LOST
Another NHT day because the only thing that happened all day was that I sat here and wrote and read. While sitting and reading and writing doesn‘t seem noteworthy, it is as much the reason I came as anything else. Reading and writing in a new and stimulating place where I can walk around and explore every evening is why I’m here.
In the morning Susie texted me from Athens about seeing the Acropolis and about boarding her flight. She is way over her allotted 18 pounds, part of the reason that economy light is so cheap. Between my vest loaded with heavy cameras and carry on bag full of electronic equipment which must have
weighed close to 30 pounds, and her overstuffed carry on bag, too big to fit into the metal forms at the airport which show you how big your bag can be, and too heavy to lift into the overhead bins without help,
certainly 30 pounds or more, we are both way over the allotted limits. So why do the airlines make such a big deal about what measurements and weight you are allowed and then pay no attention? But seared into my brain is the one time, in
Hannover, after I had checked in and was waiting at the gate when a very officious airline employee singled out three of us to be reweighed and forced me to leave some stuff behind and still pay an additional
$70. I was furious then and have been anxious ever since. The best advice is when you save a great deal by traveling economy light is to be discreet and unobvious, go ahead and bring 30 or 40 pounds, and be
ready if you are stopped to pay the $70 (more at the gate than if you had booked earlier they warn you) and spread this out over all the flights when no one checks and not let this one time bother you.
That is the only profound thing that happened all day. In the evening I decided to see if the place selling carry out cooked meals was open on Sunday afternoon. I walked through a different part of town, knowing
right where the restaurant was, and couldn‘t find it. I found the spot, but nothing was there, it had moved overnight. I didn‘t have the business card I had picked up and didn’t know the name or I could
have used GPS. But part of the fun of traveling to places for the first time is getting lost and seeing what you find. Susie and I did that all
week by car and I did it yesterday. What I found was a representative number of striking houses which give a feel of what a beautiful place Naousa is.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 