Posts Tagged With: misadventure

I’m Stuck in This Place!!!

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

Only pic I have of me in any transportation hub (Not Paris)

Okay so another breaking news story, I am completely and entirely stuck in this city! So I have been a bit behind in catching you up on where and what I have been doing and I promise to get you back on track (or myself rather) and up to date, but until then I have to fill you in on what’s going on currently. I left Switzerland as you know and went back to Germany which I will tell you all about next time but then a bit after that I found myself here, in Paris, those who are on my instagram or Facebook already know this! It turns out that the city of love, loves me too much! You would not believe what I have been going through in an effort to leave this place!

Here is the story, I came to the airport on Thursday the day I thought I was going to leave, only to find out the flights were not only full but oversold and they were trying to give perks away for people to volunteer to give up their seats. After 10 hours at the airport that day I went to a hotel by the airport with my luggage and a level of frustration and exhaustion higher than the Eiffel tower. Two other ladies came with me and we decided to have dinner and share a room together. This really helped as we found some release in the company of each other. One of the ladies was much older and spoke only Spanish and was trying to get back to Bolivia, she was very thankful for our company and help, especially the help with finding her missing tooth! Yeah that’s right, the one she placed directly back in her mouth without washing it off even though it was found on the ground at the hotel. Anyhow I digress.

So the next day we all head out in the darkness of the early morning and the chilly temperature aboard the shuttle bus back to the airport. One of the ladies meets me back at the departure gate, we realize we have no idea where our Bolivian is and I haven’t seen her again actually. Anyhow the other lady gets lucky and at the last moment gets a seat on the plane gives me her number a hug and kiss and is off. I sit there excited for her and then sad realizing that I am still there as the place empties but somehow I feel hopeful I will get on another flight which after another 10 hours and some more request for volunteers, I realize is nothing but false hope. I pick up my bags again at the end of the day and follow the routine of the previous night this time having dinner alone, but the waiters and waitresses that remembered me all make frequent stops at my table for quick conversations and to add me on their Facebook. I go back to the hotel extremely tired having had only 6 hours of sleep over the last two days which I guess had its effect on me as I overslept and missed my flight time the next day! I wake up thinking this has got to be a joke.

So day three and I have another night at the darn airport hotel with no idea when I will get out of this place. Sure some may think Paris is not really that bad of a place to be stuck which I would agree with if the airport wasn’t so far from the city a 50 euro or more taxi ride away. Where I am, there is nothing around but the view of distant airport terminals and well, that’s about it. So today back to the airport this time yes looks like I am good to go when a bit before boarding, the flight is canceled!! I am for sure stuck in the twilight zone or something, at this point I have no emotions left I just go get my luggage get transferred to the flight for tomorrow and go through my now thoughtless and robotic routine. However this time there is a girl I begin speaking to who, like all the other passengers, is left completely in the dark by the airline and not sure of the next move. I offer for her to come with me and we go to the hotel share a room and go to my spot for dinner where as I am greeted by the waiters she jokes that I seem very popular there.

So here I am now wondering when I will get a flight and I begin to wonder if I am being kept here for some reason that I need to stop fighting and accept. When I was getting really angry and frustrated I began to read my journal and realized what an amazing adventure I have been having and this is just another part of the journey, plus, I would still rather spend 10 hours at the airport than at the office :) So as I go off to bed wish me luck!

Categories: France | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The Last of Romania

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

 

Romania!!

My last few days in Romania were spent in Piatra Neamt, the area I took the train ride to, after being invited by the young guy I met at Bran Castle in Transylvania. I arrived at night and upon exiting the train, there he was standing right in front of the doors on the track waiting to greet me with the warmest most contagious smile. A lovely way to erase the six hours I just spent seated facing an old miserable woman, who at one point had me engaged in exchanging unpleasantries to, both in our native tongues. Neither of us understanding each others words, but definitely getting the point from our tones. Just as the memory of those hours was fading, I realized I could not yet exit the train as she (same miserable woman) was taking forever to get out because she had a million bags and boxes that had to each be removed first at a painstakingly slow pace, backing up traffic in the train!

Looking over the city of Piatra Neamt

Nonetheless I eventually exited and we drove to his grandfathere’s place where we would mostly be staying during my visit. I stayed in Piatra Neamt for five days, during that time we toured the little town a bit, went up cable cars to where the winter actvities take place while in the summers the bmx boys enjoy the trails. We also went to an area called Bicaz a beautiful area with gorges, rivers, lakes and the like and I also had the chance to go to another area to watch my host rock climb his most difficult course yet. I did enjoy my time there although it is a very small place with an older population and not much social activity, great to visit but a bit of a bore for a young person to actually reside there I would think. I did rest a lot though and catch up n some movies, something I rarely do. Then as usual, it was time to go, now this is where the trouble started.

Driving through the rock formations in Bicaz

So first I was going to leave on Sunday but missed both departure times which were 7 and 8 a.m. since we both woke up a touch late. Then Monday we made sure to be at the bus sstation at around 7:30, we were told we missed the bus which is only at 7 not 8 as suggested online. I was  thinking this has to be a joke when we were then told by someone else there is another bus across the street that comes at 8. I went there and waited and made it on. Said goodbye to my host and was off to another city Tirgu Mures where he told me I would have a bit of a layover before getting the train to Budapest. Okay, so 4 hrs later I make it to my next stop I get out of the bus a passenger helps me get a taxi to go to the station as she was a fluent English speaker. The taxi driver asks me in Spanish (this was our only mutual language, though neither of us experts in it) where I was going, I told him Budapest. He looked at me puzzled and asked if I was leaving the next morning and I explained that I was going there now. He took me to the station and came in to speak to the lady at the counter only to confirm what he already knew. There were no trains to Budapest until the morning!! He then showed me the schedule and sure enough the train there leaves at 5:35 in the mornings. Not at all the info my host gave me. So I was left with no choice but to have him take me to a hotel. When we got there, I found out that they neither accepted credit cards or euro (the currency I had left from what my mom had western unioned since I lost my bank debit card), so the driver took me to an exchange office. I exchanged 50 euro of the little I had left and returned and got a room. He promised to come back for me in the morning at 5 and departed. The room was quite large and comfortable but most importantly..it had wifi :) I woke up at 4:15 am the next day determined not to miss the train, the taxi was waiting in the dark of the early morning, though it was not the driver I had before, this stout friendly round face looked at me smiling and said, “Budapest?” So I knew he was sent to come get me. I went to the station he left blowing kisses pocketing a little higher fee than I thought was normal for that trip, but I figured justified seeing that he was waiting so early for me. So I went inside to get my ticket and finally leave Romania when the lady at the counter quotes me a few dollars higher than what I had left (164 lei and I had 150 lei). Oh and of course she also does not accept cards or euro, again contrary to what my host told me and there are no exchange places open at 5 a.m., I felt like I was in the twilight zone! Absolutley having no idea what to do, a girl behind me says to try asking one of the taxi drivers outside, and I do. I found a driver who was willing to exchange the 10 euro but at a usurious rate, probably encourage by the heavy odor of desperation he could smell on me, and it indeed being true I accepted and ran back in to get my ticket.

Finally I was on the train the girl that had given me the taxi tip sat with me. We chatted and exchanged info for the short while we were together seeing that she was getting off at a stop many hours before mine. She then invited me to come visit her family in the mountains next time I come to Romania and also if I had no plans for new year’s eve to join her and friends in Budapest to celebrate. I assured her we would keep in touch and finalize details closer to the date before she left. I sat relieved for the next few hours as I was now on my way to Hungary, to visit my best friend’s family and that’s where I am now.

A very common mode of transport in Romania

On my way up in the cable car

Categories: Romania | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Tales From the Trip

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

Here we are now 3 months and 10 countries into my travels can you believe it?! Two or so days ago I read my first two blog posts and thought to myself how far I have come already in these three months. I could not have anticipated what I am experiencing now and I am so happy I went through with it despite the very few moments of anxiety. It made think about other moments when I went through with things that at first made me a bit nervous and how well they turned out and I began considering what else I have in my life that I am hesitant about and how to go ahead an conquer them. There is no telling how I will feel three months from now, I will cross that bridge when I get to it, but as of now I am happier than I have ever thought possible and am so excited to see what else will come out of this journey. I really have to send a huge THANK YOU to everyone who is apart of this with me, you really make this so much more fun!

As you know not everyday has been peaches and cream but it’s nice to know I have you guys to spill it all out to at the end of the day. Oh and a nice three month anniversary gift, I got my first nomination for a blogger award. That post will be up soon. So there are a few things that have happened to me that I have left out along the way and wanted to share with you now! So here goes, some of my tales from the trip!!

Hostel? Like the Movie?: I have had many first since being away including my first hostel stay. This is not something that is too popular in the US and as I have said before for many, our first intro to the concept was from the movie of the same name. So when one of my friends found out I was going to be staying at one she nearly freaked out! However, I survived that one and many more since then and have really actually come to love them as you get the opportunity to meet so many cool people. You should have seen me the first time I entered the empty four bed mixed dorm of a boutique hostel. No one else was there yet and I jumped on a top bunk like a kid at Christmas dying for a roomie to walk in! It was funny, but it turned out to be a really cool girl that I still keep in touch with now! And for those who have read my last two post you also know that I recently had my first couch surfing experience also, which was a blast.

Candid Camera: So I had recently finished a skype convo with one of my friends who was worried about me staying at hostels and in walks a new roomie a very good looking and lovely chap! Next morning as he was chatting to me in towel only after his shower and a fresh tan from being along the coast for the pass week, I thought I should sneak a pic to send to my friend to show her hostels aren’t so bad after all lol. So turned off the volume so he wouldn’t hear the snap on my iPhone and very incognito took a pic as he spoke. Alas it was kinda shaky so I thought one more! For some unknown reason as I greedily tried to sneak another pic…FLASH…the flash goes off. Errrr awkward is not the word!! Yeah I was so embarrassed but he said nothing about it neither did I and I’m hoping since it was day time maybe he didn’t see!

Seeing Red: Okay so I am a swim suit junkie, I love love love them! Wear them around my house at home sometimes (ahhm okay should have left that out!). So was cruising around one day with bunches of people wasn’t feeling so well and wondered if I was getting sea sick, which would be unusual as I have never experienced this before. Anyhow I continued to have fun and was waiting for the feeling to subside. At one point I got off the boat and went to the bathroom only to find out (sorry boys) yes it was that time of the month!! I was in a WHITE swim suit and no I was not prepared for this! So I washed my swimsuit out in the bathroom and let’s just say was far less active the rest of the trip!

What?! No internet: Now this is something that I have now become a little more accustomed to but sadly react pretty much the same way.What am I talking about? Well the first time I had no internet access. Oh my gosh I thought I was going to die! Now there are many things I can live without, the internet would be the last I would give up (don’t judge me). That day I felt like the world was going on without me, like everyone got an invite to a party I knew nothing about, like, like…my life was over! Okay a bit dramatic but you get the point. Yeah I hate not having internet access.

Hold Your Pee: So one thing I came to realize when traveling through Turkey by bus, was that any rest stops where you had to pay to use the bathroom were usually the most disgusting ones. Totally counter intuitive I know! The first one I went to was in the middle of the night en route to Pammukale I think, I paid my lira and entered while the guy behind the glass shouted at another tourist who he accused of not paying and she in a very whiny voice was challenging him on this untruth according to her. Anyway I go in the bathroom and Oh My Word! The line is forever, the floor is soaked, there is no paper and…wait for it…there are the squat toilets! Yes the hole in the ground ones I have managed to escape even while in Asia. But now here we were faced with pissy floors ewww. And for those of you have have been with me you know I hate public bathrooms to begin with. I went ahead and raised my white flag while lowering my jeans and butt to the floor. I swear I must have been crying the whole time (well on the inside). It was gross, I may have run out screaming afterwards.

Are We There Yet?: I don’t even know how many hours I have spent on planes, ferries, buses and trains in these 3 months. Well let me think, hmm if I tally it all up, yeah probably a million hours! Multiple 12 hour bus rides, it makes anything in single digits seem like a walk in the park. Especially after my most recent 19 hr bus ride to where I am now. Not complaining though it really is more entertaining than being on a plane, but gosh I’m tired of my butt being numb!

Refugee: Lastly on a completely different note, while on another long ferry ride a met a girl from Ethiopia, had she been in Miami I would have assumed she was from the Dominican Republic. I had not met anyone from there before. She was very beautiful and had a decent comprehension of English. As we began chatting and became more comfortable with each other she started telling me a bit about herself. She was basically illegal and had tried many times to flee to other countries but failed. She had come to where we were two years prior via another country and hidden in the back of a truck with other Africans searching for what they thought was a better life. What in the states we call the “American Dream”. This did not really pan out for her as she had in these two years been working very low paying odd jobs and sharing a house with many others therefore having support if someone was unable to pay the rent others were able to cover it. She told me a story of when she first got off the truck and some Somalians who knew what route to take turned to her and said not to follow them as they didn’t need any additional people to call attention to themselves. She was scared and didn’t know where to turn. She luckily came upon a group of tourists who were traveling in a group and they let her stay with them for the remainder of their tour feeding and clothing her and trying to make her smile when she felt like doing anything but. Her story continued and really touched me at one point I turned my head to hide the tears that I fought from surfacing. This happened to be after I had lost my bank card which seemed completely insignificant now. She left for a second and returned with something for me to eat and drink she said because she knew I had lost my card and I felt so guilty to accept it as I did have a bit of cash I explained and she insisted saying she would be insulted if I turned it down. I secretly said a little prayer for her and marveled at the human spirit. I took her email and did email her a few days after but never received a response. I have to admit that I do wonder about her from time to time.

And there you have it a few stories I have never shared. I have a feeling there will be many more.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Island Hopping

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

In the DJ booth turning the rock bar to reggae!

After a very eventful night in Kos and an invitation to stay the week, seeing that my night scene tour guide was leaving the next day for the UK , he offered his apartment for me to tour the island leisurely.  Though this was a great offer and one I would have normally been up for, I had to decline as I already made plans to leave the next day to another island. This day following my night out was a rough one for me. By the time I made it back to my room and collapsed into bed there was a not so gentle knock on my door and a robust bottle blonde, let me know it was time to leave. I had been out all night and morning and it was now 11:30a.m. I was beyond exhausted but managed to scrape up whatever dregs of energy was left or created. So I reluctantly packed up and headed out, well not really out, I left my luggage downstairs and sat in the outdoor area in front of the house. The ferry I needed wasn’t leaving until 8:30 p.m. and I was tired, hungry and hung over! The perfect recipe to create the longest day ever!

Heading to the port in Kos

Oh but it gets better! At one point in the day I manage to make it to an agency to buy my ticket only to realize I don’t have my bank card arghh!! And by didn’t have I don’t mean I left it back at the house, I mean I lost it. Anyhow I purchased it with a credit card which increased the price (they charge extra to use a card) and went back to sit outside the house and suffer through the remaining hours. Luckily I met a lovely young boy from Turkey with Bulgarian heritage who kept my company and helped the time pass and divert attention away from my ill state. He filled me in on his family and heritage and reasons for travel along with a few other stories that I found quite entertaining. He then helped me take my luggage back to the port a few hours later until it was time to board my 7 and a half hour ferry ride to Syros/Siros. A place I had not even heard of before receiving a couch surfing invite that I decided to accept. I decided to not research anything about the island as I just wanted to discover everything in a completely raw way.

Sunrise in Syros

So I arrive in Syros its almost five in the morning and as soon as I disembark, I hear someone call my name and I turn to find myself standing face to face with a very handsome Greek guy who welcomes me to the island. Okay, so this is my host for the next four days? Not bad Jodi, not bad! I decided to try couch surfing after the many great reports I heard from other travelers along the way. I jump on the back of his scooter for a short 3 minute ride to where he stays in the summer, I get settled in and we end up exchanging stories and then decide to go watch the sunrise since we were already up and he was just feet away from the sea. After our rendezvous with the rising sun we then walked to a favorite bakery of his to purchased freshly baked goods for breakfast, which we sit on a bench by the harbor to consume. What a great start to Syros, at this point I am excited for what this island has to offer, but first, I NEED A NAP!

The sunrise spot in the day time

Leaving the sunrise spot

Categories: Greece | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Losing it in Turkiye

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Travel with Jodi

My loyal companion, just before leaving the hotel

This is one of those “Breaking News” type stories. I had planned on writing about my activities in the last 4 to 5 days, until what happened to me a few hours ago.  So I leave Pamukkale this morning and take a shuttle service from the bus company near the hotel, that was supposed to take me to the main bus station where I would board and head to my next destination. Simple enough, right? Not really! So the shuttle guy drops me off at a bus stop somewhere in Denizli, Turkey. I was totally unsure if that was my stop but he, like most Turks I have found, speaks no English. So here I am, standing at the bus stop with my luggage. Luckily I know the name of the main bus station that I need to depart from. After much gesturing and repetition of the name of where I need to go, a man waves down one of the many mini busses and points for me to jump on. So I do.

Once we arrive at the main bus station another gentleman runs up to the minibus asks where I am going and then tells me to follow with him to the terminals. The bus I need, leaves in about 10 to 15 minutes so I rush over especially since I have no ticket yet. A few minutes later I have paid for my ride and am told that the bus will be there soon and to get ready, when I realize suddenly. I DON’T HAVE MY BACKPACK. Now you have to understand that most of my valuables, including laptop, passport, newly filled flash drive with all my photos and some cash are all in that backpack. Needless to say a wave of panic immediately races through my body and takes up residence there! I try to explain as best I can to the guys that my backpack was left on the mini bus. I get my money back that I had just paid as it is now impossible for me to leave. My mind is in a chaotic daze at this moment and the lack of any decent knowledge of English now frustrates me (maybe unreasonably so). I don’t know the name of the minibus but find someone who was on the same bus with me to see if someone can ask him. This does no good as he speaks no English either.

I don’t recall all the details I just remember going over to one of the traffic police booths where the large buses pass through to see if I can explain to them. I walk over and try to explain I left my backpack on the mini bus, he gestures for me to enter. I explain as best I can while he calls over two other men. I once again recant the story. They now have an idea of what I am trying to say but point at the large luggage I have in tow, I acknowledge that it is indeed mine but I also had a backpack. A few others pack into the booth, as I am asking if there is anyone who speaks English. They seem more fascinated with me than my backpack but at least there is a sense that they all know what is going on now. It would seem as if we were playing charades with all the body language infused conversation to aid communication. I am told to sit and relax basically (well that is what I assume as I am being spoken to in Turkish). I don’t want to sit I want to pace and think and figure out what I am going to do. No one seems worried but me! For a brief second I felt like crying and then quickly realize that would do me nor the situation any good, plus it’s hot and I can’t afford to have any necessary water content leave my body.

I sit for a few seconds but feel as if I am not doing anything useful and think it would be better to somehow go back to the bus stop and see what I can do. I remember they were radioing each other and I ask the police if they can just radio the mini bus companies to see if my bag is there. At this point I am fluctuating between losing my mind and feeling as if everything will be fine. But this emotional back and forth happens so rapidly I have no time to settle into either one too comfortably. An hour has now passed and I leave with another officer, over to a group of men, one calls someone who works for one of the major bus companies and also speaks English. He tells me he will radio all the buses from his company and call back in a few minutes. This is not reassuring (though much appreciated) as I know that his company is not the one I used. Thankfully a gentleman overhears us and walks over. He speaks English very well and asks me to tell him exactly what happened. He tells me not to worry he will help me and everything will be fine. How he is sure of this I don’t know but I feel happy to have him on my side and he is not looking at me as if I am crazy. He asks if I remember who came over to the minibus when it arrived at the station, I said yes and point out the man! As luck would have it he exclaims that that is his brother. He goes over gets the bus company name from him. Goes to the location where they leave from and has a driver radio the information in.

As the driver and the speaker on the other end go back and forth, this gentleman looks at me with a chuckle and nods. It’s all good they have it and will bring it by in 20 minutes!!! Unbelievable, I cannot explain the magnitude of my elation and relief at this point. I thank him profusely and what does he want in return, only a coca cola lol. We sit and have our sodas while waiting for the minibus. I asked what the drivers said, and he explained that the one that had my bag asked if it was a black girl’s. Now this sole adjective may not have been very helpful in Miami or the Caribbean, but in Denizli Turkey it was highly descriptive! That was when he chuckled he told me. The bus arrives my backpack is handed over to me. I can’t stop smiling in disbelief. He tells me that he never worries about theft there no matter how poor the people are. He works in tourism in that town and no matter what people have left or lost it is always returned. That was just the nature of the people there. I am so impressed and touched. I go collect my suitcase from the police office where I had left it. Everyone is happy for me and I board the next bus, where I am sitting and writing this now!

Despite what any shady massage parlor will tell you, this is the true definition of a happy ending!

Categories: Turkey | Tags: , , , , , , | 26 Comments

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