Around the world, around the world

So obviously it's been forever since i've written and every day i get mad at myself for not writing anything down that's going on in this ever eventful summer! i don't even know where to start but i'll just throw a few stories out there for those who are interested! So i must say my favorite part of my life right now are 2 things: meeting people from around the world and riding the quad bike down to get my lunch. The first one is obvious...i've met so many cool people...my favorites i think are the australians. they just seem to live life a lill more carefree than all of us. And they don't have that work, work work mentality that so many of us have. They work and they work well but they know how to play and how to play well! They also seem to be the ones who can travel the most freely around the world. Their passports seem to have no limits and they can all get visas easily! JEALOUS!!! i have no doubt that i'll keep in touch with a few of them and when i finally make my way around the world to Australia i can't wait to meet up with some of them! (hopefully!) Currently my new crushes are these 5 Portugese boys...yes they leave tomorrow so my crush will pass but they are all so sweet and speak enough English just to be cute enough! Oh and one in particular I'm going to marry! haha! And 2 of his friends are fighting over who's going to be the best man! haha! Always something to entertain you here at the pink palace. And another fact about the folks i meet, is that by far a British accent is my favorite...i always knew i liked it but also liked australian and south african but i've confirmed now brits sound the best! haha! if only there were more that stayed at the PP!

My second favorite thing...although i know it sounds totally random...is riding the quad (4 wheeler) bike down to pick up our lunch. Every day i get off at 1 and we have to pick our lunch up from the kitchen at the beach. and for some reason riding the bike down with the gorgeous scenery of the water and the cliffs, never fails to take my breath away! Even if i've had the worst morning of craziness, i still smile and laugh riding down or back up! Maybe it's the wind in my hair or maybe it's just the simple fact that i'm miles away from the reality of my life back in Alabama. Not worrying about paying this bill or that bill or wondering what the hell i'm going to do now that i don' thave a job or wondering why i'm still single. But for this time in my day...i'm just loving life!!!!!! And isn't that we all should do every now and then...just enjoy a smile!

view from my room!!! yess!!!
view from my desk at work...the people at happy hour~!!!
and some of the girls that work reception on pj night!!!

loving it all!!! sorry no time to write more!! love and miss you all!

Learning the ropes

Ok so I made my way to Corfu, Greece by hopping on a train from Rome, which was great to see the Italian countryside. when I got off the train in Brinidsi,Italy I saw 3 young girls with huge backpacks on...to a normal traveler this might mean nothing but to a solo travler this means...hey these girls might speak English and are probably going to the Pink Palace too! So I ask them where they are headed and sure enough...corfu! So I make some new friends headed the same way which was perfect b/c i had no clue how to do the ferryboat thing. We had quite an adventure, trying to get tickets w/ a nonEnglish speaking lady, attempting to walk to the port ( i quickly vetoed this with my pulling luggage) and then waiting for 6 hours before being able to board the boat! Needless to say these girls now know a lot about me and my life! haha! The ferry ride was miserable, it was overnight and our "cheap" seats literally translated into a disgusting floor of a bar area where there was suppose to be no smoking but everyone was smoking!!! When we arrived in Corfu I couldn't tell you how HAPPY i was to see the sun rising over the mountains as the loading dock got tied up!!!

I've been working for just a week now but it feels like over a month! haha! Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing! I do work some weird hours and never have a day off...so that part sucks, I'm not going to lie. But I do have a few hours off in the middle of the day which is my favorite time!! Then I usually nap, lay out at the pool or beach, swim or kayak! Sorry for all those in Alabama with all the rain because every day here has been gorgeous, gorgeous!!!! I kayaked with a guest yesterday because she didn't want to go out alone, we had a great time and even snorkled a little bit. I think one of my favorite things is the amazing people that come through this place. I work at reception so every time someone checks in we have to give them the whole low-down on everything that happens here, which includes lots of daily & nightly activities! It continously amazes me the people that travel and who they travel with and where they've been. There's always an interesting story in everyone!

I don't have any really juicy stories for everyone out there. My sweet Greek and I are still pretty flirty but that's about it for now! I'm not too worried whatever happens happens! Plus there's plenty of cute guest that always keep my mind occupied or entertained! Ha! I've been trying to balance the evening activites with my work and sleep and still getting the schedule down! I was hoping to go to bed early tonight but seeing as how facebook is taking forever to upload pics, it's now almost 2 am so looks like another sleepy day tomorrow! hope my old 28 body can handle this!!

I miss all of my US friends often and i'm totally sad that I've missed a lot of events, big and small that are happening over there! But to be honest this is a world away and I have to remind myself sometimes that my life back home even exisits! haha! Spiros is suppose to be bringing me one of his old phones (yay!) tomorrow so i'll have a greek number y'all can call if you want since my phone bill is out roof these days!! I'll try to blog more often but finding internet time is HARD! But I did finally upload one photo album on facebook, hopefully the second one won't be too far behind! (the photos above are 2 from Paris: My friends Maelle & her brother Guillaume out to eat, me and Guillaume leaving for my b'day adventure! and the sunrise in Corfu as the boat lowers it's lift!)

If she wants to rock, she rocks, if she wants to ROME, she ROMES...

(sorry not a lot of caps b\c it's hard on this computer)So...for those of you who don't know by now my plans changed in paris and i decided to be irresponsibly responsible for myself and not come back to america! yes, i'm living off my severance pay for 3 months and we'll see how long that last me! i will be heading back to corfu to work at the Pink Palace with Haley. hopefully, this is a good idea! ha! there are many reasons for this decision:i only get one life, why not?;i love corfu and can't wait to spend a summer there even if it is when i'm working; i have the rest of my life to work 8-5 and be responsible. i could probably list 10 more but i'll spare ya'll. but i do know for sure that i'm looking forward to working some and then swimming in the ionian sea, kayaking among the cliffs (breathtaking, i tell you) and soaking up some sun when my schedule allows it. i hope i'm not dreaming too big here! (sometimes i do agree it sounds too good but i keep praying!)

So for now...i'm in rome...i arrived by myself with no hotel or knowing no one here. i met a guy at the airport from arkansas, random! and we helped each other get to the center of rome, we were both pretty lost people! But just one of the many ways God has kept his hand in my journey! i must admit, i was a lil timid at first and eating dinner wasn't fun but i've learned to handle the ropes and figured Rome out! it's a great city, not sure it's my favorite (sorry for those that it is) but it's definitely been great. And if you've read Eat,Pray, Love then you can appreciate italian life pretty well! Gelatios mutlipe times a day can't be beat! lots and lots of history...my favorite history today was the prison where the apostle peter and paul were held before their killings. Truly moving place. And the Trevi fountain is my favorite too! i'm aobut to head to dinner nearby so i can see it lit up at night. Then tomorow it's off to Brindsi,Italy via train for 5hrs (hop0efully not too fast so i can see the countryside) and then at 9pm i get on a boat for a lovely 12hr boat ride to Corfu!!! And then to work! But i can tell you i'd rather work all day there then work in bham! haha! (at least i hope so!)

i have so, so many stories i still have yet to post but once i'm in corfu maybe i'll have time to write them!!! i must admit for all those who are super jealous...i am very sad about all the things i will be missing back home...like weddings, showers, summer events, beach trips, lake trips,etc....but the reality is i have had years of these things so i need to give this a try just once and then next summer hopefully i'll still have some friends around who'll want\be able to do all those fun things again another summer! please all keep me in your prayers that i've made a good decision and that God will continue to do his will in my crazy summer plans! hope i'm not being too selfish! haha! LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!!!
(Sorry i promise pictures as soon as possible believe me i'm dying to post them all!)

A Parisian B'day week!

So I always tell everyone to be friendly to everyone b/c you never know when that person might be able to help you or has a house in Figi or something like that. Well that could not be more true for this week for me. About 10 years ago my great-aunt had a foreign exchange student. Maelle, was from France and is my age. Well my cousin and her hit it off pretty well and continued to talk and kinda date over the course of the last 10 years or so. Even though my cousin is now married, Maelle has kept in touch with our family some, which helpe me immensely. I booked my flight back through Paris since it was cheaper and Maelle insisted I stay with her & her family. I had no clue just how great of an offer that was! I arrived Saturday evening...she,her boyfriend and his friend picked me up at the airport, which i later find out is really far away for them to drive! We arrive at her house and i freshen up some and then she's like ok you help me cook...she acts like it will just be something not good that she throws together but then we end up with this fabulous meal! Endives wrapped in ham covered in this delcious creamy cheese sauce! I knew then that I was smack dab in the middle of living a French life!!!! Her Brother was also there, Guillaume (aka William in English) w/ a few friends. He's 21 and at first i thought immature until i got to know him! That night we went out with Maelle's boyfriend and 2 of his friends...unfortunately none of them spoke English (except Maelle speaks great English!) besides a few words. So it was really just me listening and taking in the scene of Notre Dame & them talking in French. Now i do know some french but not enought to put their sentences all together! Seriously though since I've been here my mind's been going 90 to nothing trying to figure out what they are saying! I must say though that I'm suprised how much I remember. I discovered I do very well at reading though. I love reading all the signs/advertisments!

Sunday, we slept late & Maelle went to the pastery shop & got some DELICIOUS croissants,etc. Had the best breakfast! Then we took the Metro to Champs D' Elysese (sp?) which is one of the most famous streets in Paris. Big shopping, lots of famous name brand stores! We went in a few, mostly window shopping and then went to lunch @ 3 (ha!) to this place that's famous for their macaroons...not like our macaroons at all! This lunch was amazing, i mean like amazing, everything we ate from the rolls, to the sandwich to the fries to the macaroons were fabulous! I was so content after that meal! next, we intended to walk to the top of the Arc de Triump but Maelle was too tired so i said I'd go another day! Then we went to a park & sat in these amazing reclining chairs! Finally we got home and for dinner made eggplants, zuchinni sauteed with colorful salad. All the meals are so healthy and tastey here for some reason, although they always have dessert of some type at the end. That night we watched Ratatouille, Maelle's favorite movie, which is based in Paris, so it was very appropriate! :)

The next day, MY BIRTHDAY, I slept late. Then got up & started getting ready. Guillaume came in & asked me my plans for the day I told him going around to the sites,etc. He said well maybe I take you on my bike wherever you want to go. I was like umm...ok. Then he went and got me, him and his friend Marshall (very cute boy) Chinese food. He was so cute about making sure he knew everything I liked! Maelle came home sick that day, which I was glad to get her approval to ride around town with her brother! She gave him a good mom speech about taking care of me! ha! So it was so cute...I put on this huge helmet, hopped on the back of his scooter/motorcyle and off we went! This is where a soundtrack for the day begins to play...we stop to get gas and he brings me some cany out from the store! haha! Such a sweet gesture. Also, keep in mind he doesn't speak english a lot so for him to make the effor to talk to me about all the things we see and where we go is huge. I could never imagine doing that in America for someone. Every corner we went around I'd catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and ask myself...is this really happening? Then I'd squeeze him a little tighter as he weaved through traffic! haha! We went to Sacre la Coeur, which is gorgeous white church on top of a hill, we went inside and he explained a lot of stuff to me about history. I began to realize he knows a lot about everything! Literally, the BEST tour guide i could've ask for!!! We walked around some and he showed me the best school in Paris to go to & told me about how you can't grow wine in this certain area,etc...Then we hopped back on the bike and he took me by the Moulin Rouge and that sketchy district, telling me little facts a long the way! Then we stopped at the store where he works part time...kinda reminds me of AtHome in Homewood or some decorating store like that, which I never would picture him working at. (i'm continuing to grow a huge crush at this time! ha!) then we went to a cafe nearby for some red wine and just talked. His girlfriend had just broken up with him so we talked about that and i tried to give my best "older woman" advice! He said he wants to be young when he gets married so he can be young and fun for his kids...I was like oh my please come to America with me, every girl will love you! haha!

Next we stopped at a Pastery shop where he said had the best pasteries in the world, they always win the big contest that are world wide. So we boxed up those, bought a baguette, which i had to put in my purse. I felt so European at this moment, I could've died! :) He took me to the Louvre, which i wanted to visit inside but forgot about that & just followed his plans. We went to this gorgeous square in the middle of the Louvre and shared our pastries. Of course, he also worked at a hotel that makes pasteries so he told me all about each one and the process of making them,etc... I mean for a 21 year old he amazes me at how much knowledge and experiences he's had! Oh and we also stopped by the Ritz, the one where Princess Diana was last seen leaving before her crash. And across from there is a area full of expensive jewlery. He took me to each shop and told me which jeweler was the best quality,etc. The only thing that could've made that complete is if he'd walked in the store and bought me one of the diamonds! haha! After our pastry debauchary, we went to this garden area where he said is the place that is the best in Paris to come think. He said "if you have problem or someone breaks up with you or you lose your job this is the best place to come think about it all" So we sat and we thought! :)

Finally we made it home, I wish I could put into words how great the day had already been...what I've written above doesn't do it justice at all!!! So then the birthday just keeps getting better. I come home to 56 facebook notifications of b'day wishes! YAY!!!! Then Guillaume & Maelle make me a birthday dinner. Did I mention that Guillaume is the best cook ever!!! He made this chicken curry with rice that was amazing! A tomato & mozeralla salad with great homemade dressing. And then the big finale....a chocolate molten cake. You know the kinda that's cake and then gooey in the middle!!! I mean seriously one of the most heavenly things I've put in my mouth!!!! Oh & by this point in the night they had about 4 other friends join us and one brough me a bottle of yummy wine! These people were all so great and they'd never met me and barely speak my language! So they put 4 candles on the corner ofthe cake and a sparkler in the middle!!! it was sooooo cute!!!! The more friends came and brought some wine and we all just hung out and talked. Some of the friends that came spoke better English so that helped me too! they were all just so great to this birthday girl! Oh and they even signed a birthday card for me!!! :)

If I had to be thousands of miles away from my family and friends on my birthday I'm so blessed that I was with such great people and events to make it ok! Ok time to go shop for a few items and visit inside Notre Dame! And in case you haven't heard yet...yes, I'm going back to Greece to work for the summer! Oh and yes, I'll write more about Greece when I can! Sorry!! sooo many stories!!! Love and miss you all!!!

Spanning the World...jobless

Ok so for those who may or may not know I lost my job a couple weeks ago...totally unexpected and very, very sad! i had started to write this very indepth blog about it all so express my feelings but then things began to change quickly in a world-wind...literally spanning the globe. So for now...that's all ya need to know...lost my job but got 3months insurance and severance! yay!!!! thank goodness for that b/c that allowed me to feel 100% better by booking a very last minute trip to Greece and Paris on the way home! As most of you know (expect for those few blog stalkers i might have) my BFF Haley lives in Greece now with her boyfriend. this was my 4th time going and every time i learn soemthing new, do something new and have a different experience. It's funny i saw a guy Akis who i met there 6 years ago and we hadn't seen each other in 6 years! We had such a good time catching up especially b/c he speaks English very well! Haley and I took one day and discovered the northern half of the island...we saw some amazing, amazing views! We discovered an amazing castle and just romped around the whole thing taking tons of pictures. It's so great just driving aorund b/c the island is so small you can't get lost really. We bought a map and highlighted the route we took too.

Also, my favorite Greek is Spiros, who i met 2 years ago. He's only 23 but is as mature as me for sure, especially by Greek standards. We became very close the first time i was there and then kept in contact over the last year via IM. We had many long talks via IM. We lost touch at the end of the year so it was sooo great to spendmany nights up late talkingto him. Oh and one night we were eating dinner and Cristo (haley's bf) was like "hey, let's go to a movie" I was like sure why not, who ever goes on vacation to Greece and goes to a movie? but it was so fun!! they even have intermission during the movie. Oh and Haley and Cristo secretly got Spiros to show up at the movie theatre. i had no idea! it was really cute though. and then afterwards, i left with him and got to ride in his new Fiat car! haha! and we went to this place called Potato Mania, which apparently is his favorite place to eat Haley said. And when i realized what it consisted of i am for sure that it is my favorite place too. it's essentially a french fries bar where you put whatever toppings you like on it. And if you know me you know i LOVE fries!! haha! It was so cute, he had to hel me order and tell me what all the foods were. and then we had a heineken overlooking the port in Corfu town and eating the delicious food! ok...crap...gotta go eat my chinese food with my french friend's brother...to be continued...haha!!! sorry..i tried

No time for writing

haley & i on one of our driving the island adventures

We found a castle!!! Gorgeous day for finding one, ha! Breath taking views!

My sweet Spiros and me! ;)

Some traditional greek dancing...the guy on the left is Haley's boyfriends twin brother! ha! Gotta love it!

A view of Corfu Town behind us...we're on top of the old fort.

ok don't have much time for writing but here's a few pics...