Greece: Not The Musical

June 27, 2003

---

Well, I'm back from vacation in Greece (May 19th through May 27th)...

Travelers: Jay, Dave, Brad

Summary:

5/22 Day 1:	Arrive Greece, "When Greeks Attack", Parthenon closing, shops, Incredible Jay
5/23 Day 2:	Parthenon, re-energize, leave for Mykonos, cards on ferry, arrive in Mykonos at midnight, wander Mykonos
5/24 Day 3:	"The Shower that Wasn't a Shower", wander Mykonos, 2 Girls and a Guy Go Shopping, LA Chick
5/25 Day 4:	Breakfast of Champions, ferry to Paros, wait in Paros, ferry to Santorini, walk Santorini, Oscar Cobblepot
5/26 Day 5:	Path of Donkeys and Dung, Trek of Volcano, Hot Springs, loud Germans, cable car, more Oscar Cobblepot, cards at night
5/27 Day 6:	Black Sand Beach, walk Santorini, bus to Ia, "No way, that's walking distance," 1.5 Euro Gyros, cards at night
5/28 Day 7:	Red Rock Beach, "We Were Here," More 1.5 Euro Gyros, Exit Dave, cards at night/td
5/29 Day 8:	walk Santorini, more shopping, 1.50 Euro Gyros yet again, leave on 9hr ferry to Athens (stopping at Ios and Paros), arrive Athens, midnight
5/30 Day 9:	arrive at airport, prepare for 8 hours of waiting at airport, no sleep due to asshole Greeks, Athens Airport McDonald's closes at 2am, leave Greece, arrive Chicago

Memorable Quotes:

#1 - Dave
"Jay, right now we could use a little more Bruce Banner a little less Incredible Hulk."
Reference: Jay’s rage induced tantrum brought on by a booty restaurant over charging him.

#2 - Jay
"Well, I wouldn’t ask an FOB Chinaman where to go in New York."
Reference: Getting asked numerous times (in Greek) where something was...this case, being asked the location of Club Celebrity by a moped gang.

#3 - Brad
Do you know how hot that girl is to me? No. You don’t! You can’t! It's impossible!"
Reference: Brad staring a Greek women sun bathing in Mykonos

#4 - Brad
"Yeah, maybe we shouldn’t go to the most erotic beach."
Reference: In response to taking Lorraine (this random American chick we met) with us to the beaches of Mykonos.

#5 - Dave
"Dude, you're like a baby, all you do is eat, shit, and cry."
Reference: Brad constant hunger, need to "el duce" and whining

#6 - Dave
"I just squeeze the tail and get more meat."
Reference: David’s method of eating shrimp

#7 - Jay
"It wasn’t me hitting the car, it was the car hitting me"
Reference: Jay explaining what really happened during the hulk-like destruction of a car’s side view mirror

#8 - Lorraine
"Um, so are we going to...Umm...What do you call it?...Lunch?"
Reference: Lorraine letting her LA side show

#9 - Jay
"Oh my god, it's like going on vacation with Corky; oba-di-oba-da – life goes on..."
Reference: Vacationing with Dave

#10 - Jay
"I can call the hairs on my ass leg hair, but they’re still on my ass."
Reference: Jay’s response to Bodie saying his back hair was shoulder hair

#11 - Brad
"Dude, I think I have one more."
Reference: Brad needing to go "el duce" once more after 10 previous visits to the bathroom in one day

#12 - Jay
"Oh my god, it's like going on vacation with Rain Man."
Reference: Vacationing with Brad

#13 - Fatty McGee
"I‘ll bring the cash, you bring your lust for life!"
Reference: An old American man talking to his young American whore

#14 - David
"Put the nuts on the table and slowly walk away."
Reference: David trying to get some peanuts from Jay

#15 - Brad
"I am going to be thirsty after eating these salty nuts."
Reference: Brad’s comment while sucking on peanuts
#16 - Brad
"But, you can’t focus only on the good things, otherwise you may miss some of the key negatives...like her possibly being crazy”
Reference: Brad’s views on relationships

#17 - Brad
"Whoa, check out the Greco booty!"
Reference: Brad referring to the many large but nice Greek asses on display

Some things I learned:

• Pack everything in 1 or 2 backpacks
• Do not pack in the standard corporate rolling suitcase, small duffle, and backpack
• Get some sort of premier status before flying
• Do not expect the economy seats to be any better due to the premier status
• Drink wine
• Do not drink any mixed drinks
• Buy currency options before you travel abroad
• Traveler's Checks over cash, always
• Go with a girl or group of friends
• Do not go with two guys who claim to be straight but are in love with one another
• Don't underestimate the power of sleeping on ferries or in an airport to save cash
• Don't overestimate the power of sleeping on ferries or in an airport to save cash
• Leave all inhibitions about the bathrooms and showers in the states
• You only need 1 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts, tons of underpants, socks, and t-shirts
• Always bring cards
• Don't expect water to be free at restaurants
• Do the opposite of everything I want to do
• Always get the price before ordering
• There is nothing like the US
• No matter what you think, you can never overestimate the awe of seeing ancient ruins
• Showering once a day is not the standard overseas
• Shower curtains are not guaranteed
• The Mediterranean is amazing

"Home Sweet Home" - Motley Crue:
All in all I had a great time in Greece. The plane ride was not as torturous as I expected but I am only 5' 7", I think Brad probably had a worse experience during the plane ride. It was good to go with at least 2 other people and I think if we had a 4th person it would have been better. Any more than 4 and I think the logistics of the trip start to get messed up. Travelling abroad was much different now than when I was a kid. When I was a kid, my parents would ringlead the entire operation and basically took orders, going where they went, eating what they ate, it made things very simple. Now, since everything we did was up to us, it was definitely cool, but also more complex. Greece, for it's Third World Nature, is amazing. Seeing all those historical sights and ruins we just astounding; to think that those were built thousands of years ago and are still around is unreal. I would definitely go back to Greece, but with so many foreign countries out there I know there are others places I'd like to visit first. If anyone wants to borrow a Fodor's Guide to Greece, let me know.

P.S. I am not going to scan pictures and put them up since I am lazy.

---