Chios

When I arrive in Chios I'm a little confused because there were so many people still on board. I didn't realize the ferry went on to Athens. On the way here there were romantic views of Turkey and some smaller probably unhabited Greek islands. Beautiful sunset- red and yellow going down between the islands.

I walk quite a distance to the recommended the Alex. Alex is friendly but the room for 20 eu is hot/ dingy/no window and the bathroom is through the living quarters where everyone is gathered around. I don't mind separate bathrooms but I don't want to walk through a crowd to take a shower.

On to a more expensive place which I rarely do unless I'm really tired and I feel like a splurge. A splurge for me is 60 bucks. I can't believe what a dump it is! Another hot box, worse than the last place but with a bathroom. Forget it!

I walk all the way back to where I arrived looking for another recommended place. I ask an old man, "Yasu (hello) Pou ine dormatio (where is a room)?" He leeds me to Filoxenia. It's a businessmen's hotel and full of prostitutes, but it's clean, A/C, balcony, TV with one English channel ( more on that later) and my own bathroom.

The receptionist asks for 25 eu but with the help of a translator I get it for 20 eu. The translator is a younger, well dressed mafio looking guy. I think he's the pimp. His blazer hangs over his shoulders like a cape. He gives orders to the girls in a fatherly voice. I find out later from some locals that I am right.