Thessaloniki and on to Italy!!

We spent the night in Meteora with our wonderful "room wrangler" Totti....

Here is Totti's shop! We stayed above and on the right...it was like staying at the Marriott. 

From Meteora we moved on to Thessaloniki, where I learned many things:

1. Sometimes people will pick you up on the side of the road and drive you the rest of the way to your campsite because they know how hot and uncomfortable you must be

2. Sometimes you have to stick out your thumb I that universal sign to get a ride to the bus stop that is 7 km from your campsite to get to the airport in time...

An old Greek man in a small Toyota pickup might just give you a lift!

3. Campsites can be like resorts...like Akti Retzika!!! (www.retzikas.gr)

 4. They have peelable banana popsicles. Need I say more??

5. I love sitting in hammocks on the shore of the Aegean, watching the sun set and thunderstorm roll in

 

6. Ryanair is the budget traveler's best friend!! But don't expect your orange juice at 10,000 feet.

And with that we are in Italy! After a looooong day trying to get TO the airport (thank you Greek man with the pickup), waiting for our flight, waiting to get to the train station in Rome, almost (but not quite) getting pickpocketed in Roma Termini, and THEN crowding on to a very, VERY full train to Naples (I can still smell the sweat and cat dander), we made it to Pompeii. It was worth it to stay for €10 that night at Camping Spartacus!! 

Traveling Wisdom

Greeks are nice, they help you get on and off the train or bus at the right time, and they even give you rides! My lifelong dream to hitchhike was a success! And yes Dad, I was the one sticking my thumb out and flagging down the old man.

Do NOT let just anyone try to help you buy tickets for the train at the automatic ticket booths, they have a friend behind you standing a little too close and slipping a had into your pocket....