The Coast

Well, we had been planning to catch the ferry to Italy yesterday, until my Eurrail Timetable is completely off and our timing was hours off. We packed up and left Hostel Aphrodite - without getting lost this time, and made our way to the train station to catch a train to Patras, Greece. Upon arrival we had to wait two hours for the next train, so we spent our time in the cafeteria where I ate the most fantastic grilled sandwich for only 2 euro! We left ten minutes early to wait for the train, and as we made our way up the stairs a train with only 2 cars was leaving. We missed it by thirty seconds. The security figure told us we would have to wait until 530 and that we might be able to change our tickets, we went back to the box the man who sold us our tickets rushed us out giving us directions on which Metro trains to take and we might be able to catch it in the next city. Rushing around up and down flights of stairs, asking for directions, hopping on about 4 or 5 Metros we eventually caught our train in Kiatos with five minutes to spare, which finally gave Jenna some time to use the washroom.

Our train ride was around 2 or 3 hours, straight down the coast of Greece. It was picturesque - the way you would figure Greece to be. We arrived in Patras around six thirty. It's a beautiful place - and hot! We were instructed to ask at the Eurrail office for our tickets to Brindisi, turns out it closes around 5 like a regular business, so our next option was to find a hostel. About 1km down the main road they said there was a youth hostel so we made our way in that direction. Patras is fantastic, we have been regretting our time in Athens wishing we'd have been here instead. The hostel was an easy find and was in an old building - vespas out front, shutters on the windows, huge trees and a welcoming entrance. For 12 euro we stayed in the hostel, and even managed to swindle the room with the balcony! The door to our room was 7 or 8 feet high with tinted windows and the shutters open onto the balcony. We were dumbfounded. Set up our bed (Grandma, I used my sleepsack for the first time last night, it worked so well!) and went out to wander the city.

The sun was setting so we sat on the waters edge and took a few photos, a few islands are in eyes view though we aren't sure if anything is really over there or not. We sat for awhile and since Jenna eats like a monster, food was the next option. Most small places were closed so we went to a pizza place next to our hostel and ate, sorry, scarfed spaghetti. Then we hit the sack.

This morning we woke up early to the most hilarious site we've witnessed on our trip so far. We prepared ourselves for the great showers that the hostel offered (or they looked great anyway), so I stumbled out the door and saw a VERY old man in his tshirt and underwear. Speedo pretty much. I turned around and slammed the door laughing histerically. So I figured he just didn't think anyone would be up and was going to wander to the washroom. I figured wrong. We stood in the shower area and he came around the corner AGAIN in his speedo and Jenna and I are just killing ourselves laughing, then the man is stretching in the hallway. HA HA HA. Anyway, that was the last we saw of him. Our showers were FREEZING and not great at all. We made our way to the Eurrail office and got our tickets for the ferry which doesn't leave until midnight tonight. Since we are homeless, and hosteless, we spent a few hours down by the Ionian Sea - getting sunburnt and napping, then swung by the grocery store for snacks for our 14 hour ferry ride, now in the internet cafe and will probably head back to the sea-side for the rest of the evening.

Can't wait for Italy!

Love, Ash