Day 33 – June 1 – Piraeus, Internet

Today’s mission was to get back on the internet and figure out what the heck my plans are after I leave the ship. It took me forever to figure out my itinerary and mode of transportation from Venice to Paris to DC, and after hours online, I still did not have it settled. I got to Skype with Mom and Dad (his first appearance on webcam) and of course, Dylan for a little while this afternoon, which was really nice. I think they’re getting the cruise bug after hearing my stories and seeing pictures.  I sat for most of the day at the “Have a Nice Day Café”, which was cute and had decent internet. I was able to download a couple episodes of Ugly Betty and Glee on Pieter’s computer and I honestly spent most of my time researching rail transport in Europe and looking at maps to see what cities I might want to hit on my way to Paris. What an amazing opportunity… Eric left me at the café to head back for the ship about an hour early, or so I thought… I had forgotten to set my watch ahead an hour as we passed through a time zone last night and didn’t realize it until the café was closing and I was strolling back to the ship and passed by a bank clock that said it was 4:40 pm. I was supposed to be on board no later than 4:30 pm and I was still outside the terminal. Once arriving to the terminal, I still had to go through security, which can take a good 10 minutes and walk all the way around to our specific dock to the gangway. This was a nightmare! We weren’t sailing until 5:30 pm and the guests had until 5 pm to be back on the ship, so I wasn’t in danger of missing the ship, just the likelihood of being in big trouble… or worse… having a major guilt trip and feeling horrible for the rest of my time here.  So I managed to make it to the gangway at 4:50, which was a miracle...and ran into the head of security (who, thankfully I know and have a friendly relationship with). I said I was sorry and forgot to change my watch and he only gave me a light tongue lashing, which I took and followed up with more apology. I walked back to my room, ashamed and completely overdramatic. I was laughing at myself the whole time, well, in between episodes of self-flaggelation. Haha…

After I got over myself and decided I could show my face outside my room, I had dinner and researched things to do in Izmir tomorrow with Pieter and Eric. Hopefully, I’ll keep up with my watch setting and not have another experience like today’s! OH! The other thing was that I bought a watch at a little stand in Izmir last time because I never know what time it is on the ship. I’m used to keeping time with my cell phone, which lives in the bottom of my backpack, turned off. So, half the time, I forget I’m even wearing a watch. Anyway…