Tangled Thoughts

Greece Day 5 {We forgive you, Greece}

Christina

July 6, 2014

Last night after an episode involving too little counter space, which ended in me literally stepping in dinner – we all went to bed wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. Or at least, I did. It wasn’t that all Greece is bad – it couldn’t be, could it? But with our recent adventures in so called “Greece” I for one was beginning to question my decision in coming to this place that seemed so wonderful – yet just wasn’t.

We had booked a tour – a tour that claimed to be wonderful. One that promised beautiful beaches, and secret coves. But hadn’t Greece promised that as well? Our biggest fear now was that we would wake up early and get on a boat that would cook us the rest of the way.

But today? Today we forgave Greece. And decided that instead of being angry at Greece, we would be angry at the little tiny town that we happened to drop into – and can’t seem to get away from. Until today. Because today? Made us want to come back to Greece – if only just for the boat tour.

We don’t normally book tours. We are sort of “Do it yourself tour guides” when it comes to traveling but here? We needed something that showed us the Greece we were looking for. The Greece that inspired us to travel some more.

The tour? Was amazing. It was relaxed, laid back, and fun. They pulled into multiple stops – with swimming at nearly all of them. They let you jump straight from the boat into the water, fed a meal with enough food for seconds, and took us to see the Greece of our dreams. The Greece we always knew was there – but was just out of reach.

I will let the pictures do the talking. Just know that some of Greece? Is really, really awesome. And this tour? Was out of this world awesome.

Here are 10 reasons why I am forgiving Greece today:

This was a real beach, with real water that looked AMAZING. It wasnt a swimming pool, it wasnt just a picture – it was REAL.

10.

Greece Day 4

Christina

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July 5, 2014

Often when we travel, we find ourselves needing a vacation to recover from our vacation. We attempt to travel light, and cheap. As a result we usually end up with some interesting stories to tell. I’m not yet sure what stories will come from Greece, although I suspect we will have a few. Just not the ones we were planning on.

We discovered last night that the beaches and locations of Greece that we were looking forward to the most – were on the west coast of the Island we are on. Unfortunately, we happen to be on the east coast. While it may only take 10 minutes by car, we have bikes. And while it may only be 2.5 miles to get there, and in any other circumstances – 2.5 miles is a cakewalk, here it is anything but.

The sun has wiped us all out. Or at least, has wiped Amanda and I out completely. If not for the AC I’m not sure where we would be. This afternoon we started out on the trek across the way. A 2.5 mile journey with the promise of ice cream and sandy beaches, David lured us out of our nice AC room. All was well for the first bit of time until things started looking a little…deserted.

We joked about being on another episode of “I shouldn’t be alive” but still continued on. The paved road turned into a gravel road, which turned into a dirt path, and eventually looked more like an un-mown field than anything. Old olive trees, a few houses, roosters, and a whole lot of empty fields. A far cry from our visions of deep blue water, and bright blue skies.

Not the Greece we had in mind.

By the time we returned – we were all completely wiped out. It was, in fact, the hottest part of the day and the sun was so intense. After a quick dip in the pool, we decided that there is one thing people have right about the hottest part of the day – and that is napping.

First world problems that make us sound like spoiled brats who came to a dream land of a country only to complain. Don’t get me wrong – I’m sure Greece is an awesome country – I’m also sure that its awesomeness starts about 2.5 miles from here and is just out of reach. I’m also confident that we will make it there, to see this awesomeness – sometime this week.

Sometimes it takes all we have to make it down the stairs to that pool. The sun. Its hot.

I just hope the A/C holds out long enough.

Greece Day 3

Christina

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July 4, 2014

When it comes to heat – its important to remember that Amanda and I are from Alaska. While she may now be a transplant, she grew up in Alaska as well. We swim in the ocean when it reaches 60 degrees. And we melt when it hits anything over 70/75. One year we took a road trip to Nevada to meet up with our grandpa. In the middle of the dessert it was estimated it was around 120 degrees. Papa, who lives in the desert – was having a hard time. Amanda and I were already gone, but mom? She was ALIVE.

And by alive, I do mean it in the very best way. She grew up in Oregon with no AC – her and dad know how to handle the heat, and come to life when it heats up. In China – they both VOLUNTARILY took the room with no AC while David, Amanda and I sat as close to the AC units as possible.

All that is to say – we booked a trip to Greece, in the middle of summer where the current temperature was 95 degrees. For those used to those temperatures you may say “Oh that’s nothing” or “That’s easy!” for us? Atleast Amanda and I? We are used to 45 degrees being hot.

When we headed out today – it was already warm, but not hot. We biked. Up big hills, down others – searching high and low for a beach. Now don’t get me wrong, there was a beach. We saw it yesterday. But it was too crowded. Too many people. Too little water. We biked on. On and on in search of a seemingly magic ocean to appear on a mountain top.

And then? We crashed. Not literally, of course. David biked on to find a beach, and Amanda and I grumbled. Why did we book this trip in the middle of summer? Why did we come here in the searing hot sun? Surely we will be lobsters! A popsicle later, we came to our senses. We booked the trip, yes. We miscalculated our location – by a long shot – yes. But we were here, and darn-it we were going to make the most of it!

Once David returned we told him our new plan: We would go to the beach, and swim.

Moments after diving into the luke warm water – our perspective changed. Suddenly the flowers were brighter. The sun was cooler, the water bluer. Suddenly the hills no longer seemed like road blocks – but rather vineyards. We swam for a long time before finally realizing we needed to head back. As nice as it was – we were still pasty white and our skin made a perfect target for the sun.

Sunburn and all – Greece is turning into a great trip. It may not have been what we had envisioned when we sold ourselves on the idea of the Mediterranean in the middle of summer – but it has been an adventure. And one we already can look back on and laugh at.

Greece: Day 1 & 2

Christina

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July 3, 2014

I had a long blog post all written up. I usually do. Long plane rides do that to me. Sitting beside the man with the deep blue glasses, on the last seat of the airplane that was 1/2 broken and held down by a seat belt – I wrote a long post in my head. And then we landed. And stepped out. Into the blast of heat. And all thoughts, wishes, to-do’s, will do’s went out the window. There was nothing left.

We secured all four of our carry on bags, additional luggage, pushchairs, car seats, lunch bags etc and made our way to our final destination: Greece.

For weeks we have been researching, scouring the internet, looking at white buildings and blue skies – and finally, we booked our trip.

But when we swung the doors open, our expectations came crumbling in. A blast of hot air hit us all in the face. We stumbled in. Two beds in a shared room. The town smelled, and the bathrooms were less than clean. Our phones worked for five minutes before giving out, and the internet only worked in one corner of the room. Tired crankies hit us all as we grumbled through our bed time routines.

“Tomorrow will be better” David said “We havent even see anything!”

And of course it was. Because it always is. The first day is always hard when we go somewhere new. Adjusting to a new place, getting to know the area, working out the kinks, and finally – enjoying the location.

So here we are. In Greece. For a week. In hot humid Greece, in a room with two beds, an AC unit, and a tiny little tv. And a swimming pool that feels like nice bath water. Bikes are reserved, dinner is eaten, and another night is upon us.

The beach is right down the road, and we have big plans to seek out the best beaches on the Island of Cofu. For now we are in our room, surrounded by grape vines growing up the rails, palm trees in the back yard, and wifi that is only works on my bed. But for one week – we will make the most of our adventure, and laugh at our expectations – because as our number one rule goes – don’t have expectations when traveling. And now that our first day is behind us, we have a whole five days left to enjoy the scorching hot sun, the luke warm swimming pool, and of course, the beaches.