At Last!!

TIBBY'S ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe she is currently on her way over to this part of the world and we can finally begin posting on here together!!!

I've already checked in to our nunnery/hostel and it's very nice - really spacious and cool and the lady who runs it is super friendly and welcoming! What a change from yesterday! Though I will say that my room last night (I had to book 2 different ones cuz everything was pretty full) was far better than the one before. Much cleaner and better-operating. I was still in a mixed dorm - two guys and three girls this time including me. They all were pretty nice except that early this morning the guy from Argentina had his alarm go off and it sounded as loud and as real as a siren. That was fun to wake up to at 5 in the morning! Also, after I had fallen back asleep, one of the other roomates - a girl from Russia - woke me up 2 hours later accusing me of stealing her hat. I pointed out that no, I did not, and that maybe her own hat was under her lumpy-looking jacket. It was. 

So, being fully awake by this point but knowing that I didn't have to check out until 10, I stayed in bed and watched the classic and wonderful movie, Roman Holiday, with Audrey Hepburn. 

It was just what I needed and it was so cool to see Princess Anne and Joe Bradley walking around in the city that was once so foreign but is now quite familiar to me!! So cool!!!!

Anyways, now I'm just trying to kill time and escape the heat (the lady who runs this place said today and tomorrow are supposed to be the hottest days of this year!!!!) all before I get to go meet my fellow junketeer at the train station!!!

Woo-hoo!!!!!!!

Somewhat Familiar Territory...

It's not everyday one wakes up to find two half-naked sleeping men in their hostel room...

I have to say I was a little shocked to open my eyes and find my roommates were in fact guys and not girls. But then I remembered that for sake of cheap-ness I had booked a mixed dorm at the hostel here in Rome...

Actually they were both quite attractive and looked very adorable all curled up in their sheets. 

Now you might be wondering how it is I only discovered this fact about my comrades in the morning and not when I arrived the previous night. 

Well, it was pretty late by the time my plane landed in Rome - around 8pm, and then I had to take a train from the airport to the train station which was another 45 min or so. Also, on the train I met a 24year old gal from Korea who was very excited and a bit nervous about her first trip alone abroad. We chatted more about our lives and such and even found that the hostels we were staying at that night were quite close to each other! So when the train arrived, I helped her find her place first (even though we had to ask a few locals for directions because there were no signs on the street). However, when we pushed the buzzer, no one answered and we both became a little worried. I was just about to invite her to come to my hostel to see if we could get her a room there when the lady arrived, apologizing profusely for being so late. 

So with sighs of relief and enthusiastic farewells, my Korean friend and I parted ways (at this time it was about 10:30)

In retrospect, I probably should have stayed with her...

Although the outside of my hostel was appealing, the rooms were kind of a wreck. The door barely worked, room numbers were post-it notes on the walls, there was no airconditioning or fans to speak of, the toilets were plugged, the shower doors hung by their soap-scum and peeling ceiling paint, and well.....it was quite awful. But hey, thus far I have seen no bugs, the sheets are clean, wifi is free (even if it only works in the lobby), and there is hot water so it's not all bad. Just thank goodness I only have to stay here one more night before Tibby and I can escape to the clean nunnery we booked!!

Anyways, after I conquered the grimy shower, I promptly flopped into bed and fell fast asleep (though not before catching a glimpse of our neighbor in the building across from us through my 6th-story window.....let's say he enjoyed letting his hairy belly get some air....)

Looking back, I do remember seeing flip-flops and some tee-shirts on the other beds in the room, along with what I thought was a bottle of perfume....evidently it was powder-blue cologne? Or a trophy perhaps? I just assumed they were girls' items, but evidently not!!

In any case, the boys were both out - there was a big soccer game on last night and I'm guessing they were enjoying the revelry - so I never saw them before I was already in la-la land. I just hope I wasn't snoring too loudly when they came in...lol!
Nonetheless, after I arose and found the two mates were out cold (I probably could've started to sing opera and they wouldn't have moved), I left and had the lobby hold my things so I could go out and soak up the Roman air once again!!

I walked without a map and it was pretty nice to just wander about instead of rushing off to meet up with a group. It was good that I did too! At one point I caught glimpse of a huge obelisk and just headed towards it  to find myself end up in a small, enclosed, but shaded square. I sat down and pulled out my breakfast treat bought at a bakery I passed, and wondered at the people who would pass by and look past me with their cameras raised. 

But while I was enjoying my pastry, I heard a lady utter "Spanish Steps" and I too looked up. Sure enough, I was at the top of the Spanish Steps, chowing down in front of the Trinita dei Monti Church! I had just been in the perfect spot to not be able to see what was around or below me! ha!

...I was sitting right below that ledge there...totally blocked off! lol!

So, after I got over my surprise and finished my breakfast, I got up and kept wandering around the city, walking through some sights I'd seen and some new ones!!

Piazza del Popolo!

...fountain on one end...

...and the other!

I also walked over to the area where the Ara Pacis and Augustus' Mausoleum are located. The first was encased in a glass museum dedicated to it (a bit like Snow White...) and though I wanted to go inside to get a better view, the ticket was 15 euro and I was not ready to spend that much when I could see it well enough from outside!

...the glare in this pic is bad, but the Ara Pacis was basically a Roman altar to the goddess of Peace and was built in celebration of Augustus' return from battle! It's really beautifully carved and shows the skill of the Roman artisans, but like I said, I wasn't going to spend 15 euro to see one thing!

As for the mausoleum, it too was covered up by fencing and construction so I don't have a good pic of it...but it was cool to know it was just a few meters away!

Anyways, I kept on with my stroll, stopping for some spaghetti and gelato here and there but seeing some really cool things!

...outside view from the gates surrounding what I think are the baths of Diocletian...

...bottlecaps in the cement!

...I also went into the church that is connected to the baths of Diocletian - Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (try saying that five times fast...) and it had these really cool doors to the entrance...

...this was a modern work for the church that I really loved. 

Then, after the church, I tried to get into the National Museum of Rome that is also located within the baths, but the ladies at the desk argued with me that I was not a student (hello! I have TWO ID's!!), and kept saying I had to pay full price which was double the student rate. I again didn't want to pay that much for a museum I wasn't totally interesting in seeing....I mean, it would've been cool, but I have bigger fish to fry.

So I just hung around the entrance and took some pictures of the gardens there instead. lol.

Later on, I got super tired from the heat...the water in my bottle was close to boiling...so I eventually found my way back to the hostel where I have been ever since. 

I'll try and go out tonight and find something to munch on. But then I think I'll get to bed early again so that I'm chipper and ready for Tibby's arrival tomorrow! 

It'll be very nice to wake up to her familiar face than those of male strangers....even if they were cute....haha!!

Last Days in Greece...

So basically I didn't post on the 26th, because there was nothing really to write. I literally took bus after bus, waited hour after hour, got on a ferry, and waited some more, and then FINALLY made it to Crete. Then I had to take yet another bus to get to my hostel - an hour away from the port at Heraklion - and by that time it was pitch black. Luckily, after a few helpful directions from the locals, I made it to the hostel. Unfortunately when I booked it, I had planned on staying two nights, but after finding out that ferries from Crete back to Athens only leave late at night, I only ended up needing one night. But the guy didn't really care about my dilemma and I had to eat the cost of the extra night. Awesome. 

And did I mention that when I arrived, there was a slew of old Russians (the owner was Russian too) getting totally wasted and stumbling around the lobby? Oh yes, it was fabulous.

BUT! the girls in my room were really cool - and all Americans for once! haha! - and they showed me around and made nice small talk. 

Also, praise the Lord there was 24-hr hot water showers and I took full advantage of this before I crawled into bed. 

The next morning, I arose pretty early in order to do as much exploring of the town I was in - Rethymnon - before I had to check out and make my way back to Heraklion to see the Palace of Knossos!

I was very glad I made this decision. 

Rethymnon in the morning was quiet and quaint and really a gorgeous little island town. 

There were tons of old remains from when the Venetians were in control (Crete was one of their overseas treasures) and it seemed that vines and flowers simply sprouted up directly from the stones below to crawl all over the buildings and windows!

...the old Venetian Rimondi Fountain from the 17th century!

...so gorgeous!!!

The sea, the sea!!

...this is the Venetian fortress known as the Fortezza Castle

...no idea what that thing is, but it looks kind of cool! ...actually it kind of reminded me of the things they would hang prisoners in - like an old medieval torture device! lol!

...I also stopped in at this cute little bakery and was just blown away by all of their cookies, cakes, breads, and biscuits - and especially these!! Aren't they stunning? That's DOUGH!!!

...my purchases...

...and this was my morning view as I munched on my pastries...not too bad, eh?

...and of course I had to throw in one of these shots! It is an island afterall and there was literally a fish stand every other block...

....yummy....

So, after my morning through Rethymnon, I then checked out of the hostel and headed towards the bus station to catch a ride back to Heraklion. The trip this time was much nicer than in the black of night - I actually could see the lovely landscape and the sea-front communities that dotted the coast! Then, finally when we arrived in Heraklion, I was able to store my big backpack for just 2 euro at the bus-station and, feeling much lighter, caught a different bus for Knossos!!

My plan was to see the ancient site first, while the day was still relatively cool, and then see the museum where all the items found at the site were stored in the afternoon. Unbeknownst to me, however, the museum closed at 3 and I didn't arrive at the Palace until 2. 

I definitely had a moment where I thought I might burst into tears when the lady at the information counter said brightly, "Just come back tomorrow!" and I had to tell her I only had today.... :(

But I guess since I HAVE to come back to Oia eventually, I'll just make another day trip to Crete too and one day see those awesome artifacts....

Anyways, although the museum had literally closed it's doors to me, the Palace gates still awaited my entrance! 

The Palace of Knossos was basically a Bronze Age center of the ancient, sea-faring, and very prosperous Minoan civilization. The place is also associated with the myth of King Minos - the king who supposedly reigned from Knossos and had King Aegeus (remember him? who the Aegean was named after?) send 7 virgin boys and girls every 9 years or so from Athens to appease the appetite of the Minotaur that lived in the famous Cretan Labyrinth! It was Aegeus' son who ended up killing this Minotaur - with the help of Minos' daughter who fell in love with the brave young hero - and then forgot to raise that darned white flag. lol!

Anyways, the palace was discovered and became the obsession of a guy named Arthur Evans who lived around the 19th century. He and his assistants did massive restoration on the site - that's why there are so many pristine pillars and copies of the original paintings that don't look a day old! - and came up with many theories concerning the ancient people who once inhabited these walls. 

Also, he tried to replicate the wooden beams of the original palace by creating cement fakes...(front)

(side)...see?

...sacred Bull Horns...

...the reconstructed Throne Room!

...some copies of the gorgeous original wall paintings!

So, after my walk through the Palace complex, I basically wandered around the nearby area looking at souvenirs and trying to think of what to do now, since the museum option was out.

Eventually I just headed back to the city center of Heraklion and took a long, leisurely stroll along the port. And it was really quite lovely!!

...the old Venetian Armory that protected the port!

...cool old door :)

...the Venetian fortress called Rocca al Mare built in the 16th century!

...sea sponges!

...closeup of the fortress

...so cool!

....just look at that water!!

...I'm not entirely sure what these are, but they were huge and just stacked up against the side of the harbor...pretty neat!

Then, as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, I tried desperately to find a restaurant that would serve octopus. For some strange reason I really wanted to eat octopus along the Aegean and this was going to be my last chance. But alas, I could only find one place that only had a few fish selections and each plate was 31 euro or more. HAHA! ...no thanks. 

So, I grabbed a focaccia at a snack bar instead (3 euro....much better), and simply waited until I could board the ferry headed back to Athens. 

When that time came around I got on and settled myself snugly on a two-seat row and tried to get as comfortable as possible in order to catch some shut-eye on our 9-hr trip through the night. 

Although it was not the easiest experience of my life, I did actually get some sleep and before I knew it, our ferry was docking and the sun was just beginning to rise over the waves...

Here I would probably stop my post and wait for the next day's events, but they pretty much consisted of getting off the boat, chilling at a Starbucks in the port that had free wifi, getting on a metro to the airport, and waiting at the airport until my flight arrived. That was literally about it. 

So now I'm in Roma!

Though I'm sad to have left Greece, I think I saw alot for the time I had and I definitely made some good memories. I'll just have to come back and finish what I didn't see another time!

But until then, I still have my grand adventure with Tibby awaiting me and thank heavens she arrives tomorrow! I can't wait!!!