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Jul. 17th, 2006 06:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selene_13I came back yesterday from a holiday to the Greek island Kos, where I spent a week's time of catching sun (am nicely tan now), swimming in the Mediterranean and tasting plenty of teh cocktails (which are pricey but worth it) and good food (which is cheap and worth it). I am probably the biggest geek ever though for being most exited about bringing lots of reading material and sinking right into that. My books were the first thing I selected and packed (then I had to take them out again and pack other stuff first because it wouldn't all fit in).
Kos was fine, but a bit too party-centric for me. It's main city (aptly called Kos city) has a nice centre, with archaeological sites and quaint inner streets lined with shops (that sell all kinds of crap and some good stuff like olive oils), but also a busy bar street and proppers everywhere trying to coach/lure/bother you into their establishment, and they were a pest about taking no for an answer either ("Why not? Come here tomorrow then. Where are you from? What's your name?). After a week's worth, it got to be very annoying. The beaches were extremely busy and loud too. Every beachbar had a stereosystem, and they all blared the latest disco music (which would be less annoying if they didn't all play different songs so they become a mesh of indistinct booming noise gyrating over the strand). Best thing to do was get a bike and cycle outside the city to the nicer, more relaxed beaches, or take a boat trip.
On the other hand, we also met many nice people waiting at restaurants who were willing to talk without strings and tell us about the Greek and the island. On their recommendation we visited the Asclepion, an excavation of a classic hospital and refuge ruin from ancient Geek time. My friend and I rented bikes and went there with the idea to visit the beach after. We missed our turn in the road though, and didn't figure out until we were almost half way up the mountain that we were not cycling in the right direction. Then we had to bike a mile on a freeway to get our right turn, which was scary. These islanders do not like to work with streetsigns apparently... Sweat-soaked and exhausted, we finally made it to the beach. It was worth it though; a very beautiful, almost abandoned beach with high, blue waves and the islands beyond rising from the mist. Great for topless suntanning too. ;)
When I arrived back home I found the weather had been beautifully hot; a heat wave really (and I live near the beach there too, so everyone and their dog migrates to bask on the sandy shores). When you've been away for a holiday to the tropics, you just want to hear that it rained everyday at home (which it usually does in Holland), so people will cry out "you look so tan, where did you go for your holiday!" when they see you. Ah, well.
I am worried that I am getting more scared of flying as I grow older. The first time I went on an airplane (I was about fifteen) it was the greatest adventure ever. Now, after ten more years and many, many more flights, a bit of turbulence or a funny sound is enough to sit me up straight, with big scared eyes, looking to see if the wing isn't on fire and if the attendants aren't looking particularly nervous (which they never do). I wouldn't let this sort of fear stop me from travelling (give me the world!), but it's frustrating nonetheless. I know where it stems from, sort of (the fact that I have no control over the aircraft or the outcome of a flight), but this heightenened sense of mortality I've been having lately doesn't change anything except making me feel crappy during a flight. Those flying with me turn into very solicitous rocks however. Bless 'em.
Ps. Next post I'm reviewing the books I read. Cause I want to.
Ps. Since the entire world has already seen Pirates 2, it's about time for me to go see it too! Can't wait to see where the rum's gone.
Ps. My brother failed to tape the 2 eps of the LOST season 2 finale for me. Much wailing and hair-pulling ensues.
Ps. Why must all my friends be schoolteachers? I'm the only one who has no summer break.
Kos was fine, but a bit too party-centric for me. It's main city (aptly called Kos city) has a nice centre, with archaeological sites and quaint inner streets lined with shops (that sell all kinds of crap and some good stuff like olive oils), but also a busy bar street and proppers everywhere trying to coach/lure/bother you into their establishment, and they were a pest about taking no for an answer either ("Why not? Come here tomorrow then. Where are you from? What's your name?). After a week's worth, it got to be very annoying. The beaches were extremely busy and loud too. Every beachbar had a stereosystem, and they all blared the latest disco music (which would be less annoying if they didn't all play different songs so they become a mesh of indistinct booming noise gyrating over the strand). Best thing to do was get a bike and cycle outside the city to the nicer, more relaxed beaches, or take a boat trip.
On the other hand, we also met many nice people waiting at restaurants who were willing to talk without strings and tell us about the Greek and the island. On their recommendation we visited the Asclepion, an excavation of a classic hospital and refuge ruin from ancient Geek time. My friend and I rented bikes and went there with the idea to visit the beach after. We missed our turn in the road though, and didn't figure out until we were almost half way up the mountain that we were not cycling in the right direction. Then we had to bike a mile on a freeway to get our right turn, which was scary. These islanders do not like to work with streetsigns apparently... Sweat-soaked and exhausted, we finally made it to the beach. It was worth it though; a very beautiful, almost abandoned beach with high, blue waves and the islands beyond rising from the mist. Great for topless suntanning too. ;)
When I arrived back home I found the weather had been beautifully hot; a heat wave really (and I live near the beach there too, so everyone and their dog migrates to bask on the sandy shores). When you've been away for a holiday to the tropics, you just want to hear that it rained everyday at home (which it usually does in Holland), so people will cry out "you look so tan, where did you go for your holiday!" when they see you. Ah, well.
I am worried that I am getting more scared of flying as I grow older. The first time I went on an airplane (I was about fifteen) it was the greatest adventure ever. Now, after ten more years and many, many more flights, a bit of turbulence or a funny sound is enough to sit me up straight, with big scared eyes, looking to see if the wing isn't on fire and if the attendants aren't looking particularly nervous (which they never do). I wouldn't let this sort of fear stop me from travelling (give me the world!), but it's frustrating nonetheless. I know where it stems from, sort of (the fact that I have no control over the aircraft or the outcome of a flight), but this heightenened sense of mortality I've been having lately doesn't change anything except making me feel crappy during a flight. Those flying with me turn into very solicitous rocks however. Bless 'em.
Ps. Next post I'm reviewing the books I read. Cause I want to.
Ps. Since the entire world has already seen Pirates 2, it's about time for me to go see it too! Can't wait to see where the rum's gone.
Ps. My brother failed to tape the 2 eps of the LOST season 2 finale for me. Much wailing and hair-pulling ensues.
Ps. Why must all my friends be schoolteachers? I'm the only one who has no summer break.
