A true path follows no plan…

O.M.Frigging G! (as an Aussie mate of mine would say!) I am unexpectedly sat in a bar in Mykonos, not Athens, which was the original destination. I jumped ship. Not in an overboard, drowning, throw a lifeline type of scenario, rather more one of those “stop the ride I want to get off before I spew” moments!

I was warned the weather was bad before I left Santorini, when I booked my ticket this morning, but as I’d been on a few ferries recently I know I’m ok sat outside, breathing in fresh air and looking at the horizon. Well, that’s all good if you’re not on the Superjet 2 fast ferry to Athens in waters that make that TV series about fishermen look calm!!!! Ok, I wasn’t quite being thrown around like a Trawler man trying to get the catch of the day, but it was very similar to being on a rollercoaster. I don’t like rollercoasters. I was trapped inside that rocking boat for the whole journey, no outside deck, the gross smell of engine fumes, being swayed up and down, left and right, backwards, forwards, all while sitting in a chair, not that that helped to balance me out……….bluergh! I made it through 3 hours and when we pulled in to Mykonos the sight of dry, solid land was too much to resist. I grabbed my bags and legged it! Athens tomorrow maybe, if it’s not stormy….

I have had a pain in the arse day today. I got up, had breakie, chatted to Irini the breakfast chef lady and she told me about Maltese Church. It is in the small village of Imerovigli, which is roughly between Fira, with the Caldera view, and Ía and the sunset view. I would head there on the bus and walk back.

I wrote some cards and wrapped a pressie I needed to send off, went to the post office and did the parcel thing, then missed the bus! I went for a juice and waited half an hour for the next bus.

I finally got to Imerovigli, walked up the hill to find the church and wow! What a view. I went in to this cool bar which has lounges looking out over the whole thing, got my camera out and…….no memory card in the bloody thing! Argh!!! I was so annoyed with myself as I knew exactly where it was – still in my laptop from transferring pics yesterday. There was no way I was doing the hours walk back along the cliff top to Fira without a working camera to get some shots. Off I trekked to the bus stop, waited best part of another half an hour, back to Fira, walked to the hotel, sorted out my laundry (oh so glamorous but needed as I’m down to my last clean top and pair of pants!) By this time it was about 2.30pm and I had kind of lost the will to go back to the village. I decided to get a pedicure, as my feet were need of some TLC, and the nails are back on girls! I’ve tried and tried but mine won’t grow!!!!!

So after all of that, and freezing my bits off when I left the little spa place, as it was blowing a gale, I went back to my room, got out the Uggs and hoody and went for dinner. I had read about a place called Mama’s House, and the local barman had mentioned it. It’s reasonabley priced, decent Greek food so I thought I’d give it a go. I was hungry and cold, and when I got there people were waiting for tables. This is about the only time I think it is advantageous to be alone when eating out as you get straight in for a table for one! I was sat next to an older American guy, he was on his Ipad and I asked for the code as I was hoping to type away before and after dinner, he was pleasant and chatty without being intrusive (unlike an American woman on my first day here who, while me and other customers were all enjoying the view and our wines and food she screeched on like Lois out of The Family Guy telling everyone who could hear where she’d been and when and why!!!) I had Moussaka again, ordered a tea as I was cold, the bread came out within 2 minutes, quickly followed by the Moussaka and I munched away between chats to the American. The wifi went off, and when I asked the waiter he said it goes off when they’re busy. Mr USA reckoned they switch it off so people don’t hang around. I needed to ask for my green tea after I’d finished my meal as it hadn’t materialised but it came out super quick. The waiter then asked if I wanted anything else or just the bill. I said maybe dessert, but then decided against it. I had just poured my cuppa. My neighbour had finished his meal and drink and we said goodbyes, only after, at the most, 30 minutes since I had sat down. As he got up from the table the manger / owner guy came over and made a big song and dance about how he was leaving and thank you for understanding that they were people waiting. There were people waiting. It looked like small groups of 3 or 4 needing a larger table so I asked the Greek guy if he would like me to move from the table of 4, which I had shared with the American, over to a small table where there was only one seat. His reply was that I could move or stay as I was, it was all the same, it didn’t help unless I went!!! I had my full cup of tea in front of me, and as the wifi had gone I was sorting through photographs on my laptop. I politely told him I had literally just finished eating and was drinking my tea, his response was basically that it didn’t matter and maybe other people would be so kind as to understand he needed tables!!! He was abrupt, and rude, and slightly intimidating, if you’re not a bit feisty and a Hospitality worker of 20 years! He then bluntly told me that they were not an internet café and it was no good waiting for the wifi to come back on!!!! I was furious. It seems any lass sitting in jeans and a hoody must automatically be a penny pinching, “free” wifi grabbing traveller / backpacker / gypsy / no good person fit enough to frequent his establishment. My response to him, in a firm, slightly raised voice was – “I am not waiting for your wifi, you have probably switched it off, and I will finish my tea before I leave, and can only say it’s a good thing I won’t be coming back!” The American laughed, we wished each other a happy rest-of-your-holiday greeting and the grumpy Greek git pissed off to the kitchen. And then I sat there and looked at some photos, sorted some, pretended to sort others, slowly topped up my cup with hot water, sipped,  faffed, generally stalled until I was bored, then eventually asked for the bill. The waited who served me was actually lovely and helpful, but stressed, and when I left the bill with a 50c tip I loudly told him, in front of the git “This is for you, not him. Thank you, good night!!!!!!”

I ended up at Pygros yesterday, it is the 2nd highest spot on the island. It was a grey, windy day, definitely not beach weather so I wandered around all the streets high up the hillside.

I went across to Ía today, as I said in my earlier post. It was gorgeous and there was so much to look at!!

And just to prove I’m actually here…….