leaving today

I'm leaving the country
I'm leaving today
I'm bound for nowhere
And nowhere I'll stay
It's not a vacation
It's no holiday
I'm leaving the country
I'm leaving today

A greek tragedy, I imagine my part
There's where I'll find
The pieces of my, my broken heart

I'm leaving the country
I'm leaving today

I still can't believe I'll be getting on a plane in a few hours.  It never quite sets in until I've stepped into the airport in Athens and turn around to face the giant picture window view of the hills that ring the city.  Then it becomes real. 

You become aware of different things when traveling - especially in Greece.  Your consciousness shifts as you struggle to take it all in - while remembering  to always say yiasou (hello) and efcharisto (thank you), which back streets get you to the Acropolis faster, and that you can't flush the toilet paper.  That water is cheap and good, fresh cherries from street vendors make excellent snacks, and that I prefer my frappe gleeka meghala - very sweet with milk.  You learn to ignore the street vendors bellowing "pretty American girls" as you walk down the street, remember to look up and admire the balconies often brimming with flowers and character, and will stop for a blackberry slushie on the way to the gyro man on Andrianou. 

It all comes back so naturally.  Muttering signome (I'm sorry) on the streets as you push past Hellenes and tourists alike becomes second nature.  My internal sense of direction kicks in and I'll spend afternoons weaving through the back alleys, exploring my favorite parts of the city - finding favored shops and eateries, knowing which kiosks will have Milko and Amita available.  Three summers of memories will flood back in, and it will feel like I had never left.  And then I'll get to spend another few weeks showing a few special people how this beautiful country managed to steal my heart.

I won't be nervous any more now.  Even if things don't go as planned - at least this time tomorrow, we'll be in Greece.  

We won't have internet until Wednesday at the earliest, but I'll post an update about flights/Rhodes as soon as possible.  And check flickr, as it will definitely be kept updated with photos. 

~RLM
Rosebud - Leaving the Country

Update on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 04:47PM by rachellake

So, about that whole leaving thing.

It has been a very long day. Due to the fact that it rained in Philadelphia today, they wouldn't let anyone fly in.  Ridiculously long story, short: I spent two hours on hold with airline representatives whom thought my leaving on Friday was a perfectly logical solution to the problem.  Then Wes drove me out to the airport to see if the desk staff could fix anything, and after spending an hour with a very nice lady - I am booked on a flight for tomorrow morning.  I'll fly to Philly, spend a few hours there, fly to Frankfurt, Germany, spend about 6 hours there, fly to Athens, and then fly to Rhodes to meet the rest of the group. 

Sonia's flights were also canceled, but she managed to get rearranged onto flights out today - so she is on her way.  She'll meet up with the boys in Athens tomorrow and they will take the ferry as planned.

So actually, despite the craziness of this morning, this may actually work out in my favor - I don't have to spend 16 hours on a ferry!

~RLM