Well this picture pretty sums up our trip to Aegina. From far left to right there is Marissa, Kelly, Dora, Heather, myself, and our friend Chancey who is in Bette and I's class. We were trying to take a photo of us on the beach in self-timer mode on the camera and we were all running around trying to get into position and Heather and I just collided and our heads banged into each other. It was pretty funny.
This we woke up at 630 (I can't believe that happened) and found it was pouring rain. We were pretty bummed but we just had to suck it up and go. I'm so glad I brought my rain jacket! It does have my letters on it so I got a few weird looks but I was warm and dry! We went to the metro station and rode about 20 minutes to the Port in Pireaus. We then caught our ferry to Aegina. Our ferry was called "The Flying Dolphin" because it's shaped like one and it goes fast. We got there in only 40 minutes! It was sort of shaky like turbulence in the airplane but I liked it, I felt like it was rocking me to sleep. It got a bit awkward when we were boarding because we figured out about 1 minute before we were about to leave that we had assigned seats. And there were three teenage Greeks in ours and they were laughing hysterically (probably at us because we looked like wet miserable dogs) and couldn't understand what we were trying to tell them.
It rained the whole ride there but when we got out the town was so pretty! We decided to go in a cafe and get breakfast and try to wait it out. Sidenote: Greeks, like most Europeans, sit at restaurants FOREVER. This makes getting the check awkward. One of two things will happen: 1) the waiter brings the check out right away in a little shot glass immediately after they take your order and will bring out multiples if you choose to add more to your order or 2) you sit at the table staring at them and flagging them down but they wait until they want you to leave before bringing it to you. I feel like it's so easy just to walk out without paying! Also, apparently the Greek government requires all restaurants/bars/cafes to include a 13% gratuity charge to all of their menu items! So you do not tip! This makes so much sense as to why I feel everything is over priced.
After breakfast we decided to do some shopping and try and wait out the rain. We probably went in to 50 shops today, they were everywhere! The jewelery in Greece is so beautiful! The colors are so bright and the shapes are so unique. I got a very pretty necklace today that is the shape of a C and has clear and blue beads around it all made out of a bronzy material. I'm still looking for my dream piece that involves mother of pearl but I haven't found it yet! I'm holding out for it though, I know it's out there! It was really fun to look at all their style of clothes also.
Aegina is also the postachio capital of the world! They had them EVERYWHERE. There were postachio necklaces, bracelets, ice cream, gellato, candies, postcards, they were in honey, with cream, seasme covered, paste, all over the place! They were very delicious and I bought a small bag to bring home with me.
After that we had a lite lunch and then the sun came out! We hung out at the beach, swam in the crystal clear waters, and laid out on the beach. It was a bit windy but the water was warm and we dried up fast. We then headed to dinner at this cute little cafe but it was only 5:30 so we had a limited menu. No one eats here until at least 730. I chose the Omelette and was really excited but was very disappointed. It was completely covered in grease and I didn't even recognize the egg parts. The filling reminded me of chilli, it was not fresh and just gross. And it came with french fries, which is weird, and they were thick (I don't like potatoes so I only like thin and crispy) and literally soaked in greece. Luckily we had lots of bread and I got a little taste of everyones meal. And I got this really yummy vanilla carmel brownie ice cream cone for dessert.
We walked around a little more and then we headed to the waterfront to wait for the ferry. It was actually a really fun day. It started out rough but we laughed about it and made the best out of it. Then it got pretty so it was great! Our friends from our class, Chancey from North Carolina (She goes to UNC Leann and Glenn!) and Peggy from Conneticuit (She goes to Columbia) were on both the same ferries so we hung out with them all day. They are very sweet and we all got a long really well. I'm so happy meeting all of these great people!
Oh,I almost forgot. Am sure you have noticed my comments on Greek's lack of social tact when it comes to the scripts of American society. Today we noticed a HUGE cultural difference...these people have no sense whatsoever of...lines. It is a foreign concept to them! Not only do they think they have the right of way everywhere whether walking, driving, or mopeding, but they will completely ignore you if you are standing in front of them! This happend to us twice boarding the ferry and waiting to pick up our tickets. We were the first everytime and then someone would just push right past us! So rude. But we made it a running joke and laughed about it.
One more observation: they have no concept of public safety! Just today I noticed a man sitting on a bench next to a moped with this giant white pitbull waiting for someone to get off the ferry. He greeted this woman and then proceeded to put the pitbull ON THE MOPED. Literally, it looked like it was driving. Paws on the handles, feet on the floorboard, sitting in the mans lap. Then the girlfriend sat on the back! Also, something I will never forget, I saw a child who was maybe 18 months old sandwiched BETWEEN his two parents on a moped! I literally screamed out loud I was so horrified. It is a wonder these people live so long. It just shocks me. Maybe I'm just an uptight American. Maybe our society has it all wrong. Maybe we should just throw caution to the wind more often. But, maybe that's why our even failing economy is in loads better shape than theres...maybe.
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