Sorry it's been so long since my last post, I like to do my blogs in chronological order and I really didn't want to write about greece. This is my negative grouchy traveler blog.
Greece. here it goes.
I arrived in greece, found the right bus, and the metro and my hostel! So far so good! It definitely was not as warm as I had hoped though. My hostel was super cheap so it wasn't in the best neighborhood (I did research later and supposedly there was brothels around there... never saw any weird/sketchy people though).
The next day (so day one in athens) I went around and was giving my self a tour of all the places: tomb of the unknown soldier, the olympic stadium, royal gardens, some archeological sights and the acropolis. It was cool, kind of boring since I was alone. After seeing the acropolis, I was making my was down through the lush green park and as I passed an opening in the trees, there was a man watching me, I passed him and he started following me, so I walk over to a bench and sit down (my grandparents & mom are always really worried about eastern europe and always tell me to be really careful because they think im going to get kidnapped and sold as a sex slave). That is what's going through my head. It is broad daylight though so I figure I'm safe as long as this creepo isn't following me. He keeps looking back as he passes me, so I'm pretty creeped out by now. All of a sudden I hear a branch crack behind me and he is behind me. As I'm turning around to see where the noise came from, he grabs my purse (which is under my jacket and over my shoulder, it's also really tiny, so im not quite sure what he thought would be in it...) and takes off running up the hill (through all the trees and grass up to my waist) and (not sure what I was thinking) take off after him, screaming and yelling, sprinting up hill, of course I lose him. I'm thinking he just layed down in the grass haha
Fortunately someone heard me screaming and (really fortunately) was a translator, so he spoke perfect greek and english! he helped me talk to the police officers (the police system in greece is severely corrupt. and there are so many branches of it. only certain officers can tell people what to do, only certain officers can help with crime, only certain officers can do this and that.) so after waiting for like an hour for the police that CAN help, we leave and he walks me to my friend's hostel. I have no money, no ATM card, no ID, no nothing on me, so I have no way to get back to my hostel on the metro and it's across town. I'm standing in the lobby still really shaken up, and this guy who heard my tell my story presses 50 euros into my hand with only a "God granted some people to be successful." Thanks to him I was able to get back to my hostel, and call home.
That was day one.
Every site in greece is free if you have a student ID, which I now didn't have. So my activities were severely limited due to that and the money issue.
Greece was cold. REALLY WINDY. So much so I felt like I'd be blown away (yes that windy). and it was Dirty.. Trash lined the streets.
I did not have a good time in greece except for the last day and a half, I hung out with a couple friends that had been island hopping and were now back. We went through the markets, bought some worry beads and explored a bit. It was nice not to be alone. I also got to see a parade, it was Greece's independence day from the Turks and there was a huge military parade going on. It was kinda cool i guess.
The last day I'm there I talk to the hostel receptionist and make sure I can get to the airport on time, I"d have to take a taxi because the metro wont be open, which is fine as long as I get there. I have to leave my hostel at 3:30am. I set alarms every 5 minutes from 2:45 to 3:15. I'm all packed and ready.
Unfortunately my iPod didnt catch the time change. i dont know how... the only reason I knew what time it really was is because when I checked out of my hostel I noticed the time. the metro now was open so I took that, thinking it'd be pretty fast. I arrived at the airport at 6. my flight left at 6:20 without me on it.
Can i sue apple? :P
I guess I need to invest in a different alarm clock?
so here I am stuck at the airport. thinking I'd be stuck in this hellhole of a country for ever.
I had the money to buy a new ticket. just no debit card. stupid asshole who robbed me.
eventually I was able to call my parents and get a new flight home to prague.
thank god.
I'll never go back to that dirty, corrupt, thieving, bankrupt country.
I hated greece.
I still hate greece.
(okay I'm done ranting and that is my first and last negative blog! promise)
