i'm going to do this...

...in real time. i've found it's quicker when i do it that way. so i'm comin at ya live (kinda).

i awoke in my heated bed in syros with a severe headache for the 2nd day. I have also had very vivid dreams the past 2 nights. a connection? hmmm...

i finished packing and along my walk towards ermoupolis realized i severely underestimated both the time it would take to make my 09:50 ferry and the weight of my two bags i've come accustomed to traveling with. i decided that i would call a taxi to meet me if i couldn't find a kind soul at the shell station a few meters ahead. thank goodness for the kindness of the greek. an older gentleman denied payment when i asked him if i could pay him some €€ to take me to town. he did say, however, that i would have to wait 5 minutes for him while he went into the shop to look for a short-sleeved shirt. it seemed like a deal to me. especially since this is now what my boots look like (a little nyc, a lot greece)





















after one failed attempt to buy a ferry ticket, i hurried to my standard spot and 10€ later i was set...to wait. as the ferry to kythnos is one that only runs a few times a week it was late. i was happy to order myself a frozen mocha from a local coffee chain, coffee right (n you may remember this chain from athens) and (it came without espresso bits this time m). i sat my relieved self down, sucked my mocha, had a cigarillo (yes, a cigarillo) and waited until the cars were departing the ferry before i headed across the street, just as a true local would. :)

the ferry ride was uneventful (although they did play the movie 'casper the friendly ghost') and lacking much true scenery since there was no accessible top deck. once in merichas, kythnos i talked with a waiter about standard prices of car rentals, where to catch a bus, etc. we chatted for a bit, he was surprised that i was here by myself and convinced that i would have more fun if i had a companion with me. he smiled. i told him that boys complain too much, but that i'd be happy to have a drink of ouzo with him. haha.

i spent 3 of the 6€ at a cafe and read an old Paul Newman article.

i found a car rental guy and convinced him that perhaps in celebration of the resurrection he should give me the 4th day for 5€? (he had been offering the 4th day for 20€) he thought it was funny enough and agreed. success! (and i didn't even use the 'cash payment' angle yet m...these travel agents never seem to care about it, right?)

i zoomed my way to loutra, stopping along the way at this small farm literally right on the road to take pictures of these guys. and these things.
















































i walked around a bit looking for a place and decided upon Porto Klaros (which i remembered from Matt Barrett's Kythnos guide...honestly this guy's greece travel guides are spot on) and got one of the nicest rooms i've stayed in yet. i am the first person to stay in this newly renovated room. while they finished prepping it the uh...staff...i suppose...(they're so lax it seems too proper a title) offered me a drink. when i replied, 'sure water would be great' he said, 'only water?' incredulously. haha.























me taking pictures of myself and my view in a new hotel room again.








two large Mythos beers later and after settling in i went down to one of the restaurants that are literally on the shore of the small port and had my first fish with a head still on it (as an adult anyway) i had asked for one without bones, was told he would do his best, and by golly there was hardly a rib to be found. and it was delicious to boot. because the port was so small i got up from the table as the sun was approaching golden hour and took some pictures...(not a soul asked where i was going or if i intended to pay for anything haha and when i did pay...probably an hour after i was finished eating, he wouldn't let me give him a 2€ tip) man, i wish i was greek.
this one's for you m


























after realizing the only ATM on the island was back in merichas, i gladly got in the car and made
the winding, sunset drive there and back(about 40 min total). of course, i found some things to snap on the trip as well. please feel free to picture me jogging down the road trying to keep up with this donkey to take pictures because that's what happened.
















































































while walking around i signed up for scuba diving lessons and people watched and...took pictures. :) i watched the national geographic channel in my room for a break and then headed out for a coffee, which i just returned from. these are things i realized while there...at a bar playing loads of 90s american songs...remembered that atm receipts show balances in EUROS (i know this has nothing to do with the songs, but it came to me then and it was like i got free money...in my head)...Meredith Brooks' "Bitch" actually has some pretty good lyrics. it should be redone with less teen girl angst i think, give it a re-listen. meanwhile here is a sample of words ha. (So take me as I am This may mean youll have to be a stronger man) maybe that's the part i like. haha. from a woman whose father said to my mother years ago, "it'll take a strong man to love our daughter" smart man...Tom Cochra's "Life is a Highway" came on. fucking timeless song. every time i hear it i wanna spaz dance and run around somewhere. when i made the tapes for my 7th grade dances it was always on them. listening to it tonight i remembered how long i've wanted to be free. right? that reckless, unknown. it's great...Alanis Morisette's "Uninvited" came on...i think it's a good song too, i mean it's accompanied by an orchestra for goodness sake..."Don't Leave Me Girl" by mothaeffin' Blackstreet. enough said....and lastly (and rs, if you're still reading this, you should do a cover) some one hit wonder that did "Summer Girl" i think, you remember with New Kids on the Block references and Abercrombie? barfaroo

and now i sleep and nurse my ailing toe that i either sprained heavily or broke while in mykonos with m (with no fun involved...it was as i was getting in the shower. boring) and nurse my left eye that is red and constantly tearing right this very minute. i think i'm falling apart. oh well. gnight!