Michael's Journey

Hey all, sorry i haven't posted in ages, I've been really busy and my aunt and uncles computer has been hit with no less than six trojan virusses so emailing has been a challenge, hope you all are well. I'm staying withmy aunt and uncle on corfu and I'm having a wonderful time. I've been to some really beautiful beaches (lost count now) Sadari one of the main tourist towns, the Island across the bay from Corfu town (the main town on the island) I've helped out a bit collecting walnuts and i'm generally having a good time,( devouring books)[so far i've read the da vinci code, some guts and glory flying story, coastliners, and i'm busy picking at 'the history of art' and a greek mythology book, I'm 2/3 of the way through angels and demons, so yeah i'm having a good time. My uncle Yanni left tonight for athens, he is going to do some work on their flat in athens inbetween tenants. ANyway take care all.

asta la vista; Mike

PS i'm gonna try up load some more photos

Well I left Athens on the 18th with great difficulty, I had, through travellerspoint, found out that one of the best ways to get from Athens to Corfu was to take the metro to a certain train station, then cath the train to the coastal town of Patra and then catch the ferry to Corfu (overnight departing at midnight and arriving at 7am the next morning). So i tried this, I caught the metro only to be told that I had to catch a bus to the train station, what i wasn't expecting that! went outand could see the train staion across the road, went there, asked for a ticket to Patra, the ticket lady said "ask information" so i go to what i thought was information
(from her pointing and the sign) and ask again, no "ask information" what! I thought this was info, no I'm wrong, eventually I ask at the information desk, the guy starts writing in greek on this piece of scrap paper, I have almost no idea of what he is saying but pick up that I have to catch a bus to another train station and some vague direction. Well I manage to get the directions wrong, walk for ages realise I'm not in the right place, ask someone for help, "no go this way" ask someone else "no you must got to the train station". It's raining on me, I'm fed up, the roads are bumpy and wet so I'm carrying my bag on my back, the uncomfortable straps gnawing their way into my collar bones and shoulders. In short i'm pretty pissed off at everything by now, I must look like a madman, mumbling to myself, cursing and changing direction every two minutes. I eventually found a bus, that I thought that was the right one, no it's the right bus but the wrong direction, so now after riding the bus I'm hopelessly far from my destination and my starting point (in the meantime i had been back to the train station, and read the sign saying that the train route was changed on the 8/8/2005 and where I was supposed to go (and what bus I was supposed to take)) so after trying three different bus stops I find on that the bus I'm to catch will stop at, shortly after the bus arrives, I get on, ask if i'm going the right way, I still have no idea as the local english is so bad, I go up the front to ask the driver and lo anf behold it's the same guy as earlier who speaks almost no english but his friend assures me after a bit of unwanted laughing that they will get me to the right place for free, which they did. I do not wish that experience on anyone (maybe bush, but then he'd be likely to bomb greece so maybe not)
I found the station, booked my ticket, waited, ate and caught the train, then had trouble finding my seat and stowing my huge luggage. but it was a nice train ride and lots of lovely views, I mainly listened to my music for the 3.5 hour ride and arrived in Patra with 5 hours to spare, so found the ferry operator that issued tickets to corfu, bought one, and found the gate I was to board at, got some dinner and waited, I ended up boarding at about 10:30 when I saw a tour group board. Anyway, to cut a longer story shorter I had booked a place on the deck (unbeknownst to me), with plastic chairs and no-where to sleep unless you brought your own sleeping roll and sleeping bag, which I didn't assuming we'd have chairs, I complained that I wasn't informed, got moved inside to the 'air-type' seats and ended up sleeping on the floor anyway, I got up at six, listened to music, waited for the sunrise which didn't come or when it did was hidden. and got picked up from the ferry by my aunt and uncle.

So far Corfu has been great, We've been once to the olive groves to water some plants, been to Sadari, a tourist area to visit friends, went swimming through a cave fromed by the sea, went snorkeling at liapades beach, read a small book in less than 24 hours, started readingthe da vinci code, went out to a buffet dinner and greek dancing (no plate smashing yet) And lots of relaxing.

Ok hope you are all well, Mike

Wassup, I went sight seeing today, my hotel is quite close to the Acropolis, so I bought a ticket to go and see it and all the building/sites surrounding it. It was great, awesome to see such old and magnificent buildings, just thinking about how they could have built those structures baffles me. I only wish that I could have seen it in it's original state and without the tourists. the weather was lousy and it began to rain (only lightly thankfully) while I at the rear of the parthenon. The statues and carvings in the acropolis museum were great, I forgot to turn the flash off on my camera and got a telling off from security, oh well. The Theatres at the base were very impressive and must have been wonderful to act on and to watch from. I would have really liked to have seen the Odeum from the inside but for some reason it was closed (apparently they have performances there, so it wasn't to protect it :s )
I also went to see the Temple of Olympian Zues and the Arch of Hadrian, the Temple is only really 16 pillars now but they are so huge and there were 104 of them, I tried to think of how they might have constructed it but couldn't come up with a plausible answer. I also went to go and see the national historical museum, with exibits dating from 1453 (fall of Constanstinople) to the 20th century, It was really good (got a bit repetitive though, but then histrory repeats itself doesn't it?) I laughed when I was looking in a cabinet of weapons and other military equipment and saw a pocket knife, a simple precursor to the swiss army knife in my backpack.
So far thens hasn't been bad, still just a city, but I like it way more than bangkok. The flea market I walked through was quite interesting lots of stalls selling army style clothing, bags, sleeping bags, hat everything, it's certainly weird seeing that trend throughout the world, i've seen it at Auckland uni, Thailand and now Greece. I thought to myself what historians in 100s of years might think if there was some natural disaster that preserved it all as is.
Anyway i've taken a whole roll of film today, it's currently being processed. I think when I get to my relatives in Corfu I will spend a LOT of time uploading photos (should their computer and connection allow it) otherwise you'll all have to wait eagerly
I will try and start getting to Corfu tomorrow, I have to catch a metro to the main station, then a train to the port and then a ferry that leaves at midnight to arrive at corfu the next morning. I don't feel like staying in athen much longer.
Ok I might post agin when I get my photos.

Hey all i've arrived in Athens and I am currently seeking accomodation, it looks like it's going to be more expensive than I anticipated but oh well, i don't have much choice, hopefully I can find a place that has a bed available. Ok going now to find a place, love you all.
Mike

Hey all i'm back in bangkok after another 12hour trian ride, i hardly got any sleep because I didn't fully trust my new alarm clock to wake me up before my stop. I'm having an ok birthday, I can't type much now as i'm going to meet Claire for lunch/breakfast now.
Love you all, (I fly for Greece tomorrow yay! SCARY)