Homeward Bound

Even though we don’t fly out until tomorrow morning, I feel like this is really the end. There is nothing new left to see and we are headed back to where it all began – Athens. So it’s safe to say we are on our way home. We’ve come full circle.

At the moment, I’m writing this on the hydrofoil – the “Highspeed 3” – from Santorini to Athens. We got up at 8:10 this morning and our group of girls took the ATVs down to Mama’s House for breakfast. It was really chaotic in town for so early in the morning. We parked our ATVs and saw police everywhere, pulling cars over, writing tickets. But we were determined to enjoy our last few hours in Santorini.

Mama herself greeted us at the door and sat us outside. She was a funny, old, typical Greek woman who immediately told us that she was taking the day off to move into a new house. She called us “sex bombs”; what a sweet lady. The food was fantastic, but the mood a little tense. As we were waiting for our food, Sarah ran up to check on our ATVs and saw a couple of our friends pulled over by the cops. The rest of us at the restaurant heard lots of yelling and hitting of some sort. Everyone was panicking because the ATVs were blocked in but had to be returned by 10 AM. It was all very stressful, but I still enjoyed my omelet, hash browns, and fresh OJ.

The ATV situation worked out fine and we checked out of the hotel, luggage in tow, to get the bus down to the port. Our boat was an hour late – not fun to stand in the sun for that long. I was sweating buckets. Then chaos ensued once again because of the European disregard for what the rest of the world calls a line. Masses of people flooded the boat and we were herded into the lower deck where all of the cars are parked for transport. A bunch of men yelling translated to putting our own suitcases in a random corner. I’m crossing my fingers that it’s still there in five hours, but since it’s at the very bottom I might just get that lucky.

This hydrofoil is so much better than the last! It’s absolutely huge with three levels. Six of us are seated across from each other by a table and there are TVs, nice bathrooms, and two full food/drink bars. It’s very comfortable so I’m about to get situated for a nice long nap ...

... The hydrofoil ride wasn't too bad at all. I ate my PB&J, talked, slept, attempted to sleep, listened to music, and started my new book, The Time Traveler's Wife -- because I saw that the movie is coming out soon and it looks really good. Because we'd left 45 minutes late, we didn't arrive at the Piraeus port until 5 PM (4h. 15m. travel time). The exit process wasn't nearly as stressful as the boarding hours earlier.

We were shuffled onto a private charter bus by our guide-of-the-moment, Robert, who had a lovely Scottish accent we were privileged to listen to for the 25 minute drive. We are staying at Hotel Arethusa just like last time, so it's a bit of deja vu. Sarah and I are in the room right next to where we stayed back in that first week.

I went out with some of the girls to get Katula a framed group picture since he's been an awesome professor. Then I broke off on my own to shop around for some last minute food for everyone at home. I have two large bags of goodies, so everyone better be ready to taste test! At 9 PM, we all met as a group of 22 for the last time to have dinner together. We went back to the trattoria in the plaka -- the third time for most of us. It was really nice though, and Niki, who toured with us in the Peleponnese, even joined!

Sarah and I did our usual "halfsies" of Greek salad and cheese pizza. We all did a big "stinyammas" (the word for toast or cheers) to Katula and our trip over some wine. It was so funny to see how far we've come since that first dinner when we didn't know each other. We had to say our first of many goodbyes - to Meghan, who is heading to Germany with family. It was sad! Endings are always so bittersweet.

We talked about going out for a sangria, but most of us still need to pack, and that wake up call is coming at 4:30 AM - just about four hours from now. I'm having such mixed feelings! I'm so grateful for this amazing experience because it's been the time of my life ... so sad it's already over ... so happy about the people I've met ... yet so excited to go home.

Home. I think this month has given new meaning to that word. It’s such a great experience to be immersed in another culture for a period of time and really open your eyes to other parts of the world, but at the end of the day, it also makes you appreciate your own culture. I miss orderly lines, English language, my TV shows, security as a pedestrian, guys who dance at clubs, non-nude beaches, HYGIENE ...

It's going to be a long journey.
7:30 AM Athens --> Madrid
3 hour layover
Madrid --> Boston, arrive 3:30 PM
4 hour layover
Boston --> Philadelphia
1 hour layover
Philadelphia --> Cincinnati, arrive 11:45 PM

A full 24 hours of travel.
Wish me luck!