Ohh, Dear Me

After a couple weeks in England with my family, it was time to start the real solo journey, and the first stop: Athens.

Greece has been in my top three bucket list for I don’t even know how long. Not only because it looks stunning, and I love me some feta cheese – but because of my uncle.

Gary was not just the most influential person in my life from age 12 – 20, but he was my favorite person. The first person I felt that completely saw me, as if translucent. When he died in 2008, at fifty-two years young, I died right along with him. But I’ll save my thoughts on grief for a later post – because I’ve got a lot to say about that.

This one is about Greece.

Gary loved Greek mythology. Like, he loveddd it. I grew up with so many memories of him telling me all the Greek myths, the gods and goddesses, and how so much of our life originated from ancient Greece. I’ve never not thought of Gary when I think of Greece for that very reason alone.

So, I knew that when I decided to do this big ol’ adventure of mine, Greece was top of the list to get to. And I was not about to go to Greece and not go to Athens.

Here’s how those four days in Athens went:

Flew into Athens Airport where I had a booked taxi waiting for me.

20-minute ride to my hostel – Athens Backpackers. This place was such a vibe. Clean, free Wi-Fi, large storage, free breakfast (which, when you’re hosteling it, a free breakie is like striking gold), and the kicker was it had a roof top bar with an insane view of the Acropolis where I proceeded to drink every night I was there.

Because my flight was delayed and I didn’t get in until late, by the time I checked into the hostel, it was like 12:30 am. So, I just needed a shower, charge my phone, and go to bed – in that order. I ate a protein bar from the vending machine for dinner and called it a night. But the next morning is when the trajectory of my trip to Athens would change.

There was a youngish girl at breakfast that looked like she was maybe a little stressed out – a little unwell, shall we say, which is the term I’ve coined for my mental state lately. But I was eating my delicious lil’ spread (apparently, I’m a Nutella girly) when she asked me if I spoke English. She was from Leeds, England (a great accent, btw).

Poor thing had fallen the day before, broke her phone, and broke her spirits in the process – and her 25th birthday was the next day! Needless to say, she used my phone to figure some things out and a few hours later, she had a phone and my number. She said that a few others that were staying at the hostel and herself were going to this view point that night to watch the sunset over the city. She invited me. I said yes.

Until then, I walked around Athens for what seemed like miles, and then decided I needed to just sit my ass down for some feta and Aperol. That’s exactly what I did. There was a restaurant I had been stalking on Instagram for months in Athens and I walked right up to it, internally freaking out that I was going to get to eat here. It was called Athinas, and it did not disappoint. I ordered tzatziki and pita bread, a Greek salad (which does not include lettuce, btw), and a chicken gyro plate. Oh, and also two Aperol Spritz’s – obviously.

IT WAS BLISSFUL.

A few hours later, I met up with my future friends and we started walking together to the viewpoint, which was called Mount Lycabettus. It took some walking, a taxi ride, and a bit of a trek uphill, but when we got there, it was the most stunning view of the whole city. We got some drinks and stayed there until after the sunset. By this time, it was clear that we all got on really well and had been laughing and sharing stories. I couldn’t believe that when I woke up that morning, I didn’t know these people existed, and now we’re sharing laughter as if we’ve known each other for years. This is perhaps one of the best things about traveling: meeting people and seeing places that you didn’t know existed. It makes life beautiful.

The next day we all did our separate things during the day. I went on a walking tour of Acropolis. I booked it through the app Get Your Guide. It was $100 for a guided tour that included the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Acropolis Museum, which included tickets to get into them. It was the most informative four hours I think I’ve ever had.

When I was at the top, surrounded by some of the oldest buildings and architecture, with so much history screaming through the marble and cobblestone, I thought of Gary. Tears filled my eyes, and I quickly became “that girl” that was crying on a walking tour in Athens. It dawned on me that he was with me. He was never able to go to Athens, or Greece, but while I’m here, so is he. I’m taking him on this adventure of mine, and he would be so proud of me. Proud of me for taking life full on while I have it. This day was for him and I’m still emotional just thinking back on it.

I met up with my new friends later that night at the rooftop bar and had the best night – again.

The next morning I woke up to the best news: I received my first college degree. like, WHAT!? My Associates of Arts degree, majoring in English, and with honors. When I say that I bawled my eyes out alone in my little hostel, I REALLY DID. I instantly thought of my uncle, yet again, because of just how much work he had put into my education. Like I said, when he died, so did I, and along with that, so did my education. I didn’t think I’d ever go back to school after he died, but fourteen years later, I did. So, earning this degree was a big deal. A real big fucking deal. He’d be so proud of me for that, too. Hell, I’m proud of me.

The rest of the day I ironically finished up my English final for my summer class (because your girl is going after a BA, and I might be on a big ol’ travelling trip, but I’m not wasting any time reaching my goals) But this third full day in Athens was just to chill and take it easy, no plans. Those days are incredibly needed when on the go and traveling everywhere. Just a little bit of a recharge. But I met up with the girlies again and went to dinner to celebrate our last night (and a few hook ups of theirs and my recently earned associate’s degree).

We cheersed to no longer being UNWELL, and to making awesome friendships, and to traveling the world.

The night ended early and sober because I had to get up super early to get my ferry for the next bit of my adventure.

Because next up: CRETE, Greece.