Meteora

4/4/17
I am feeling a little bit too happy after my glass of failed greek wine. Smiles and smiles.

epic fail on the cork and glass, but delicious! 

5/4/17
I set off on today's hike a little nervous and feeling underprepared. As soon as I got out of the city I remembered reading about other solo hikers' encounters with viper snakes. Not only had I forgotten what to do if I encountered one, I'd once again forgotten the greek word for "thank you." A necessity on any trip for getting by. I have been amazed what this single word can do for a person.

As I reached a fork in the road with both trails marked "foot-path" I second guessed my usual choice of the more difficult one. But, I pursued it, and stumbled up several large rocks on my journey as I wondered what sound a viper snake made, if it made any at all. This path was clearly not well marked, and many times I made wrong choices only to reach a dead end 3 minutes later, forced to turn around and wander back. Eventually, I began to reach several clearings, one after another, each with a more spectacular view than the previous. After visiting one, quiet and beautiful monastery I continued on the main road, noting the 3 large tour buses and knowing that the next monastery would not be so calm and secluded.  I stopped to take some photos that showed my perpetual happiness at life and to eat my fruit and nut bar.

As I was eating a man came along and introduced himself as John. He told me he was a baker and pointed out the flour on his hiking boots. We talked briefly through his broken English, and he grabbed my map and pointed out a few hiking trails he highly recommended. Then he said he was headed home to sleep, but would like to meet up for coffee that evening at 7pm. Coffee? at 7pm! "I'll probably be in bed," I told him. I was being totally honest when I said this, knowing that I planned to hike all day and had been dealing with a scratchy throat all morning.  However, I figured he had ulterior motives given he could hardly come up with the English word for evening or night or tomorrow.

Nonetheless we exchanged facebook name info so that we could chat later. I spent some more time enjoying the view and I opted to take a different footpath that I had spotted earlier back to the city, rather than the short route on the road. This happened to be a very well marked footpath that led me back to the original fork in the road where I chose the less worn route. I sat down on a rock and found myself wondering why I am such an introvert, closed off to experiences that present themselves to me. Experiences like a coffee with some random Greek dude who hardly speaks English.

I arrived back at the hostel, exhausted, only find the hostel owner (who owns another hostel in another city and basically put me in charge of this one for 2 days) opening the door with bags of groceries in her hand. Her car had broken down and she was waiting for repairs. She fed me cheese sandwiches and marmalade and asked about my hike. I was exhausted, and yet I left again for another hike that was pointed out by John.

On this hike I had a conversation with myself about peoples' perceptions of the world: perceptions are influenced by our senses, and we all sense the world in a different way. Therefore no experience in life can be re-created, or enjoyed the same be 2 people. Every moment is different for each person. I know this isn't a new concept, but suddenly was mind-boggled by it.

After my day of hiking I eventually headed back to the city, ate some lamb kebabs, chugged 6 glasses of water, had a glass of wine and slept clear through until the morning. Content and exhausted by my day in nature and my confusion about myself and who I am.

Totally scared of heights. 

6/4/17
This world is so spectacularly amazing that I will never be able to stop.
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I saw the cutest family today. As they looked out at the monastery the little girl looked up and smiled at her dad. As she did so, he said "That is a spectacular princess castle." I guess...anything to get the kids excited about travel.

7/4/17
Train rides are seldom long enough for all the thoughts I want to have while on them.