Yassas everyone!
It is 4pm here in Corfu, Greece- writing to you from Room 2, bed 3 (out of 6) at the Pink Palace Hostel.
Yesterday I arrived to the beautiful island of Corfu at 2pm to be retrieved at the airport by Magdalena. She was sweet, but in a very sad mood because another volunteer named Maria left yesterday who she was very close to. We proceeded to drive around doing errands, visiting her friends, and picking up her two children from their schools before heading to the house. As we drove up and through the winding roads, the beach suddenly appeared out of the passengers window, and it was everything I imagined. A literal postcard in front of my eyes- the cliffs, the blue water, the houses built into the hills, so so so Greece.
Also I should mention before I go on the children- super adorable, extra small and cute. A 3 girl year old girl named Evie (pronounced Eh-ve) and a feisty, but equally cute 5 year old boy named Spiros. They are very energetic, speak english and greek and love me lots already.
Now- after arriving, settling into my room, meeting the only other volunteer still here- her name is Angie, shes probs late 20's, german, nice but classic cold German- I attempted to see what there is to do around here. Just up the staircase from our room is the entrance to Magda's house where she lives with her kids, husband- who is traveling- and 81 year old father. I watched TV with the grandpa and kids, and then helped Magda organizing her bed as there were clothes EVERYWHERE. You people think I have a lot of clothes, this woman is another level. We then checked all the email accounts for the hostel, of which there were none because they clothes next week and it is the offseason.
Now, before coming here I knew it was the off-season and that November was quiet as Magda emailed me about it. But quiet and desolate are two different things. Maria, the other volunteer- are you keeping up?- has told me the only supermarket within walking distance is closing next week as well. And since the hostel is closing as well, there will be no more meals there so food is a mystery to me as of now.
Anywho- back to last night. After folding clothes and emails- I went over to the hostel reception area across the street to get some of this delicious wifi I have now, and meet the other people. There were 2 others- one guy from Australia, one from Canada, both worked at reception all summer, your average party boys, both leaving tomorrow. They were confused why I decided to come to Greece in November, as am I now. We ate some mediocre rice, meat and greek salad- talked about our travel plans a bit and I went back to my chambers for an attempt at sleep in a child size cot, that I fell out of at one point.
Now- if you have not been listening START NOW. Because today has been out of this world.
People say I exaggerate so I am simply going to list facts and you can add opinions as you wish.
Today started at 9am when I awoke, walked to the reception to get some coffee (instant), and hopefully breakfast. I searched in the abandoned kitchen and found some corn flakes, no milk, so ate them dry. Next went back across the street to Magda's where she asked Angie and I to clean the living room that the kids had made a mess of. Vacuumed, picked up toys, swept, etc. Next another email check. Then she told us we were going to her other property to clean up a bit- Angie told me she did this a few days back and was left there for 4 hours with a different volunteer, no food or anything. So me, Madga, Angie, and the kids all piled in the car to go over- oh yes! why are the kids home on a wednesday, I agree, so I asked- "schools on strike today", I asked no more questions.
On the drive over we casually pulled over at a house on the side of the road, honked and a woman came out and gave us a 2 month old, white, soft, adorable puppy. We then drove on. Back to that later.
We arrived at "Villa Magdalena", a large hotel with a pool in the front and a big house behind. Entered the dining room to see the remains of an abandoned hotel that needed a serious cleaning. We were asked to wipe the 20 tables, put the chairs on top and sweep the floor. Oh forgot to mention that at this Villa Magdalena, Magda has a house sitter living there. 29 year old, Finnish man who was quiet and is staying there alone til March to "avoid winter in Finland". Magda then left, me, Angie, the kids and the puppy there while she went to town to do errands.
The mess: the tables were messy with left over food stains, cobwebs on everychair, dust everywhere, but the pounds of rat poop essentially lining the floor of this banquet room was the real kicker. The kitchen have rotting food in the fridges and garbage bins and look they it was left in the middle of a night of cooking for 100 people.
We began wiping the tables with rags, put all the chairs on top, and then began the awful sweeping task. Every brush of the broom brought a cups worth of dust, dirt and poop with it.
All the while, the kids and puppy in the corner. The puppy was shaking with fear and so hungry- we fed it some of the older dogs food but its teeth could barely break it down. The kids were so bored- thank god I always carry a notebook and sharpies cause that entertained them for a good 2 hours.
After 3 and a half hours in this place- we had cleaned as much as we could bare and were just hungry and wanted to leave. The kids were so cranky and I stupidly fed them a mento each and then was badgered the rest of the day for more. The puppy was peeing and pooping wherever it pleased, and we eventually fed it a raw chicken bone to gnaw on cause it was so hungry.
Magda arrived soon after with gyros from the supermarket- ok quality, questionable meat, but I feed mine to the puppy and enjoyed the rest. It was quite an experience.
Now I am happily showered, on the deck looking at the ocean waves crash and planning my escape soon.
It can literally only get better.
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| my current view |
A quick lie/ sleep in our sleeping bags under the stars on the Ein Gedi beach and it was 6am, the sun was rising and we were off to Masada, just 15 minutes down the road. As you can see, it was a glorious drive and the reward of eating breakfast at the base of Masada watching this blinding sun was the definition of nature's glory. The boys began their 7am hike to the top of Masada, while Ida and I enjoyed the sun and cleaning our hair in a nearby sink before hitching the cable car to the top. Best money I ever spent as it was a blistering 85 degrees. Masada is incredible, everything its cracked up to be and more. A very cool site, with unbelievable views and a crazy history- it is an old fortress used by the Roman army in BC times and then the Israeli army in the past century before becoming a world heritage site and tourist must-see. We explored the fortress all morning, but could have spent all day there, despite the rising temperatures and the boys impending hike down. We drove back to Tel Aviv quickly as we only had the rental car til 1pm, and had to enjoy the pleasure of getting gas in Israel- a stressful and expensive experience. But all in all was an unbelievable trip, and a true bucket list check.
