Running solely on adrenaline

I calculated it all:
86 hours =
7 hours of sleep
over 13 hours on a bus
countless times asking for directions
7 cups of coffee
4 airports
5 & ½ hours just plain waiting, sometimes in a line
3 (probably more) times just not knowing where I am/where I’m going/what’s going on
5 outfits, haha :)
3 countries (2 new!)
20 pictures

So this long story begins Thursday. Kelly’s boyfriend came Thursday so she went to pick him up, and without her and a couple other girls class was really funny I think we were all just ready for spring break, including our teacher. But Thursday night, instead of working on packing of course, I just hung out and used Internet, skyped a little and tried to work on my trip.

Friday morning we had our usual class at 9am which was super early. But I decided I need to skype Sara before she comes to Spain to try and have stuff worked out before I get back from spring break (which will only be less than two weeks until she comes). So I set my alarm for 6 to get up and get to school to skype her by 7. But for some reason I woke up at 5 and then 530, I think my paranoid always sets in on those early mornings thinking I’m not going to get up so I got up and got to school before 7 – some people were still out from the night before! But I got to skype her for a couple hours sitting outside cause it was finally nice weather and our skype was actually working. Then I went into class around 830 and once again we had 5 people in class. So the day before I talked Mary into letting us watch a real movie but in Spanish (with English subtitles) so we only worked for a little & got to watch the whole movie. We got out at 1; I went home, worked on packing a little, and took a nap. Then I got up and was feeling like doing something so I went up the mountain behind where I live – which was beautiful and just really relaxing. Then I got ready and went to Kelly’s to meet and hang out with her and her boyfriend – her dang roommates had eaten most of our cookies so there were like 5-10 left but I got to take a few to my host mom & Paula. That night the three of us went out for pintxos – Kelly and I actually have a favorite place we’ve been to a few times so that was exciting. And it was a nice night so we just walked around, by the port area and in Parte Vieja. I was back by like midnight but then I had to work on packing. This other girl in my class was going to let me use her suitcase because all I have is a backpack and the two giant ones I brought for the semester. But her parents were here and it just never worked out – so I tried fitting everything in a little duffle of Kelly’s. But then I realized I always need more room on the way back and of course I’ll have some souvenirs. So I just ended up bringing my huge bag and filling it halfway. So I finally got done – more or less – with packing around 130 and then got ready and went to bed.

My bus was supposed to leave at 730am Saturday but I wanted to give myself enough time to get stuff together and walk to the bus station. My paranoia once again woke me up at 530 and I couldn’t go back to sleep. So I got to the bus station a little early, and the bus was late, but another girl from USAC, Aimee was on my bus so that was good. I slept on and off, read, and listened to music on the way to Barcelona. We got to Barcelona around 3, Aimee had to check on some stuff, we wandered around a little and got coffee and then I headed to the other bus station to get a bus to the airport. I guess the airport that is mostly just RyanAir is like an hour outside of the city and you have to take a bus. So I had to take two metros (yes, Elizabeth told me some stuff before but I had to figure out which metro and figure out the dumb bus station on my own!) and then I got to the bus station at the perfect time because a bus was leaving in like 15minutes – but man, that’s probably the most Americans I’ve been around in awhile it was really strange. But I got to the airport over 2 hours ahead of time and it’s just really weird I didn’t really know about checking in – and every departure had the same two counters listed. So I finally did the computer check-in and then after this random girl from Spain talked to me for a few minutes about learning English, etc. I got up and went to the line to check my bag in because all of a sudden there was a huge line. (I wasn’t sure where to go before because the signs were wrong) But I waited in that line at least an hour and moved maybe a foot. But then it was getting late so they called everyone going to Rome to the special line so we could check in and get on our flight. I was planning on only waiting in line for a little bit so I hadn’t even eaten yet and got rushed onto the plane. I ended up buying a sandwich on board which wasn’t so great and eating at like 10pm. But whatever. So I got to Rome at like 1115pm which was ahead of schedule and got a bus ticket (Jess didn’t think they’d still be running and I’d have to pay like 30euros for a taxi). I was supposed to meet Jess around 1230 at the Termini Train Station and she said where the taxis line up. So I waited by the first set of taxis I saw for about 45minutes and Jess still wasn’t there. So I wandered around and couldn’t find her. So finally at like 1am I texted her to see where she was, she said she was in the front of the station but I couldn’t find her so we ended up calling and meeting in the middle – I guess she had meant some other taxis – funny thing though I had actually walked past where she had been standing and somehow we didn’t see each other! So then we had to catch two buses and it’s a different schedule that late so Jess had to call her friends for help and we finally got to her apartment around 2 or 230 I think. Then of course we had to catch up, and one of her roommates came home so I got to meet her. So we ended up talking until like 345 in the morning and we had called a taxi to come for me at 530 (ever since Ireland I’m really paranoid).

So I got one hour of sleep, got up and showered and met the taxi outside. The guy said he wanted to stop somewhere for a couple minutes on the way and since we had time I didn’t really care. So we passed these random people standing outside by a car. Then I look ahead to the intersection and there’s a car that looks like it got in a wreck. And then I look at them again and there is a man lying on the ground & they put a coat over him. I honestly have no idea if he is alive. But they were just standing there talking – there was no ambulance or anything so the driver was going to help but I feel like they should’ve been panicking more or something! I couldn’t see his face so I don’t know if he was moving or breathing or anything. But then as we drove off I saw his motorcycle up a few more feet – so I guess he was on it and got hit by that car. But it just looked awful! But anyways, it only took like 5 minutes to get to the smaller train station so I bought my ticket and waited for like 20 minutes. Jess tried to tell me where to go but I just followed the other guy that had a suitcase. And then on the train, man is it hard to stay awake on those things! I tried so hard but I would just wake up to see where we were stopping and go back to sleep, but in reality it was only like a 30 minute ride all together. But then I got to the airport, got all checked in and went to my terminal. I was going to get coffee but I tried to tell the guy and he pointed for me to go somewhere else and another lady wouldn’t listen to me so I decided I’d rather sleep than be awake with caffeine. But I tried to use wifi and apparently you have to pay so I just slept, probably very cute and peacefully, until they called us to board (and there were at least 20 more people there when I woke up). So our plane wasn’t even half full so I had a whole row to myself and stretched out and tried to sleep. But finally it was a flight with free food and drinks so that was exciting. So I got coffee and orange juice, (which was red! And delicious!) and some cookies they gave us. Then I got to Athens ahead of schedule and picked up tons of maps. I am so thankful that my grandma sent me her friend’s e-mail address because stuff she’s told me has already been so helpful on this trip. I had a general idea of where I was going and what bus to take, and I knew to get a few city and metro maps.
So once I got into Athens, which was probably an hour or so long bus ride, I just got off the bus and was in awe and started wandering around. I should’ve gathered my bearings and figured out directions and stuff but I couldn’t stand still long enough. I got off in the main square and just headed to where it looked pretty (haha, I’m such a good traveler) and wandered down this random street. I saw this store that had about a million leather flip flops that weren’t too expensive. So of course I had to go try some on, and the guy was super nice so that was great (most everyone can speak a little English). So of course I bought some, I’ve definitely been missing my flip flops. But I bought some because I figured I couldn’t find the store again if I tried. But then I walked up to this like major square (I still don’t know the name) and there were at least 100 other stores just like it! But I still love mine and would’ve gotten the same. But anyways this square was huge and there were at least a million people in it and in all the side streets. There were all the random stores – touristy stuff, jewelry, clothes, purses, shoes, etc. just anything you could imagine all around this place. So I wandered around for awhile and it was so hard not to spend tons of money – I didn’t buy anything! But then I knew I was wanting to try a gyro for lunch and the street I walked up on happened to have one so I sat down (along with the other 500 people doing the same thing) in the square and ate my gyro and people-watched. It was pretty entertaining, very touristy – I couldn’t tell you where half those people were from. But then I just wandered around a lot around there. But then I decided I wanted to see the Acropolis and then head to my hotel but I could not find it. Haha yeah, I couldn’t find the Acropolis I felt dumb. I was so turned around in that little square and kept thinking I knew where I was and really I had no idea. By then my back was hurting and I was tired of walking so much so I was planning on giving up and just decided to head back to the square. I actually found it pretty easily so I sat down and figured out where to go. I started walking down the main road towards the Acropolis and stopped to make sure I was going the right way and some nice old man asked if I was okay and verified that I was correct and we talked for a couple minutes (he said the town I’m staying in is so nice). Then I saw The Arch and The Acropolis. I decided against walking up there because it was raining and I wanted to try to get to Nafplion before too long. So then I headed back to where this one lady & man (who could hardly speak a word of English) told me to go. So I waited for the bus 57 but wasn’t really sure where to get off so I tried to read street signs, got off at the first place, asked where the next street was and walked there. If you ever go to Athens tell me and I will tell you exactly where not to go because this is it. There are all the men selling their random crap and making stupid comments to me walking by. But I tried to talk to this man at the bus ticket window to try to find the station to get to Nafplion and his friend had to talk to me cause he didn’t know English. It took the guy (who was a driver) and I at least 30 minutes to understand that I didn’t need to go buy a ticket and I was going to be getting on the bus he was driving (and his friend was a PER-SON, haha – he’s a PER-SON and I didn’t need to get a ticket from a PER-SON). So I got on his bus and made him tell me where to get off so I’d know. But it was super easy so I finally got to the station and asked where to buy a ticket for Nafplion and got it. Then the bus ride ended up being a lot longer than I was expecting so I got to sleep a little but I finally got to Nafplion (by the way people just randomly ring the little bell and get off in the middle of nowhere so I was super nervous) and bought a ticket to bus to Tolo (like 10 miles away) and a sandwich for dinner. So it took me asking a few different people to realize where the Tolo bus comes, so I finally got it and then rode it all around Tolo and as me and one other girl were left on the bus the driver realized I was still on and stopped on the side of the road and told me to get out. But the whole time people would just see where they were going and get out but I never saw my hotel so I didn’t push a button cause I had no idea where I was going. So I tried to ask him where it was and he didn’t understand me so I just started walking back towards town. I stopped in a random souvenir shop and asked a lady and she had to call someone to find out where it was and told me to go a kilometer more down by the port (ha, like I could judge distance, especially a kilometer). So I just started wandering – and man, there are TONS of young people here. I was not expecting it – they all seem like high schoolers or maybe early college kids. But there are so many and they are everywhere, in huge crowds! But anyways, I finally found my hotel and got checked in and the people are super nice. (if the weather is nice I can have my breakfast outside) I thought I got wireless but apparently not, and I can’t get the tv to work, but I guess that’s probably a good thing. Also, I have a HUGE balcony and can see the beach. But the downside is there are tons of loud high schoolers (or whoever they are, from other countries) and I’m ready to go to bed. So hopefully I’m tired enough to drown them out. And I’m praying for sun tomorrow – it will not be fun with the rain and I would love to just wander around this town and sit by the beach. But anyways, there was the beginning (yeah, just the beginning, haha) of my wonderful adventure. More later.
Miss you all.
Love, Jill