Hello, Hello! What a crazy big past few weeks it has been for me…. I’m currently writing this new post in the comfort of my bed with a sleeping Hemingway snuggled up against me, his paw on my tummy. I am way past the point of exhaustion, which I experienced a breaking point at work last night, literally SWEATING to death, (gross), and am taking the morning to gather my thoughts and calm my aching body. It’s been a full morning of mango eating and Hallmark ‘Christmas in July’ movie specials, which I’m a complete sucker for….
Now, for what you’ve been waiting for, part II of my Hawaii-Greece trip! Well, buckle up, because I’m sure by the end of this post you’re going to be just as exhausted as I was. I left my family vacation early to get to Greece, so after staying up late with my parents out at the bar, (woo hoo), we packed up my bags and left for the airport.
Travel tip #1 you don’t need a lot of things. All I had with me for a month of traveling for a small carry on and a backpack. That’s it. It saves you time, money, and worry to just have a small little bag that you’re in charge of, so no worries about the airline losing your checked bag. Don’t get me wrong, I had a good amount of different clothes with me, but I rolled everything up tight, and put my makeup and jewelry bag in my backpack.
Travel Tip #2: Bring clothes that you can match with other things. For me, I brought solid colored shirts and then could match them with different skirts. I will show more photos of this in my next post about Greece, but I brought 1 white shirt and wore it with several different outfits, but just changed up my hair and jewelry. Easy peasy. For guys, you have it easy. You can basically match whatever shirt with whatever pants and you’re good. For the women, if you have any questions about packing smart for a big trip, just message me! I’m a big fan of minimizing what all I have to drag around with me, especially since I was doing sooo much traveling.
No one cried when saying bye to me in the airport, and as I walked into security, I looked over my shoulder one last time to say bye to my family, and they were gone. Breathe in, breathe out. I felt good. I felt comfortable, I felt well rested. I knew it was the last time for a while I was going to be sleeping in a bed or taking a shower, so the night before I SLEPT hard and showered for a solid 45 minutes.
I got through security, and felt oddly nervous. Maybe it was the fact it was so quiet. With my family, everyone knows when we talk into the room, because of how loud and dare I say annoying we can be. For the first time in a while, I could just sit in the airport and not have to worry about anyone or anything. My first flight was a 6 hour flight from Honolulu to Portland, Oregon. I told myself I was going to sleep, however I found myself sat in between an elderly couple, who I ended up let sit next to each other, who were very eager to know everything about me. They were going home to Portland after spending their 50th wedding anniversary with their entire family. They were the sweetest and I felt awful as I nodded off as the flight took off, but I really love meeting new people. I’m glad I met them, because as we were landing, they were pointing out all of the different mountains that we flew over. I was in Portland for all of 15 minutes, but honestly, really want to go back and visit, put Hemingway in a little plaid jacket and go climb a mountain. (Of course, my dog is so cute but also so lazy, after too much exercise he’ll stretch out and demand I pick up because he refuses to move. Gotta love that little boy though.)
With only 15 minutes to grab probably the best chicken salad sandwich I have ever had (I still think about that sandwich), I was set on my way. It was night time in Portland, mid afternoon in Hawaii, so my body was just beginning to freak out. I didn’t sleep a wink on the 6 hour plane ride. I watched the sunset and rise in the same 6 hour span. It was a beautiful moment for me. It was 5 in the morning when I landed in New York, at the JFK International Airport, where I found myself stuck in line for TSA for an 1 hour. At this point, I was traveling for over traveling 12 hours, having slept maybe an hour. I was hella tired and standing in line with people who also didn’t want to be there didn’t make it any better. Finally getting through security, thus began my 12 hour layover.
When I get really tired, my body almost goes into a state of shock. I get unbelievably cold and shake. Knowing I was about to completely crash, and it being then 6 am, no one was really around. I went behind a row of chairs, and made a small bed for myself, using my backpack as a pillow, and stuck my carry on between my legs as a laid in the fetal position on the hard ground. I slept there for about 3 hours, until I awoke in a fright forgetting where I was, and looking hopelessly around for my glasses, which were in fact under me, to look up at a little girl half hiding her face behind the chair, just staring at me. Her mother asked what she was looking at and when she turned around to look down at this half asleep girl underneath her chair, it definitely freaked out. I had to laugh about it, the fact I could make myself so small to sleep under the chairs, and then also quiet enough for no one to know I was there. I was surprised I didn’t snore even just a little bit. 9 hours left and I was now left to explore the airport. I went a grabbed lunch alone and watched the planes fly off, went and exchanged my dollars to euros, and waited to meet up with my group! It was the longest 12 hours of my life. By 5pm, I was officially traveling for over 24 hours. Everyone else looked relatively well rested and I actually looked like a caveman, and I was so past the point of caring. Photo below for proof.
As soon as I got to the gate for the flight to Athens, I immediately felt like I was home. It has been years since I’ve been back to my beloved Greece and I knew in an instant I was with my people. Most of the people on the flight spoke Greek, and of course, we all looked the same and man, it felt good to walk into a room and know I wasn’t going to be the odd man out with the big features and big hair. FINALLY.
As soon as we got in the plane, not even taken off yet, I put on my neck pillow and passed out. We flew Delta Airline, the only airline one should fly to Europe and especially Greece. They feed you so much (as any good Greek does) and give you wonderful snacks that you’re full. So, there I was, happy, comfortable, well fed with a warm meal in my belly, and relaxed in my seat watching a movie…. For the next 11 hours. Fast forward, and we land in beautiful Greece in the afternoon. Talk about jet lagged. I went through countless time zones and Alexandra’s body was not having it. Cue a 5 hour bus ride and then some to get to our destination. As we were driving and I was falling in love yet again with my motherland, a part of me I haven’t felt in a while came alive. I had peaked her interest, I suppose. It was just the beginning.
Can’t wait for you to hear all about Part I of my trip to Greece, “Motherland”, next Tuesday afternoon. See you then, babes.
Today’s Mantra:
“I AM taking every day for what it is.”
loving myself, loving you.
blessings, a
Little Alexx Blog 
I think its important to understand one’s value or worth, what is your worth to humanity? Although traveling is important and new areas to explore; was it too much? What came out of it? The Japanese find balance in small things, miniature gardens, trees, a micro world, although you went to different places in the world, did it seem hollow? It did for me, because there was no self reflection, take a vacation from the vacation and experience the world in front of you, the small things that life has to offer. Again I stress getting a M.A. in philosophy if the ultimate goal is to be a professor, then teach, then work on a book and more writings, then if you want go higher for that doctorate, this is a satisfying vocation, you can help others through your writings, teach, and enjoy that micro world. This is a more focused direction and allows you a lot of freedom and less stress.
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