And now, Sicily. Specifically, Messina, the port that just about kisses the toe of the Italian boot. It’s a very short hop over to the mainland… which is why Messina has the dubious distinction of being the conduit of the Black Plague into Europe in the 1340s - well, that and the idea this place … Continue reading Muzzles and Clamps
We were getting ready for our kayaking trip to Montenegro when the announcement from the captain came over the speaker outside the cabin. Not, however, inside. Not being sufficiently covered to open the door and not wanting to traumatize the room steward, I didn’t crack it open to hear better. Much like placing a McDonald’s … Continue reading “…passengers left behind in Santorini…”
Welp. In addition to needing to know how to say eff-Harry’s-toe, today I realized I needed another phrase. Σιγά το διάολο! No idea how to pronounce it. However, it means “Slow the f😳ck down!!” The taxi driver, paid through Uber, received a set rate to get us from the flat to the port. Ergo, it … Continue reading Up the cliffs
The Hellenic post office is a trip. The US Postal Service could learn a few things. There’s a take-a-number machine at the entrance, electronic, into which you say what service you need. The machine politely spits out a number. I can’t actually read it, but I get the general idea. Then, much like the DMV, … Continue reading Details of daily life in Athens… the Grecian way…
We hired a driver for the day who managed to nightbus that Peugeot through the skinniest spaces. It was an extravagance for what we usually do - I like public transit and going like a local, so we’re usually traipsing around on busses and the like as I giggle with glee at how much we’re … Continue reading “Are you sure you can fit through there…?” I muttered at the driver.
We’re staying in Plaka, one of the oldest, most touristy neighborhoods in Athens… it’s an AirBnB in a building built not in any century of which I’ve been a part. Our neighborhood. Shops on the ground floor, apartments above. We’re on the 4th floor (European 4th… American 5th) and mercifully there’s an elevator. Elevators, like … Continue reading Elevators in Athens and Prince Harry’s tootsies…
Holy god. Remind me to never drive in Greece. Apparently the white stripes on the road are a mere suggestion to be ignored. The taxi driver, who greeted us in English, displayed his entire command of the language in one brief sentence. “Is okay I get them” when faced with our luggage. Not that I’m … Continue reading He drives like an intoxicated wombat.
I know not everyone has the advantage I do… Granny. Every afternoon without fail (unless God’s doing the watering), she’s out there with a hose. Our garden has never looked so amazing. Back in March she and I went to Tomatomania and I bought five “cherry tomatoes”: Bosque Blue Bumblebee (yellow with blue shoulders), Stripes … Continue reading The Tomato Report
We went to Costco, the only one in NZ. I like going to Costco in various countries, they often have large sizes of the good stuff to take home. Who’s familiar with Freddos? Hah, I got a giant bag. Once again, though, no damn Smarties, but they had tubs of M&Ms - I do NOT … Continue reading Before departing New Zealand…
I can handle the reversal of the car - it’s not a total mirror image, as the pedals are in the same place. So is the manual gear box, but this one’s automatic. However, in this particular vehicle (a hybrid Toyota Corolla), the indicator is on the right, not the left. Every minute or two … Continue reading Driving on the left side isn’t the problem.
Examining Misadventures 