Slightly different approach to this entry. I was in Rhodes for 3 days, 4 nights. My goal here was to unwind from all the crowds and go-go-go that I'd been doing in the last 3 cities. What people don't talk about in regards to solo travel is how lonely it can be. Sure, when you stay in hostels and go on guided tours there are people to talk with . . . if that's the kind of person you are. That's not me. I don't do well with initiating interactions with strangers . . . it makes me very anxious so I usually just don't. Anyways, quick rundown of my time in Greece. Arrival night: get checked into airbnb, a cozy studio apartment. My host Stathis gave me a quick rundown of the city and suggestions of things to do and places to eat. I went for dinner at one of his suggestions, it was delicious (see pic later on). Day 1: explore Old Town and cafe hop. After lunch nap and walk a path by the western beaches. Dinner at Dali cafe . . . and here's my digression on European wait staff - in America, the waiters come to you and ask if you're ready to order, how things are, if you need anything else, are you ready for the check, etc. In Europe (this has been true in EVERY country so far), you ask the waiter to come take your order, you ask the waiter if you need something else, you ask the waiter for the check and it's a pain in the ass to try and get their attention in a lot of restaurants. Dining out has been a constant anxiety trigger. Long story short, I couldn't get the waiter's attention for an hour after finishing my meal (I swear they'll let you sit there all damn night if you want) so I put a 20 on the table and left (my meal was 18 Euro so it's okay, I didn't jip anybody). I get it though, dining out in Europe is a whole event not just getting food. Doesn't make it any easier for me. Day 2: sat on a beach from 10 - 3. Read most of a book (2nd book in the Sparrow trilogy). Had a nice late lunch. Afternoon nap. Dinner with a comparatively competent waiter. Watched some netflix before bed. Day 3: woke up and could not make myself leave the apartment until 1pm and that was only because my stomach had started eating itself. Went to the small grocery around the corner and picked up some pasta to cook at the apartment. Went out again in the evening to get some gelato and because I know I should leave the apartment more than once. (if you're concerned about me, don't be. It usually takes me a couple days after an anxiety episode to normalize... I'm good now) This morning: packed up and went to the airport to catch my flight to Venice If I had been real touristy in Rhodes, there are numerous beaches, a bee museum (yea ... I looked into going but it was like 50 km down the island ... would've been my weird museum though), hiking, climbing, kayaking, lots of old Greek buildings and site, cruises to smaller islands, etc.
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ShannonMath Teacher living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam Archives
February 2022
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