The Pink Palace
Trip Start
Nov 08, 2004
1
31
48
Trip End
Aug 10, 2005
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Corfu, Greece
Thursday, January 20, 2005
I walked a little way down the road and got the phone card, then back past the taxis to the pay phone. I called the hostel and they told me where to wait, so I walked once more past the taxis to the front of the restaurant. By this time I was starving - I hadn't eaten since lunch the day before - and the two double espressos I'd drank on the ferry were wearing off.
I waited a long time, checking my watch every few minutes. The combination of hunger and exhaustion were taking a toll on me, and I began to feel sick on top of already feeling tired. After 35 minutes, I decided to get a taxi - it was a shorter walk than going back to the phone booth to call the hostel again. This driver asked for 18€, and I didn't even bother to negotiate.
The drive seemed endless, and now I was starting to feel like I might actually throw up. The driver would speak to me periodically, distracting me from my queasiness, but when the car crested a hill and the land dropped away to reveal the sea far below, I nearly lost it. I managed to have him pull over, and I stepped out into the cool morning air and leaned over the guardrail for a few minutes. Once I felt my stomach settle, I got back in, apologizing to the driver. He was very cool about the whole thing, and assured me that we'd be there in a few minutes.
He was right - we arrived just a couple of minutes later, which just added to my embarrassment. I gave him 20€ and told him to keep the change, and he walked me over to the hostel entrance. After explaining why I hadn't waited for the free ride (the driver was on the phone when I walked in), I got to the room and took a shower, then went for a little nap. I woke up 10 hours later and went downstairs for the free dinner - a nice plate of roast chicken and potatoes, with soup and salad - then drank at the bar for a few hours.
My internal clock is now completely confused, with the time zone change and the all-nighter on the ferry, so I haven't seen Corfu during the day yet. I have at least eight days here, though, so I'm sure I'll see it eventually!
