… and So the Adventure Begins

APRIL 22: I felt so tired last night that I thought I would sleep until noon today, but I awoke at 8 a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep. About 10 a.m. I decided to see if the town was actually completely shut down because of it being Good Friday — of course it was not.

Food is always available, especially since there are so many tourists. I must admit that I have had more cappuccinos since I’ve been here than I drink in a year in Missouri! Frankly, I won’t spend Starbucks prices at home, but I’m on vacation! LOL I am seriously considering buying a cappuccino machine when I get home.

I had trouble with internet connectivity with my cell phone on the trip and had to rely on hotel and bus wifi which were not always reliable. Today I went to the WIND store (comparable to AT&T) where I had had a SIM card put in. As I suspected, I was out of my data allowance and 15 euros got me back up and running until time to fly home.

I also found last night that I had left the adapter that works for me to charge my phone and laptop at the last hotel. (EMBARRASSMENT!) I got the address Lynn had taken me to for the adapter, had no trouble finding it, and bought two of them. Interestingly, the man today charged me the same price for two as the woman did for one. It is a different culture.

It is feeling good being able to navigate better in this neighborhood. I think Lynn got a very different impression of who I am those first days when I was experiencing jetlag. I didn’t come here expecting to lean on anyone for help, but it does take time to orient oneself to a different culture / area. And, perhaps, it’s more difficult as we get older. Tom Thorpe, however, told me before I left that he does not see me as ever getting old. I agree. But I’m sure some things were easier when I was 20 . 30 . 40 ….

8 p.m. — Just back from an evening meal and checking one thing off my to-do list while in Greece; plus a second that I had never heard of.

I had octopus tendrils, which are served broiled, looking much like scallops, with a sauce. Would never be my favorite seafood, but mild fishy taste, chewy but not chewy like fried calamari rings (which are chewy because not cooked properly).

Then I had baklava with ice cream. It was some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted, with a flavor I couldn’t identify. The waiter said that it is flavored with Mastic liquor from the sap of a tree on an island in Greece. Then, as waiters here are prone to do, he brought me a complimentary shot glass of the liquor which is usually an after-dinner aperitif. It IS strong — and I had already had a glass of wine with the octopus. I am glad that my apartment was not far away since I am not a big drinker.

I ended the evening watching a TV show with Maria. It was her favorite and quickly became mine to the point that I’m going to have to subscribe to Netflix when I get home. It stars Catherine Bell, whom I loved in the series “JAG”, as “The Good Witch”. I am amazed that I had never heard of it, especially because there were seven movies from 2008-2014 before it became a weekly TV show of 76 episodes. They are the good, clean shows that people of all ages can watch and Maria and I are thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.

In fact, she has mentioned future exploration trips as companions. I would envision one of us coming up with a destination, booking hotel rooms to share, and learning the ins-and-outs of new places together. And, of course, she will always be welcome in my home.

Have a good day everyone.

Hugs,

Sharon