Spring Break Neck
My kids are going to kill me for what I’ve done to their spring break.
A week from tomorrow we will be heading to Greece. A few days ago I scoured the internet looking for tickets that would get us to the Galapagos Islands and somehow ended up with tickets to Athens. Sorry, giant tortoise, maybe next time…
We wanted to go someplace warm but not a place where the spring break crowd would be (I speak for everyone but Kara who wants to be a part of that pack, but I have power over her for now). Someplace far, far, away. I was supposed to look for tickets a long time ago, but I don’t know, I don’t like planning things too far in advance. Or maybe I just don’t like committing to anything. I hope I never figure out the whys to that and remain flexible and open to stuff at the last minute until they lay my body into the ground. I thrive on that shit, new things coming at me really fast.
So hell yeah, Greece, let’s go.
I’ve got a buddy who lives there who I’ve been dying to meet, Sophia, a girl I met in Max’s online screenwriter’s group. It’s strange, I feel as if we’ve already actually met in person. It also seems as if she lives over in the next city, not on the other side of an ocean.
It’s a short trip, just one week (that is short for visiting Greece), but I am sort of looking at this thing as an intro. We’ll be in Athens for a couple of days, then head out to one of the islands. Funny thing, I didn’t book the Galapagos thing because it involved too many flights, but ended up with the same situation, too many flights. There are no straight flights to Athens from here, so we stop over in Amsterdam on the way there and back. Another flight to the islands. By the time this trip is done, we will have taken seven flights.
My kids are going to kill me.
Before that, though, we get to see this:
Man o man.
See, if I’d booked this three months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night waiting for this trip.
I love my life. Even if my kids are gonna kill me.
Jeannie said,
March 7, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Sweet, bring us back a nice pic, here in KY,I think it’s a GREAT SURPRISE!!!
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:13 pm
You can bet your life I’ll bring back some great photos, Jeannie.
michele said,
March 7, 2009 at 5:01 pm
You are going to have the greatest time! I’m so jealous!
You have to give Sophia a hug for me.
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Sophia is going to get smothered in hugs.
Sophia said,
March 7, 2009 at 6:21 pm
We are honored to have you and your family here, Kit. It feels like we are expecting close friends who live a couple of hours away. I’m so looking forward to having you here with us. Muah!!
Michele, you should come hug me yourself. What do you think?
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Thanks Sophia, I can’t wait!!!
See I have a lot of hugs to deliver. And yeah, Michele, that’s a good idea, in person.
Sophia said,
March 7, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Oh, and sorry giant tortoise. Better luck this time. Because, for now, she is ALL MINE! So, back off!
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:15 pm
LOL!
max said,
March 7, 2009 at 6:42 pm
That so rocks. Yay!
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I’m getting so charged about this trip I can barely sit still. See why the last minute planning. I couldn’t deal if I had to wait weeks or months to go.
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Sophia has been sending me some cool links for some really fun things to see and do. She sent me this one and guess what she said?
silverstar98121 said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Hey, if one of your kids doesn’t want to go, can I come instead? I can hardly wait to see the pictures.
Kitty said,
March 7, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I haven’t heard anything about anyone not wanting to go this time.
It’ll be like heaven for me, I’m bringing the good camera this time.
Holly said,
March 7, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Athens is beautiful! Be sure to hit the morning market before dawn.
Kitty said,
March 8, 2009 at 12:14 am
I just got back from the bookstore with a Nat Geo travel guide. They have some gorgeous photos of the market in there. Yeah, I’ll try to catch that.
tpgoddess0103 said,
March 8, 2009 at 12:04 am
That is awesome! I hope you have a wonderful time, that the kids don’t kill you, and I will look forward to the report and pictures.
Kitty said,
March 8, 2009 at 12:23 am
Thanks tp, I haven’t even left yet and already have a whacked travel tale.
Booked a nonrefundable room near the Athens airport, one with a free shuttle for the night before we return. I get Sophia to call the place to find out how to get on the shuttle and they say they don’t have a shuttle. They aren’t anywhere near the airport, either. Not close to the city center…
Luckily, I called the booking service and managed to get my money back.
michele said,
March 8, 2009 at 5:40 am
Oh, Soph, I wish I can come. I’ll be back to Greece again sometime, I promise!
Kitty, are you using a travel agent in Greece?
michele said,
March 8, 2009 at 5:41 am
Oh yeah, what is that link all about?
Zuri said,
March 8, 2009 at 7:16 am
Hope you have a nice trip. Next time I highly recommended you to travel to the Galapagos Islands because they are the most incredible living museum of evolutionary changes, with a huge variety of exotic species (birds, land animals, plants) and landscapes not seen anywhere else.
Zuri
leakelley said,
March 8, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I am anticipating lots of your magnificent photographs!
By the way, if I had kids, I would let them kill me to go there.
And a stop in Amsterdam?
What kid doesn’t want to go to Amsterdam on spring break?
Have a blast, kitty!
Kitty said,
March 8, 2009 at 2:53 pm
“What kid doesn’t want to go to Amsterdam on spring break?”
Lea, one of the girls is so looking forward to that part, it scares me.
Kitty said,
March 8, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Hey Michele, I’m using a combo of Expedia, Travelocity, the people at the link you sent, and Sophia (she worked as a travel agent once).
I’m open to suggestions if you have any recommendations.
Thanks for visiting Zuri. No doubt I will head to the Galapagos, it is on my must see list, all the way at the top.
max said,
March 9, 2009 at 3:13 am
You are such a tease what did Sophia say?
I am in love with the book My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell so I have always wanted to go to Corfu. :::sigh:::
Kitty said,
March 9, 2009 at 4:21 am
She said, “This is Sparta!”
That chick cracks me up to no end.
voodoo said,
March 9, 2009 at 7:35 am
Well looks like we will not be seeing ya’ll this spring. Have a great time.
Kitty said,
March 10, 2009 at 1:17 am
Thanks, I’ll be heading out there this spring, Voodoo.
writinggb said,
March 9, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I spent a month traveling in Greece as an undergrad. Now that was 1985, so things no doubt have changed….
The islands were truly spectacular. Absolutely amazing views of the water! Sunsets incredible. Sandy beaches. Perfect weather. Delicious food. Loved visiting the mainland sites like the original Olympic stadium, too.
Athens. Well. Undoubtedly, being with Sophia while there will make it lovely for you, I’m sure!
Greece is an absolute MUST SEE destination! Have a great time. Your kids are lucky!
Kitty said,
March 10, 2009 at 1:20 am
Thanks Writinggb, and that sounds like an amazing trip in 1985.
I’ve got some great reservations in place thanks to my friend Sophia. I can’t wait to see her and her country.
kumar said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:08 am
Hi Kitty,
Even i love your Life, can’t wait to hear the travel stories of yours.
regards,
kumar.
Kitty said,
March 12, 2009 at 3:06 am
I hope I do them justice, Kumar. Should be one of my favorite trips, I’m getting better at this travel thing and the kids are old enough to carry their own bags now.
Stefanos said,
March 29, 2009 at 11:24 am
I like Corfu but Kefalonia and Zante are not bad at all. They might be cheaper as well.