I have hitch hiked in about every country I've been to. You'd have to be on a suicide mission to hitch down baja Mexico now from what the news tells you, but I did 20 years ago. Just a couple of weeks ago I hitched in Turkey. A young good looking couple from Istanbul who were both engineers and had met during their university years. All of this reminded me of my friends Jeff and Tricia. They told me not to hitch in Turkey. I said why, "Someone like you guys might pick me up?" This caused a chuckle.
Yesterday I hitched again. I took the ferry from Chios. I thought I would be arriving in Samos Town. I studied my map. I knew I would be turning right, walking three blocks, and turning left to go to the pension I read about. But when I got off the ferry there was no turning right. There was no road. Everything was to the left and there wasn't much there. Samos Town should be much larger. Well I was in Karlovasi an hour away from Samos Town. Because I was dead set on going on my own way I didn't even see a bus at the port, which I'm sure there was, that took passengers on to Samos Town. By time I asked around the bus passed me. Then I got a different answer from each person I asked from five mins. to three hours to when the next bus would come. Me being the patient person that I am probably waited 10 mins. before I put my thumb out.
I got a ride from a retired postmaster who spoke limited English. The back of his car was full of stuff. I had a hard time getting my backpack in. When I finally did I couldn't lock my seat in place so that I constanly rocked back and forth.
I liked Georgio. He thinks like me: Concerned about the environment, angry about the pesticides that have poisoned the spring water and the fish, and he went on and on about the delicious wine that is grown on this island. He's telling me all this and talking on his cell phone and driving down the middle of the narrow road. He makes other cars coming our way practically go off the road. He passes other cars as cars are coming towards us. All along I'm rocking backwards and forwards. I feel like a pinball. I'm trying not to scream or even gasped because it would seem rude. Until now I thought Turkish drivers were the worse but this beats all.
So I'm staying at Pension Trova. I have a balcony with a view, frig, TV, the works for 20 eu. Acually the bathroom is separate but in this case it's right next to my room so no problem. And best of all I found a great place to swim- that means I'm staying a few days.
I got a ride from a retired postmaster who spoke limited English. The back of his car was full of stuff. I had a hard time getting my backpack in. When I finally did I couldn't lock my seat in place so that I constanly rocked back and forth.
I liked Georgio. He thinks like me: Concerned about the environment, angry about the pesticides that have poisoned the spring water and the fish, and he went on and on about the delicious wine that is grown on this island. He's telling me all this and talking on his cell phone and driving down the middle of the narrow road. He makes other cars coming our way practically go off the road. He passes other cars as cars are coming towards us. All along I'm rocking backwards and forwards. I feel like a pinball. I'm trying not to scream or even gasped because it would seem rude. Until now I thought Turkish drivers were the worse but this beats all.
So I'm staying at Pension Trova. I have a balcony with a view, frig, TV, the works for 20 eu. Acually the bathroom is separate but in this case it's right next to my room so no problem. And best of all I found a great place to swim- that means I'm staying a few days.
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