Sunday Oct 28: We were greeted at the Pink Palace with a shot of ouzo for everyone. Most people didn't like it. I didn't think it was bad. I was probably one of few that took it without making a face afterwards.
Got our rooming situation sorted out. Most people already knew what they were doing. I, however, was essentially traveling solo. I knew people on the trip, but for all practical purposes, I was traveling solo. Wound up rooming with a pair of guys I just met for the first time. They're also studying abroad in Rome, but I can't remember every seeing them. Worked out well though.
After getting settled, I spent the next several hours on the beach/hiking with the
girls I knew (or, maybe, thought I knew). Two of them had found a trail at the end of the beach, so I ran back to my room, grabbed my camera, then we went exploring. Not that I had any difficulty on the trail, but I probably wouldn't recommend hiking in flip flops. Only one girl had brought shoes to the beach.
Came back to the Pink Palace mid-afternoon. I was starving. Hadn't had much of a breakfast (just a quick snack between ferries). Had a decent burger and fries. Actually, the burger was good. But the ketchup for the fries was a little different. Can't beat restaurant quality burger for only €3.50 though. Killed time before dinner. Ate with James and Sean and the 3 good-looking girls they knew from school. Decent dinner. Fun night.
Monday Oct 29: All breakfasts were included on the trip (as were dinners, by the way), so I made sure I was up in time to catch that. Eggs 'to order' (not really to order, but they were made fresh. Each day was a different style. Breakfast #1 was scrambled with tomatoes and onion), plenty of toast n jam, and tea, for me.
Also included on our trip was a cruise around the island ..that may or may not have had the adjective "booze" in front of it. Actually, there were a surprising number of Americans that weren't drinking on the cruise, but that was probably smart. Cliff jumping and swimming in a sea cave probably are not best when combined with alcohol. I refrained from any until after both stops. ...in addition to the jumping and swimming, we stopped at a beach only accessible by boat. (the couple hundred foot cliffs along the beach kinda sorta prevent any road access..)
Got our rooming situation sorted out. Most people already knew what they were doing. I, however, was essentially traveling solo. I knew people on the trip, but for all practical purposes, I was traveling solo. Wound up rooming with a pair of guys I just met for the first time. They're also studying abroad in Rome, but I can't remember every seeing them. Worked out well though.
After getting settled, I spent the next several hours on the beach/hiking with the
girls I knew (or, maybe, thought I knew). Two of them had found a trail at the end of the beach, so I ran back to my room, grabbed my camera, then we went exploring. Not that I had any difficulty on the trail, but I probably wouldn't recommend hiking in flip flops. Only one girl had brought shoes to the beach.Came back to the Pink Palace mid-afternoon. I was starving. Hadn't had much of a breakfast (just a quick snack between ferries). Had a decent burger and fries. Actually, the burger was good. But the ketchup for the fries was a little different. Can't beat restaurant quality burger for only €3.50 though. Killed time before dinner. Ate with James and Sean and the 3 good-looking girls they knew from school. Decent dinner. Fun night.
Monday Oct 29: All breakfasts were included on the trip (as were dinners, by the way), so I made sure I was up in time to catch that. Eggs 'to order' (not really to order, but they were made fresh. Each day was a different style. Breakfast #1 was scrambled with tomatoes and onion), plenty of toast n jam, and tea, for me.
Also included on our trip was a cruise around the island ..that may or may not have had the adjective "booze" in front of it. Actually, there were a surprising number of Americans that weren't drinking on the cruise, but that was probably smart. Cliff jumping and swimming in a sea cave probably are not best when combined with alcohol. I refrained from any until after both stops. ...in addition to the jumping and swimming, we stopped at a beach only accessible by boat. (the couple hundred foot cliffs along the beach kinda sorta prevent any road access..)
Got back. Showered. Dinner. Pink Toga Party at the Pink Palace. Dips in the swimming-pool-sized jacuzzi broken up by dips in the sea. Saw people lose their dignity. Questioned whether or not others even brought theirs to Greece. Called it a night.Tuesday Oct 30: Once again, made sure I didn't miss breakfast. Eggs over easy. Ironic considering what I'd witnessed the night before, now that I think about it.
After breakfast, it was time for a 'quad safari' - 6 hours of driving an ATV around the island with a guide. James, Sean, and crew did that the first day, so I was going with the 4 girls. I held off on day 1 because, in the event that weather wouldn't be good enough for a cruise, EuroAdventures was going to pay for a quad safari instead.
The ATVs were awesome. Stopped at a scenic beach. Stopped atop a mountain for lunch, overlooking the entire south half of the island. headed north, up to another mountain where there was a church at the top. Went off-roading a little. Atop a third mountain. A lot more off-roading. Eventually making our way back to the Pink Palace.
Once back, Christoph, our guide, offered to buy all 6 people a shot of ouzo and a drink at the bar. But it turned out I was the only one willing to take the shot of ouzo. The first one must have scared everyone away. After the shot and drink, Christoph offered a second shot of ouzo. Then another. I guess he was going to buy me the shots he would have bought for everyone. 2 drinks, several shots, and an hour later, i headed up the stairs from the bar to my room (my room happened to be right above the bar). I was fine in the bar. Fine on the stairs. Got in my room, decided to shower because I smelled like exhaust. Got in the shower, and all that alcohol hit me like a brick wall. By then, Sean was back in the room. I got dressed, got some fresh air on the balcony, then went to sit on the edge of my bed, waiting for the 8:30 dinner time. It was 7:50.
7:50 - James hurries into the room. "Pack your stuff. We have to leave in 10 minutes." We weren't supposed to leave until 11pm or so. EuroAdventures had the same trip the week before, and the last ferry from Corfu left around 1130, so thats what everyone was expecting. Turns out this week, the last ferry was at 8:30... Surprise! No dinner. They scrambled to get sandwiches for everyone. Sean was nice enough to make sure I didn't forget any of my things (but I had it all already). Grabbed my passport from the front desk. Hopped on the bus. The adventure that was the Pink Palace was over. ...I'm never drinking ouzo again.
After breakfast, it was time for a 'quad safari' - 6 hours of driving an ATV around the island with a guide. James, Sean, and crew did that the first day, so I was going with the 4 girls. I held off on day 1 because, in the event that weather wouldn't be good enough for a cruise, EuroAdventures was going to pay for a quad safari instead.
The ATVs were awesome. Stopped at a scenic beach. Stopped atop a mountain for lunch, overlooking the entire south half of the island. headed north, up to another mountain where there was a church at the top. Went off-roading a little. Atop a third mountain. A lot more off-roading. Eventually making our way back to the Pink Palace.Once back, Christoph, our guide, offered to buy all 6 people a shot of ouzo and a drink at the bar. But it turned out I was the only one willing to take the shot of ouzo. The first one must have scared everyone away. After the shot and drink, Christoph offered a second shot of ouzo. Then another. I guess he was going to buy me the shots he would have bought for everyone. 2 drinks, several shots, and an hour later, i headed up the stairs from the bar to my room (my room happened to be right above the bar). I was fine in the bar. Fine on the stairs. Got in my room, decided to shower because I smelled like exhaust. Got in the shower, and all that alcohol hit me like a brick wall. By then, Sean was back in the room. I got dressed, got some fresh air on the balcony, then went to sit on the edge of my bed, waiting for the 8:30 dinner time. It was 7:50.
7:50 - James hurries into the room. "Pack your stuff. We have to leave in 10 minutes." We weren't supposed to leave until 11pm or so. EuroAdventures had the same trip the week before, and the last ferry from Corfu left around 1130, so thats what everyone was expecting. Turns out this week, the last ferry was at 8:30... Surprise! No dinner. They scrambled to get sandwiches for everyone. Sean was nice enough to make sure I didn't forget any of my things (but I had it all already). Grabbed my passport from the front desk. Hopped on the bus. The adventure that was the Pink Palace was over. ...I'm never drinking ouzo again.
2 comments:
watching people lose their dignity isnt necessarily a bad thing if they're.. gifted, "smart" individuals
Uh oh, an ouzo oops
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