Not all who wander are Lost -GREECE!

I woke up and everyone was still asleep(as usually) so I decided to take a couple minute stroll. Of course this stroll turned into a couple hours because my lack of direction sense had me walking lost in circles. Eventually though, I wandered right to the shore line and sat on the beach for a while by myself. At first, I watched a man fish with his dogs and then once I got bored, I took out my handy dandy notebook and wrote a poem. Here it goes,

Apathetically Lost

At a mental exhaust

I wander with no purpose, no direction

Following the wind for a sign, a suggestion

And as the road intertwines,

Like wild, twisted, vines,

I don’t care about created, artificial time

I follow the map of deep creases engraved on the palm of my hand,

Tracing the lines to discover new land.

But the unknown will eventually grow familiar

And although I embark on this journey without an objection

My breath will focus and come to a stretched instant of perfection.

Swedish Couple

I walked back and found the others just arising from their slumber. We went to the food market which was nice because I bought a lot of nuts and Crete’s famous honey, but the place was also disgusting because there were dead animals hanging everywhere and it smelt like a slaughterhouse! Then we caught a bus and went to Rethymno youth hostel, a colorful, lively place in the middle of a busy town. There were tons of people there from all over the world and an old Swedish couple made me a very interesting soup with fish, vegetables, and yogurt. I met people in the lobby and we all watched Willie Wonka with French subtitles. Ben and I went to explore the surrounding area that looked super old-European with Vinetian style alleyways and antique, tiny shops and cafes. Then we heard Greek/Latin music and were drawn into a small hole-in-the-wall bar and the second we got there, the bartender offered us free shots with a plate of bread and olives! It’s very common in Greece to offer guests free stuff when they walk in to be hospitable and welcoming. Every hostel I’ve been to has also done this convival gesture. 

We came back to the hostel to take a nap, falling asleep to James Taylor. I heard the door open meaning new arrivals, new people to meet! I see an old couple of 60 or 70 stumble in and drop their bags next to our bunk bed. They assumed I was sleeping but with my eyes slightly cracked open, I watched the old lady lip sync along to James Taylor, smiling widely. I fell asleep again and about an hour later when I woke up, I looked over to their bunk bed and I saw them together on the bottom bunk, cuddling and still singing along to gool ol’ James. True Love. Because I’ve never grown up with grandparents, I’ve never seen an old couples intimacy before and so my heart warmed and I couldn’t help but get really giddy and happy. After talking to them later, I learned that instead of having kids, they use their money to travel all around the world together. They made hard boiled eggs and went on a hike. “You guys act like a young couple!” I told them, and they just laughed, held hands, and skipped off like they were heading to a highschool prom.