My Own Personal Bus

In the last few days we spent in Como, many exciting things happened. We went to Switzerland and bought amazingly cheap luxury items, we went shopping at the market in Como where I got an "imitation leather" jacket, and Marco and Ila got engaged.

Sorry if I was the one to break the news to you, but if you didn't know already, you must be unreachable.

Yes, it was lovely. We had it all planned out. (Marco and I) We were walking up to this really old lighthouse looking over Como. At some point, Marco would tell me to go take some "photographs" and I would wait about 1 minute and then emerge, taking pictures of the whole proposal. Ila didn't really know what was going on, and didn't even realize that I was behind her taking pictures. Her reaction was an obvious yes, and she promptly started... sweating.

These are classic Ila reactions. She either sweats, or she doesn't get it. For instance, Marco and I were talking about how during the war his Nona would walk to Switzerland for work and every time she would come back 'pregnant.' Then we talked about how she would sell the cigarettes she smuggled in to other people. Well, Ila didn't really understand. After a few confused moments she asked, "How many kids does your Grandma have?"

So then on Tuesday evening, Marco and Ila went to the hospital to tell Nona about their engagement. She was happy for them for about 25 seconds and then started complaining about the nurses. She is a hellion.

That night we went out to have ice cream and celebrate my last night with the Koalas. Ila got nervous, another classic reaction, and ordered Straciacella and Crema Nutella. She actually managed to not order completely disgusting food but those are still Nona-flavors.

Wednesday morning arrived. I finished packing and we headed to Milano airport. I said goodbye and jumped in the queue for Alitalia to Athens. Nothing exciting happened on that flight but when I got to Athens I have a regional flight booked to Santorini. After waiting for a couple of hours, I was about to board my plane when the flight attendant told me I needed a paper ticket. Apparently the bonehead who checked me in didn't make sure I had it with me and just processed me anyway. I didn't have an e-ticket which meant I was out of luck. After nervous waiting for about 15 minutes and our bus to our flight heading to the plane, we zipped back up to the Olympic Airlines desk and I was issued another ticket. I don't know what angel was on my shoulder for that one. But after all that, I was given my own personal bus. I have always wondered what people had to do to get their own private shuttle to their plane.

Uugh.

A short skip down to Thira and then I got in a Mercedes Benz cab to my hostel. I am in a room with 3 other girls, 2 from Canada and 1 Aussie. I think today I am going to Perissa Beach, which is black sand. It is supposed to be 200 m from the hostel but I hear it is a 10-minute walk. I guess they judged the distance according to a turtle.

On another note, Maggie Fezekas and I are going to be doing up Athens in a couple weeks! Crazy excited for that. I think tomorrow I will go on a day trip to the Volcano, swim in a caldera (I just love volcanoes!) and watch the famous sunset at Oia. What a life!