Time for a quick update. I don't feel like being in front of a computer tonight!
I made it back from Scotland safely, but not without missing a bus and sleeping on a bench at the bus station for a night. I'm adjusting to life in Manchester again, although there's only so comfortable you can get when you're sleeping on someone's couch and living out of a suitcase. Tomorrow I'm "moving" to Caz and James'.
Since I've returned I have walked all over the Peak District (where every sign points to Pott Shrigly) and I am heading off to the Lake District on Tuesday with Vicky. When I return from that there will be copious amounts of get togethers, socials, and parties - oh how rough life is!
I head home in ten days...
Another entry on it's own.
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Hello, from Edinburgh!
I've spent the last few days in Stirling, about a half an hour away from Glasgow. I did end up meeting with Alex and hung out with him quite a bit. That was, of course, when he wasn't practicing for the Pipe Band World Championships. The band itself was really, really good, and they won in their division. This makes them the 2006 world champions. And oh how we partied...
Partying aside, it was great to spend some quality time with one of my closest friends. I don't know why we click so well, we just do. I haven't seen him in over half a year, yet our last meeting might as well have been last week. I love that time and distance doesn't necessarily have to alter the core of our relationship.
So I spent yesterday in Glasgow, and caught the bus to Edinburgh this morning. I'm heading back to Manchester tonight, and will be arriving at the inconvenient time of 4 am. I haven't worked out where exactly I'm going to go when I arrive, but I'm sure something will present itself.
Scotland is gorgeous. I wish I had more time here to sufficiently explore the country. It's completely different than Italy or Greece, and even England. The people are probably the nicest that I've met in a while. Everything is green and beautiful - the only drawback is the weather, which is worse than I expected. We're talking October weather. And I stick out like a sore thumb with an extremely dark tan.
As of now, I'm exhausted. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night and the sleep that I did get was constantly interrupted. Moreover, I've been walking for ages and don't have much food in my stomach - I'm trying to find a place that's cheap to eat at, which is apparently impossible when the Edinburgh festival is going on. That being said I'm highly enjoying my time here, and every so often I have a little flash of excitement -
I'm in Scotland!.
So when I come back it will be with a lot more money than is currently in my bank account and a lonely planet guide.
I feel like my mind is choppy today. It honestly feels hard to function normally, and a chore to think. I haven't felt like this since Verona.
So the solution is to go and find a good hot Stovie and a pint of beer. So off I go...
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I am the luckiest person alive. Most definitely.
Minus me missing my flight back to Manchester, and therefore the corresponding train tickets up to Scotland. I also cancelled my hostel reservation, and now it turns out that I can't find any place to stay in Scotland from the 10th to the 13th. But we'll deal with that later...
So why am I lucky, you ask? Well, let's start back in Tilos. I was on the ferry from Rhodes, when I was approached by a guy wearing military gear. His name was Nick, and he is stationed in Tilos for the next few months. We got to talking, and he was really worried that I wouldn't be able to find a place to stay. I was completely fine about it - on the islands, it doesn't matter if you have accomodation booked or not. People actually approach you and ask you if you need a room - and so I wasn't worried.
He ended up offering me his floor (he doesn't have a couch). I didn't get any "bad vibes" from him, not in the least. He looked quite young, and as it turns out he was 18. So I accepted, and ended up staying two nights free of charge. He even rented a motorcycle and took me all over the island. We had a great day together, and in the end I think I only spent 10 euro on dinner.
Then I was back to Rhodes. I was planning on spending one night there before my plane - (I thought) it left on the sixth of August, a Sunday. Then my friend that I met earlier messaged me. His name was Harry, and he was searching for his relitives around Greece. His message said to meet him at the Olympic Palace Hotel.
When I pulled up from the Olympic Palace, I was amazed. The place was huge, and absolutely gorgeous. It's a five star resort, like the ones that my parents go to when they abandon us for Mexico. It turns out that Harry's uncle owns the place, and we can stay for free.
So I've spent the last two nights at an extremely luxerious resort for absolutely free. Not just the accomodation was free, but
everything. We're talking free cocktails from the bar, free food, free room service, everything. Normally it all costs a ridiculous amount of money, but what's a few hundred euro between family?
So even though I missed my flight and won't be able to get up to Scotland until Thursday (and have no place to stay), I'm having a great time. I can't believe how lucky I am. This trip has taken me to the extreme ups and downs. One night I'm sleeping on a rock hard mattress with bugs crawling up the wall, and the next I'm a VIP in a five star hotel.
So that's a good way to end off my trip. I'm off to Manchester tomorrow, and then Scotland on Thursday. I can't entirely believe that it's all over. Being in Italy seems like ages ago, and being in Manchester even further back.
I'm also back in time for a big BBQ at my friend Vicky's on Wednesday evening. Everything is perfect. I can't believe this - I'm honestly bursting with excitement.
And as the sun sets in Rhodes, Greece, I can't help but reflect upon my last five and a half months. It's all coming to a close. I've gone places I never thought I could go, and done things I never thought I could have done. What's more is that I worked for this. I saved up my money working two jobs, made my way to England, found a house, a job, and a life. This is something that I wanted to do, and I've done it.
I am
so happy.
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It's time for a long overdue update.
I'm sorry it's been so long. Ikaria had no internet access, and then afterward I could only find really expensive cafes (six euros per hour expensive). I've been busy as well, just doing things. I've been meeting loads of people and spending time with each one. I'll normally go to an internet cafe when I pass one and am by myself, but when you're with another person it's a rather antisocial thing to do.
I've had a lot of ups and downs within the last few days. I had a two day stretch where everything went wrong, from leaving my passport in Samos to getting an 83 euro fine to missing a ferry. It just went on and on. But now I'm back to my "regular" luck, which is nice. Having people around has helped me out quite a bit as well. It's odd, because in Italy I was completely content to stay by myself. Now that I'm reaching the end of my trip, I find that I am not only wanting, but needing people around me.
Ikaria was an amazing island. I rented a scooter and whizzed around the mountains for two days. It was fantastic, because I could just get on and drive. Eventually I would come to a really nice beach, and often times I would be the only one on it. The hotel I stayed at was cheap, but extremely clean and with a gorgeous view of the Sea.
I am currently in Rhodes, and am heading out to the island of Tilos today. Tilos is a very small island with very little tourism. It has a population of about 500 people. It also has good, uncrowded beaches, and lots of hiking trails. So I'm looking forward to a day of lying in the sun.
I've had fun in Rhodes. It's got two drastically different parts - an old town and a new town. THe old town is enclosed within stone walls, a leftover from when the Knights of St. John based themselves there. It's really great walking around there, because you're walking around a medieval city. It reminds me of Robin Hood; the castle looks just like King Richard's.
I'm soon off to Scotland, where I will be partying with Alex all week long. And I can't wait...
I'm also gaining back all the weight I've lost. I'm quite sure of it. I've been eating lots of fast food sovlaki, as it's extremely cheap and oh so good. I've found on place in particular that does fries that taste better than McDonalds. Although I still can't get the thought of a peanut butter parfait out of my mind.
Anyways, I've got a long walk to the ferry docks, so I best head off. Missing my ferry for the second time would be increadibly inconvinient. Hope everyone over there is alive and well, and not as brown as me.
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