Finally, this is what I see whenever I close my eyes to have a 'moment'. Ya'll at work ought to be familiar with this ;) Janel and I are in Sougia, one of the best beach-towns in south Crete. Lisa took me here the first year I came to Greece, and it feels so cleansing to be here again. Its a great way to start this trip. I'm getting centered. A little about Sougia....
Sougia is almost directly south of Chania, about a two hour bus ride through the mountianous interior of Crete. The drive itself is rewarding, along the way you pass through little mountian villages where live is so slow that half the inhabitants are outside to see the bus as it drives by.
The town of Sougia develops more and more each year, I've of course heard the stories of how it was 12+ years ago, but I've even noticed the change in the last four years. The internet cafe I'm sitting in came along only two years ago, before that, the only internet connection was at a small taverna where the old propriator (I know, my spelling is awful!) would only let you surf if he was in a good mood. (I fell out of favor when I beat him at computer free-cell)
The beach still remains one of the most gorgeous, clean places I've visited. Janel and I managed to cajol some nice Dutch hippies to let us pitch our tent next to theirs under a big tree. I was suprised by the number of people camping.
Sougia is also remarkable because of the many un-escavated Minoan ruins. People actually pitch tents amid the crumbling walls of the old city. Janel and I were actually considering camping there up the hill, but it was so filthy! People just leave their trash and shit-paper lying everywhere. That kind of behavior is disgusting to begin with, but even more so when you consider the surroundings.
I am taking pictures, I promise, but I'm having some trouble with the interface for my camera. When my parents arrive next week, I'm sure my dad can help me figure this out. So, you will just have to wait for all my beachy pics.
Relaxing with a Mithos in an outdoor internet cafe, view of the night sky-
Kate
Yassu, Tikanis everybody? Well, I've made my arrival and am having a great time in Chania. Too bad my luggage can't be here to share this with me, I hope it sends a postcard.......
So, I made my connecting flight in Paris, my bag did not. No worries, it'll meet me here eventually, but until then, without clean clothes, I'm really scuzzing it up. But isn't that what this is all about? Not being afraid of just being me, funk and all.
Anyway, Janel did find me at the Athens airport. She said she had a terriffic time clubbing with fellow backpackers (Dutch boys) It's kinda neat to be showing someone else around Chania, which means I can't be on the computer the whole time chatting you guys up (jeeze!)
Pictures next time........
btw, ankle still swollen :(
What a blast, more parties to see me off. Wanna see some pictures?
I thought so........
Last night I went to Teri and Matt's View image
(Daley, Danielle, Teri)
Eventually, Sir Shust made his arrival, haggard View image
Brad, Janette and Brandon also came View image
View image
I'm not messed up in this picture, I had just been crying...View image
Then we had a bonfire View image
Here we have Eric (MF) and Randy Andy View image
And my oldest and dearest friend Britt came by, with a going away present! View imageView image
Then, as I was running around, I tripped on something and sprained my ankle! OwOwOw! See how swolen View image
And we felt great the next morning View image
Today, we had a family party at my aunt Lorraine and uncle Hank's. Here's one of my mom, dad, uncle Joe and his friend Jean View image
This is my dad, trying on a 'travel vest' View image
These are my cousins' kids, Jessica, Olivia and Mia View image
Here I am with Olivia and Jamie (such a far away look I have on my face) View image
This is Caroline, isn't she a cutie? View image
Matt, the entertainer View image
We had a few birthdays to celebrate View image View image View image
I'm exhausted!
So, before I leave, I have some big thankyous to pass out
Ahem.....
1st of all, huge grat goes to my new friends at bootsnall.com. Chris, Sean and Nick, thank you so much for your awesome websight and for setting me up with this blog. It means so much to all my peoples that they'll be able to 'virtually' tag along on my trip.
Tie for 1st goes to my parents, I love you guys so much and everything you love about me is all because of you. (who knows where I picked up the stuff you don't love ;) You taught me to be strong, to think for myself and not second-guess when others disagree with what my heart tells me. You raised me to be free, and now I am going to fly. (God that sounds cheezy!)
Thanks to all my party friends: Britt, Shust, Gracia, Matt, Teri, Mike, Katie, Daley, Dannie, Dan, Jess, Eric, Randy Andy, DB Andy, Jen, Brad, Janette, Brandon, Nat, David S, Dave E, I'm really gonna miss the good times.
And big thumbs up to my work peeps (well, two fingers are up, guess which ones ;)
Brennan, Phil, Andrew, Dave E, Anton, Mike P, Matt, Jon, Diego, Rohith, ROB, I'm gonna love making you jealous for the next 6 months.
Hi there, well it's the night before I leave and I've been a huge emotion ball all day. One minute I'm giddy, the next I'm feeling anxiety cramps in my stomach, or I want to cry thinking about how much I'm going to miss my life here.
It's been really hard for me these last days to think about not seeing my family or friends for 6+ months. Especially since I've been feted 3 times in the last week. I guess I hadn't anticipated the guilt that I feel now, leaving everyone.
But I also feel scared. I'm a pretty brave person generally but spraining my ankle last night scared me s----less, you know, what if I get hurt, or robbed, or raped, or, I don't even want to say this, but dead. I've always thought, 'hey I'll go when it's my time, no use worrying about it' but contemplating the notion that I may be saying goodbye to all this for good is something I've never experienced before.
And then I swing back to being hopeful and excited. I've wanted to do this for so long and this is my big chance. I'm daydreaming about all of the interesting, wonderful, quirky, people I'll meet, and all the cool places I'll finally see in person. I can't wait to enlarge my arsonal of stories and look forward to sharing them in this blog (There will be some I'll have to keep to myself, I'm sure you understand ;)
-ttfn
Today was very educational, I went to lunch with my friends from Thailand, Tim and Apple. We ate at this authentic Thai restaurant in the lincoln square neighborhood. Apple ordered a few dishes and wow, the food was great! It was alot hotter than the 'Americanized' Thai food I'm used to.
While we were eating, Tim and Apple were both commenting on how the food is better in Thailand. Telling me about all the interesting places to go while I'm there made them both really homesick. Apple is pretty sure that she'll be in Bangkok late December, and Tim might be able to go too. We said that if it works out, we can spend Christmas together on a south island.
So my engineer buddies from work took me out last night. Let me tell you, all the typical stereotypes fly out the window after a few beers, or in our case last night, a few shots of tequila. Continue reading for PICTURES!
So here we are at the office View image
We started at Navy Pier in the beer garden View image
We had some food, and of course, more beer View image
Here I am with Anton, looking very proud of my napkin View image
Mike P spent time trying to convine Rob to let him stay at the IAC for a few more months (notice Rob's eyes!) View image
Then he had to leave, but not before this picture! View image
Dave started telling this awesome story View image
And then announced his affection for Andrew View image
I lit a cigarette View image
posed with Rob View image
and we were off to the Matchbox View image
where Nat joined in View image
I don't even know what's going on in this one....... View image
Whew, what a night!
The trip as planned so far:
August 25/26 - Birthday hangover, fly into Athens, ferry to Chania (Crete) where my adorable cousin Lisa has been living for 11+ years now with her sweetie husband Niko and the most wonderful little girl in the world, 4 year old Thanai. I've been going out to visit every summer for the last few years and I absolutely love it there, it's beautiful.
Late Aug-mid September - Around this time, at least 5-6 members of my family/friends are set to arrive in Chania. They'll finally all be able to see for themselves what I've been gushing about for the last three years.
November-ish - Make my way back up to Athens slowly, via island ferries, then on to Bangkok, in the land of a thousand smiles. I'm thinking about exploring, going to a few islands, then north for a while where I'll cross the border into...
December-ish - Cambodia. Angkor wat sounds so beautiful, I want to be there and watch the sunrise. Around this time, I'll begin to think about where to spend Christmas and New Years.
January-ish-till ? - New Zealand. I've always felt drawn here, I hope to see why.
***This is my loose plan; I expect a lot of surprises! ***