we're off! Two girls on a mission to climb this hill and get to see the best view of Athens, 360 view is what we were told! Our map by the way is all in Greek. This makes getting around super easy. But remember we're on a mission. And after a confusing walk across town and a treacherous climb up Mount Lycavittos, it's a success! I took enough pictures and video to...I don't even know. It was beautiful we could see everything. We stayed up there for a long time, the sun started to set which made the view that much more breath taking. Then we started the descent. Which actually turned out to be almost as difficult as the climb because everything was slippery and where there were stone steps they were perfectly smooth. I did slip once, okay maaaaybe twice but recovered gracefully. Haha. We did make it down all in once piece. but happened to end up in a completely different location than we had started. On another mission, to find this bar we had read about, something to do with brightly colored bottles and ouzo. It's a long walk but we make it to Bretto's which is located on this lively street with many restaurants and dessert places. Nora and I were exhausted, I am quite sure we looked (and smelled) like we had just hiked across the world and yet...the bartender hit on us.
Well here's how the story goes. Prepare yourselves it's a good one.
We walk in and the younger of the two bartenders comes up to greet us aw we sit down. He asks where we're from and then how old we are. Nora says 19 and he seems to believe her. but when I say 21 he looks at me skeptically and asks how old I am really. To which I respond with "21 why would I lie about that here??" Still not believing me but obviously giving up for the moment he hands us the list of liqueurs and says he'll be right back. So I locate the bathroom and head off in that direction, on my way I'm stopped. Again I'm asked how old I really am. Because I AM telling the truth, I again tell him 21. but out of curiosity ask how old he thinks I am. He says 16! Uhhh...Really?! So I tell him that I guess I'll take that as a compliment and turn to go to the bathroom. But he tells me that I can't drink if I'm 16. I was just like really sir? You think I'm lying to you. So I get out my driver's license and point to my age for him. He noticed that bu also was apparently interested in learning my name as well. "You are 21 Miss Amanda" I just laugh (uhh..yeah.) I told you that. He introduces himself and with that I turn to actually make it where I was going this time. So then me and Nora pick out some drinks, Mr. Nilson comes over and tries to flirt a little. Haha. We got Watermelon liqueur (for me of course!!) and melon (for Nora) they were good! I loved the watermelon,then again that seems to be a trend of mine here. But with all those colorful bottles we couldn't just sample one. So we ordered peach and strawberry. As we sip on those, this couple walks in, and starts talking to us. We find out that they are from Florida and have two daughters around our age. Some how or another the woman got the idea that both Nora and I were Jewish (they were Jewish and Nora actually is Jewish) and she got so excited to meet two Jewish girls. It was hilarious. We talked to her for a bit longer and then they left. But Nora and I laughed about it for the rest of the night. Just after our lovely conversation with our new Jewish friends was over the bartender dropped off some shots for us. We just laugh when we turn around and see them and he winks at us from across the bar. So we pick them up, smell them (haha) and ask what it is. Gum tree something. Cheers and take it! "When in Greece!" :] It was quite good actually. but thats when we decide we're done and it's probably time to leave. As we "evaluate our lives" what we call checking our map to see how far our walk is going to be, we notice a coupld of guys sitting across the street and have been sitting there the whole night by themselves. So why the heck not. Lets make some friend in Greece. I walk over and ask if anyone is sitting in the seat next to one of them and Nora sat across from me. We learned they are both from New York, brothers (Cole and Russell). The one sitting next to me, Russell, just graduated with a music finance degree or something, so they decided to go on a 9 day trip all over Greece and are leaving the next morning for home. They were cool to talk to, we all even walked to the subway station together, but thats when Nora and I ended our night because we want to get up early!
No comments:
Post a Comment