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Learning Love Through Travel in Mykonos

Pidge
Travel
Oct 9, 2022

The Lucid Dreaming of a Romantic Comedy

Labyrinth of Luxury

This is who I wanted to travel and adventure with everyday

The Lucid Dreaming of a Romantic Comedy

The two days in Santorini felt like a lucid dream as I began to deeply connect with David. To keep in mind, I flew 10 hours just three days prior to meet him in Athens, Greece after probably a handful of dates in the US the month before. In full honesty, I did not have set expectations on how this adventure would go, but I knew the romantic spark was there and I was damned if I didn’t explore it.

As I woke up in Santorini, I found myself constantly questioning whether I was delusional. None of it actually felt real; Not the romantic candle lit dinners off the Cliffs of Fira or the endless wine glasses on the rooftops of Athens. I constantly felt like I was starring in some romantic comedy film and that there was another scripted scene in the adventure to come.

The local taxi brought us down the wild, winding road of Santorini’s cliff side to the ship port. It’s one of those rides where you don’t look up or down due to the stomach churning steepness. You stay focused on the road ahead as each turn feels like you are almost doing a 180 degree turn on the spot. At the bottom, the cliff is a view of awh with the sun peeking over the top to illuminate the road I can only describe as a large, loopy squiggle on the rock.

The Greecian ferries transport thousands of travelers daily between islands, so my recommendation is be ready with luggage in hand because the transfer is EFFICIENT. The moment the ship docks, the crew unloads the cars, luggage, and passengers within minutes. No, I am not kidding-there is not a second that is not accounted for in this process. In about ten minutes, all the new passengers, luggage, and cars were boarded presenting tickets while the drawbridge sealed and the ship set off as scheduled. The ferries are nicely accommodating with open ocean sterns, cafes, and lounge seating with tables. We continued our series of Egyptian Ratscrew (our most evenly competitive card game) with the couple hours we spent on the water. Similar to boarding, we had our backpacks secured to our shoulders waiting for the ferry to dock surrounded by cars, luggage trolleys and hundreds of other travelers ready to embark into Mykonos. Mistakenly, but hilariously, I thought David had said “Unleash the garbage!” instead of “Unleash the drawbridge!” as the drawbridge was descending that had me crying in laughter.

Labyrinth of Luxury

Hoping off the ferry, we quickly realized we were not in the downtown area of Mykonos (Old Port) and it looked like we had two options: walking or taking a SeaBus for a few euros each. Considering we had no cell service and David completely forgot the name of the hotel we had booked for the night, our best option was to take the SeaBus to Old Port to see if we can find wifi. On the SeaBus’s top deck, we were joined by three younger men that looked like they were twinning the members of ‘One Direction’ and a lovely woman traveling alone that we exchanged small conversation with about our time in Santorini.

The Old Port of Mykonos shoreline is bordered with vibrant restaurants caressed around the loop of the water. As many of the islands of Greece, there are limited cars, leaving the paths and roads to primarily feet and local motorized trucks for freight. Many of the restaurants invited us with shaded coverings over couches and tables for lounging. The white concrete buildings accented the bold blue windows and doors-Yes, it’s just like the pictures you’ve seen. The sun gleaming off of each building creating what looked like layers of property. There was one small beach wedged between the loop area and what looked like a residential area with a road leading to the higher elevation areas of Mykonos. After finding free wifi, David located our hotel name and inputted it in the map. We probably walked back and forth up this elevated road with cars tightly passing us at least three times trying to track down the entrance until we spotted a woman shaking laundry out a window. Despite the language barrier, the kind lady was able to hear our hotel name and she pointed back down the road we had already walked. In hindsight, the signage for the hotel was in white against a white building and hung well above the gate. I am still convinced it only showed up after she directed us as if magic.

The Yalos Hotel Sunset View was nothing, but stunning. Affordable even on Saturday night, but also just gorgeous. I can only assume our room was considered “basic” for Mykonos, but for us, it was luxury with an outstanding balcony view. The hotel offers a quick walk to the downtown area and a shared lounge balcony equipped with comfy seating and an impressive view of sunset. The lucid dreaming had continued.

For dinner, we decided on Kavos Taverna, which served primarily seafood, simply because of the location. It not only sat literally on the rocks of the waterfront, but there was a white wicker couch with turquoise cushions and table that summoned us with one look. Just another moment we unintentionally resembled a honeymooning couple. It was at this restaurant, I discovered the delicious watermelon and feta combination which is enriched in many Mediterranean cultures. It is now one of my highly regarded summer treats during the watermelon season.

After finishing dinner through the sunset, we set off to explore the Old Port behind the initial first line of properties. The retail shops were snuggled into the white buildings illuminated brightly by the lights on the paths and within the stores. Travelers passed wearing beautifully threaded summer, cocktail party outfits. So many bachelorette and bachelor parties heading to their destinations. With each turn, more shops of luxury retail items between suit pieces, designer bags, and elegant dresses. Then more and more couples, hand in hand, and party groups gathered together heading somewhere exciting. It was not long before we did not know which turn was heading where. It became a labyrinth of luxury that grew tiresome to our eyes. We stopped at the next store for two liquor shots and two local beers to drink on some steps watching the quick flashes of eyes of people passing us. The elegant jewelry that shined in the light and the draped fabric that flowed by passing travelers commanded my eyes even with the exhaustion of travel bounding my energy.

Upon emerging from the labyrinth, we passed some bar nightclubs that did not seem as welcoming for couples, but seemed like they may have been hosting some celebrities that I would not have noticed either way. We purchased two more beers and sat on the docks near the smaller yachts that were prepared for their drunk guests later that night. For two simple travelers, we concluded the night with the enjoyment of local beers and off brand Oreos on our private balcony.

This is who I wanted to travel and adventure with everyday

We definitely must have turned in too early because the following morning was quiet. To be fair, it was Sunday, so there was prayer that could be heard throughout the Port and it was after a Saturday night with lifting travel CoVid bans. We had breakfast at BouBoulo which was originally one of the restaurants that seemed to have begged us to lounge in when initially arrived. While enjoying coffee and eggs, we purchased tickets and reservations for our final destination. Our ferry was not leaving until 14:20 giving us a short amount of time to take a peek at any of the infamous Mykonos beaches.

With not a plan on deck, but bathing suits on, we went down to the SeaBus station for some insight on beach possibilities. David was quick to make jokes at the booth with the guy selling tickets about Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach. No, I am not making this up-those are the beach names. Yes, we wondered how Paradise Beach would feel when Ultra, Platinum, Luxury Super Paradise Beach will be opening next. After quick conversation with the guy at the SeaBus station, we realized we would not have enough time to measure the Paradise-ness of either beach and was recommended to visit Agios Stefanos Beach. He explained that it is just past the New Port (2 miles/3.7 km) up the road and that we should have taken the SeaBus that was literally undocking at that very moment behind him. It seemed like time stopped for a second as David and I looked at each other in confusion that he did take any interest in stopping the SeaBus to let us on. We continued to ask when the next Seabus would be available assuming it would be soon to find out it was a whole hour later.

We sat for another moment in disappointment, beginning to analyze our options as he grabbed his keys and said he would just drive us there himself. In confusion, I asked if that would be an issue leaving the SeaBus ticket station to which he shrugged, motioned us to follow him to his vehicle and continued to explain that he actually is working to own a part of the company himself. We piled into his little work truck-me on David’s lap in the passenger’s seat-as he drove us talking about the anticipated travel season after minimal travel during CoVid from the year prior. He refused to let us pay for his time and kindness, but at least provided his name: Harry.

When we arrived at the beach, it was not crowded thankfully and there were multiple open umbrellas and lounge chairs available for rent. With the start of a cocktail and beer, we briefly laid in the warm Greece sunrays before heading for a dip in the water. Being from Michigan, US, I have never had the experience to swim in clear water unless a chlorinated pool which made the sea floor look more inviting than ever. A stray small fish here and there, some shells scattered around and layers of sand developed by the natural waves of the salt water supported my feet. The July heat of Greece was smothered by the coolness from the sea creating a perfect environment. As the crowd started to build on the beach, we peppered with the volleyball from when David picked me up from the Athens airport dodging other kids zooming by with accompanied chasing adults.

When we came back to our rental lounge area, we quickly realized that a wave must have reached where we were due to my bag being completely soaked including David’s wallet that was stuffed inside. There was almost no damage except for receipts from 2013 still lingering in David’s wallet that needed to be discarded anyway.

It was around 13:15 that we assumed it would be good to start heading back to the hotel for our luggage. We set off up the road where David assured me multiple times that we would just take a taxi. In retrospect, this was very early in our timeline and I wanted to avoid seeming…needy or worrisome about small details. I had known he traveled a lot and trusted him about finding a taxi even though my concerns were strong about finding a ride. I felt as if we were already lucky for Harry’s gesture earlier that morning. We began walking the main road towards the New Port without a taxi in sight. David even attempted hitchhiking the random vehicles passing by until I accidentally stepped on his Brazilian themed right flipflop breaking the thong forcing David to a bare foot on the hot sandy asphalt. Throughout my various apologies, I quickly began using my hairtie as a way to reattach the thong for a temporary fix.

At this point, we had walked/hopped almost to the New Port where we could see a ferry in the distance delivering new travelers. My concern intensified to stress and anxiety. Keeping what composure I had left, I refrained from saying “I told you” and expressed “we’re in trouble”. It was about this point where the factor of time became our largest stress. At New Port, you can see Old Port a little over a mile (2 km) away, but even lightly jogging, that would be 30 minutes on top of getting our luggage, checking out, and pulling up our tickets for these efficient ferries. The stress was building and I encouraged that we could make it if we hustled even though in reality, we would not.

With David’s realization of my depreciating faith, he jumped into action. He quickly scanned the horizon around us and it was then that we heard the faint sound of a motor. What looked like a little motorized bike, turned the corner from the New Port towards us. David said without hesitation “This is our ride”. I was not even able to question “what?” before David walked straight into the path of the motorbike waving his arms up and down to signal the driver. To my surprise, the driver slowed down and the motor quieted a little. He thankfully spoke decent English and he agreed to take us to Old Port for forty euros. It was a price we were not willing to turn down. We squeezed into the two seats attached to back of the motorbike resembling Hagrid’s motorcycle from ‘Harry Potter’ and set off to Old Port. We were not able to make out his name through his thick Greecian accent as we all introduced each other, but he seemingly looked like a “Poncho”. Poncho voiced how he thought we were crazy for our awful planning and punctuality, but lightened it with how lucky it was that he was there to save us. We could not stop laughing at each other as we only half heard/understand Poncho over the motor and the fact that David convinced him to actually give us a ride.

Forty euros later and an enormous amount of luck got us to the hotel with time to spare glancing at my clock. It was 13:50 and the ferry does not arrive until 14:20. We retrieved our backpacks and headed down to Old Port laughing at the recap of what had just happened. We walked to the docks to find a gelato spot where we figured we had deserved a treat for somehow getting through all of that. As we sat down with our frozen treat, we continued floating through waves of laughter until I started looking around the docks… Then it hit me, this is not the right dock. These waterways were too small and this was Old Port not New Port. We had completely forgot we had taken a damn SeaBus to Old Port. It was 14:05. We had 15 minutes to be over a mile away with our backpacks ready to board.

We bounced up in a scramble to the SeaBus station to find out the next one was not available until 15:00. The panic was real…again. We knew missing this ferry was missing the transfer ferry to our next destination where our accommodation was already booked with nothing booked for Mykonos that night. David stammered up to two other smaller yachts asking if they were willing to take us to New Port, but no luck. How in the world was this happening again?

14:10: We started analyzing the distance knowing we wouldn’t make it on foot, but wait…is that Poncho? No…No way. That is Poncho and his motorbike over on the other side of the Old Port loop.

David handed me his laptop bag and started sprinting until his flipflop broke free from my temporary hairtie solution. In mid stride, David grabbed it and continued sprinting bare foot on the hot pavement calling out to Poncho. This sight must have been it all for the locals and other travelers; David running with flipflop in hand then me following with his laptop bag in one hand, gelato in the other and backpacks on our shoulders.

David starts making headway towards Poncho and the lovely lady from the Seabus when we first arrived notices us and asks “Hey, you guys leaving?!”. I turn towards her replying yes with a smile mid sprint still holding the gelato. How did that lady make a last cameo?! Who wrote that into the script?!

When I turn back to David and start catching up, David is already begging Poncho for one last ride to New Port to make our ferry. Poncho half laughed and stated his, yet another, steep price. It did not matter-we were paying. Poncho got up stating “Show me the money”. David somewhat laughed ripping out his wallet showing sixty euros. We pile in, the motorbike starts to once again save our asses, and we start off.

14:14: Poncho asks when the ferry is due and explains that we already missed it, but I reassure that I do not see it and the scheduled time is 14:20. He shares his opinion of our poor planning once again.

14:16: Poncho is gunning it pulling into the New Port area turning each corner with a little extra speed and weaving around the pedestrians/bikes.

14:18: We are at the New Port dock…with no ferry. Miraculously, Poncho points out that our ferry is out in the distance some minutes late and explains that he has never seen a ferry not punctual. I don’t know what the chances were that the ferry was going to be late that day, but I was so very thankful it was. Half jokingly Poncho admitted he had wished the ferry was not late just to give us another ride. David handed him the 2nd hero fee Poncho deserved and stated that he would always be in our hearts. With not a second to breathe, Poncho replied “I don’t want to be in your hearts. I want to be in your pockets”. And you bet, we quickly snapped a picture with our hero.

14:20: our tickets are yet to be printed. David scrambles up to the booth window and I watch the ferry draw closer to the dock hoping for a short line, but am unable to tell as we are surrounded by other passengers. And yes, Poncho still parked I assume to be an expensive backup plan if our ticket reservations had failed.

14:22: I have been waiting with our backpacks attempting to reattach David’s flipflop monitoring the ferry as it drew closer by the half minute.

14:25: The ferry was officially beginning the redocking throwing ropes out and anchors down. Unbelievable. We might not make it after all of this chaos just because I decided to not get global cell service to pull up our tickets.

It was finally 14:27, the ferry drawbridge started to fall as David scurried up to me with printed tickets in hand. I stammer to my feet and we grab our bags to join the crowd for boarding “just as planned”. Poncho I imagine was laughing, counting his fees, and shaking his head at the two Americans with piss poor planning for transportation.

No, I still do not know how that all ended up working out, but we did board that ferry to Athens. It was not until we sat down in our seats when we both busted out laughing. My anxiety started to settle as I did not know whether to half cry or not. Either way, my legs felt a little numb. And it was not until David came back with a bowl of fruit, piece of cake and an apology from the cafe that I knew this is who I wanted to travel and adventure with everyday.

Learning Love Through Travel in Santorini

David Metler
Travel
Oct 2, 2022

Infinite Honeymoons

The Ecology of Love

Jewelry for Your Heart

Infinite Honeymoons

There is no more romantic place than Santorini. And given that Kait and I had been dating for about 32 days before we arrived on the island of Santorini, it is no wonder that so many people asked us if we were on our honeymoon. We were being asked about whether this was our honeymoon by well, almost everyone. The guy on our sunset pirate ship tour asked immediately if we were honeymooners. At a volcano our tour stopped at, a guy carrying his kid up it had just enough breath left to ask if we were married and on our honeymoon without even saying hello. Kait and I began to get creative with our answers. Yes, this is actually our 69th honeymoon. Yup we sure are and we are honeymooning every day from here on out. To be honest, I love honeymooning with Kait. As we slowly made our way around Santorini, with a strong wind blowing from all directions, it was stunning to take in the views of the expansive ocean from every angle. The architecture of Santorini is built into the side of the mountains so that every bar and restaurant is set up for ocean from views as far as the eye can see and when you look up – the fullest night sky of stars you can imagine.

Even though we just started dating, the idea of the honeymoon is just too good to do just once in your life and to wait till after marriage for, ya know? So, it was in Greece that we committed to each other to have “Infinite honeymoons.” That is a number of honeymoons that I can get behind.

The Ecology of Love

So, what is it about a place that makes it so damm romantic? I mean to be fair if you had a horrible relationship with someone and you went to Santorini, I don’t believe the setting will solve your problems. The Santorini sunset over Fira is only so powerful. But, if you are in love or teetering on the edge of love, then I feel like Santorini actually enhances the depth and texture of that feeling because Santorini embodies a lot of the qualities of love.

First of all, Santorini is patient. What does it mean for an island to be patient? Well, as you walk around Santorini, it seduces you to slow down. It provides dramatic cliffs contrasted by calm clear blue waters that cause you to pause and take it all in. The romance is in the slowmance as I have never said before but am now typing. It really is. Santorini waits for you to refresh your eyes and your senses and the sensuality of slow is in waking up to the details of your lover and the delectable idiosyncrasies of your own unique love story.

2nd of all, Santorini is kind. It is kind on the eyes with the way the human-made blends with the natural with its white and blue gentle architecture that hugs the curves of the natural land. It is kind on the heart as you are treated to a peacefulness and contentedness to savor the simple things that, despite Santorini having many luxury options, are totally free like a sunset, the warmth of the breeze, and the vastness of the ocean. And It is kindness from others-like the time Kait and I took the gondola down the cliff and despite my attempts to be supportive she was terrified and making quite a kerfuffle in our gondola and when we got off, the quiet lady in the one in front of us came over to us and said “I just want you to know I heard everything and I am glad you are okay.”

On our Pirate Ship! Also notably the one time I am a “hair” taller than Kait.

3rd of all, Santorini is simple. We stayed at a place called Bedspot Hostel and despite having a name that does not connote luxury, we found it to be the perfect romantic boutique hostel. It was aesthetically designed with a majestic simplicity and an eye for the way in which the interior design can flow with the exterior beauty of the island. And later that day for our sunset cruise we made the choice to keep it simple by choosing a Pirate Ship over the more luxurious Catamaran. Also the Pirate Ship was somehow cheaper! So, we took that. We loved how simple it was. Us. Pirate Ship. The ship stopped at a Volcano to hike and then we took a dip in the clear refreshing water and then a simply delicious dinner on board as we watched the sunset. With all the hype about Santorini being so romantic it had a lot to live up to. And it surpassed those expectations.

Santorini was the most romantic place I have ever been and I kept falling more in love with Kait because the inner matched the outer, the environment matched the heart, and when the “Ecology of Love” is aligned, the depth of love is unbounded and expands the possibilities of the imagination. Now with the love I have for Kait I am certain that a honeymoon to Ohio would continue to deepen the love betwixt us but hey I’m just saying that Santorini has that special spark, that sparkle, that boom boom, that… you know what I’m trying to say. Or as one of the 2nd graders at the school I worked at Detroit Leadership Academy said about his heart after running around after a soccer ball “my boy be going boom boom boom right na.”

Jewelry for Your Heart

Santorini has so many glamorous little boutiques and as we walked around I was just noticing what caught Kait’s eye. In one boutique, there was one necklace in the shape of a pizza that Kait was like “Oooo I like that” when she saw it in the window of a jewelry shop. I noticed that, of course. I had been thinking how much I love Kait’s style – very elegant, minimalist, and simple. So, when she took a shower in the morning of our last day on Santorini, I quickly decided to make a run for it back to that jewelry shop to get that pizza slice necklace. And this was after a morning run we did together that involved us getting chased by three dogs, jumping a fence, and ended with us finding an ostrich farm right by the water of Santorini. So, I was already tired but I ran hard. And fast, And luckily it was right around the corner from our place. I ran back with the necklace in a box in my pocket and came back in the room right when Kait was coming out of the shower. It was the only time I have ever felt that I had something to hide from Kait and although it was a surprise for her I didn’t like that feeling. Jewelry is nice. Very shiny. Looks good sometimes with outfits. But the real jewelry for the heart is trust. It is safety. It is honesty. And that is the kind of jewelry that I will always give to Kait. The kind that makes the heart shine.

Learning Love Through Travel in Athens

David Metler
Travel
Sep 25, 2022

Kait looking out over Monastiraki Square

Love at Airports

Views from the Rooftop of Love

Rapid Tests Up the Butt

Love at Airports

There is a magnanimous scene in the beginning of the movie “Love Actually” that highlights how love is all around us, especially at airports. If you pause and look around as you are standing at departures or arrivals, you will not just see tired travelers talking tersely about TSA or turbulence. All alliteration aside.. you will see love. It will warm your heartsicles. Airports could really be called loveports, airloveports, loveydoveyports…love is in the air ya know?

It was only a few weeks ago that Kait and I started dating and then of course I invited her to go to Greece with me (or as she sometimes jokes I said “hey, do you want to go to Greece together?” the day we met right as she was peeing in front of me. More about that pee-tastic story can be found on our About US-triches page.

As a teacher, I had a long summer break and so I had already been relaxing in Greece a week before Kait got there. I was trying to become fluent in Greek and get my Grecian tan on before she arrived. The night before Kait was going to take flight she messaged me that all her flights were cancelled. I was like “Nooooooooooooo this can’t be happening!!” It just seemed so bizarre as it wasn’t related to a new Covid update or a world event that would cancel a flight. It must be a mistake, I thought. I was ready to head to the Athens airport to see how I could change her flight back, but then Kait texted me that she’s got this and not to worry. Kait soon later sent me a video of her laughing about how Air France was trying to stop her dating life being magical by trying to cancel her. I felt myself in awe of how Kait was handling this stressful situation. And then Kait called Air France and she got it reversed. Yay!!! A few minutes later, I went to a local shop to get two matching couple shirts screen printed with her now famous line on them “Umm ALL my flights were cancelled?”

And then there I was standing in the Athens airport at arrivals waiting for Kait’s beautiful self to fly into my arms out of the sky. I was holding a volleyball that I had decorated for her arrival that said on it in sharpie “Welcome to Greece Kait!” I looked around and found myself in good company. There was a hum of excitement amongst the crowd each time the arrivals door opened and passengers walked out to find their loved ones. The guy in front of me had a whole thing of balloons. I was hoping Kait would see me through all those balloons.

I ate a Reese’s so my breath would be chocolatey and then found a better spot to wait away from the balloons guy, so Kait would actually see me. As I was standing there, I was feeling BIG sparks in my heart of gratitude and excitement for the adventure about to begin. This moment that I had been wishing for had finally come true. I had travelled up to that point to almost 50 countries but I had never travelled in love. In fact, it had always been my dream to travel in love. To learn love through travel. In that moment when I saw on the arrivals screen that Kait’s flight had landed I felt like the whole world was about to be renewed to me and all of its magic again a surprise.

And then the door opened, and out flew Kait. We hugged and kissed deeply and in that moment I felt like we were in the opening scene of the movie “Love Actually.”

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate… General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends… If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling love, actually … is all around.”
-Love Actually

Views from the Rooftop of Love

I have a lobster on my head.. cause love!

When we got out of the airport, I had a feeling we may find ourselves on a few rooftops. The first rooftop we explored was our own hostel – The Circus Hostel in the heart of Athens. We loved this circus-themed hostel complete with a dress up room, very cute circus-themed rooms, and a nice café and bar in the hostel…and free breakfast! What I loved most about it is when you go up to the roof and you can see the whole city of Athens and the Acropolis off in the distance. The view of the Acropolis from the Circus Hostel rooftop was gorgeous, especially at sunset. Two ostriches in love on a rooftop hugging while watching the sunset – that was UStriches!

Now even though many go to Athens to see the incredible amount of ancient history there, Kait and I mostly enjoyed just meandering around and getting lost in the vibrant colorful city taking in views from rooftops. We walked through the Monastiraki Square which was bustling. Some guys handed us bracelets as a invitation to a breakdancing competition that night. We decided to watch the festivities from above at a rooftop bar overlooking the square. It is one of my favorite pictures of all time – Kait looking out over the square with a wine glass in hand, her eyes wide with wonder and joy.

Views from the rooftops give you a larger perspective and appreciation of your part in the dance of life. It gives you the feeling of flying even if you are a flightless bird like an ostrich or a flightless human. The rooftop of love is this perspective of the rush of the wind supporting your wings to go to new heights and sights together. When you are on a good rooftop you have a chance to see things from a “birds-eye” view. Kait is pretty much a bird and if she is a bird – I’m a bird. Before we got to Greece, Kait and I tried to find rooftop bars for many of our dates because we both loved the feeling up there. The air is clearer up there, you can get away with farts up there more often, and the view allows you to breathe more deeply between farts and gather some perspective on life and love. To be in love and to feel it fully is the greatest gift. It was on the rooftops of Athens that Kait and I really began learning love through travel.

Rapid Tests Up the Butt

Kait and I at the airport in our matching Air France outfits!

This love fest inaugural trip began in Athens and then ended in Athens…but what happened in between is scintillating content for more blog posts coming soon in the next few weeks; Learning Love through travel in Santorini, Learning Love Through Travel in Mykonos, and Learning Love through Travel in Hydra! The first two by me and the second two by Kait/Pidge…only ordered this way because we chose the cities we wanted to write on and then organized our posts by the order we visited them.

On our last day of the trip, I remember feeling sad that it was ending but mostly grateful that it had happened. And I knew it was only the end of the beginning of our travel adventures so I felt so much joy. We got to the Athens airport over 4 hours early for our return flight – just as my parents would have liked just to be safe to make sure we didn’t miss our international flight. We first had to get our Covid rapid tests before going through security and soon found ourselves in a line that was no more than 15 people long. Great, we will be through this in no time – maybe “rapidly” I thought. Little did we know that the line would cause us to miss our flight. At some point about 2.64 hours into waiting and barely moving in line, Kait and I decided we needed to take action. I swooped over to the Air France desk and convinced the manager to move our flights to tomorrow free of charge and Kait checked in with her work and made it okay for us to stay one more day. Then I quickly booked an AirBnB right near the airport. There was a couple in front of us in line who persistently were making negative comments and complaining about this line and their trip and honestly their whole lives. They did have a point about the line but I remember when Kait turned to me and said “promise me we won’t ever be like that couple.” And I promised. I was learning how important it is to work together with your partner to make the best out of unexpected situations and at the right point try to find the humor in it all. I loved how Kait and I worked as a team to deal with missing our flight and honestly I felt lucky to have one more day with her in Greece – yay!

When we got into the last part of the Covid line, Kait and I started laughing really hard. It was just everything. And the couple in front of us looked so uncomfortable with us having fun despite this whole situation. I love that about us. We dealt with a challenging situation and had a good time doing it. Then we got into the Covid test room together and we joke now that Kait almost dropped her pants for the nurse to do an anal covid test even though it was a nasal swab test. I mean what actually happened was Kait just took off her mask completely and wiggled her nostrils and was like too ready and the nurse told her to put her mask back on and anyway you had to be there. We laughed our way out of there and then had a quick facetime call with Kait’s mom who doesn’t believe there should be any space between the phone and her face on calls. I guess she takes the idea of “Face-Time” seriously and I appreciate that.

We went out of the airport to our nearby AirBnB and then went out to a local beach to swim and relax in an area called Marco Polo. I was so grateful for one more day in Athens with Kait and to have a day at a local hot spot was a real treat. We hung out at a café for some delectable delights after swimming and I remember how we had some deep conversations over beers and treats each sharing about our dreams and what we want in this life. Time felt slow and cozy.

We then got a few beers from the local market and made our way back to our AirBnB to get ready for a short night. We had to get up at 4am to get to the airport so that we wouldn’t miss a second international flight! When we got back to the AirBnB we opened our balcony and found that it had an amazing view of the airport landing runway. We watched planes land during the sunset while playing a card game we love called Egyptian Rat Screw. I remember looking over at Kait and beaming in pure delight.

Yup, that is a home-made heart lovers double travel pillow folks.

We made it to the airport the next morning at butt o’clock and had a smooth journey back. I remember pretty much making out with Kait the whole flight and at some point Kait was joking with the flight attendant that she didn’t know me, even though I was sitting in her lap, and that I needed to be moved to the back of the plane. Right before landing, we were watching Titanic together, (as lovers do of course), and Kait wrote on a napkin how she was falling for me. I wrote something back to her that I felt with total certainty more than anything else I know for sure in this world. “I love you Kait”.

Then of course we made out the whole landing.