Will I make the ferry?

Dec 1st Leaving Rofrano the days adventures making the ferry to Greece...
Donnatella gave me one of the small loaves of bread and small apples for my journey to Greece. I am going to miss these beautiful mountains, but Im happy to be going and excited for Greece. The sun is out today, I seem to bring the rain everywhere I go…It was nice sitting for the bus in the familiar scene, of the old men out on the street, the guy pumping gas for cars, the statue infront of my seat…the bushes smell like Spring Lake from Jersey…I have the same friendly bus driver, honking and waving to everyone and warning of his arrival around all the windy mountain roads. Sometimes we don’t fit through the road and so he honks a few extra times and all the men on the street gather together over the commotion…many heads pop out of the various shops about…there is usually about 8 men grouped to see what the deal is...what they can do to help...or laugh and yell at the man whose car is in the way. Driving through these mountains and towns gives me a grounding feeling of great hominess. I realize that I am just now feeling more normal with the idea that I am in Italy…more easy to talk to someone, asking how they are…even if that is the extent of the conversation…but my Italian is much better, I was able to understand the bus driver say that he is better now that the rain has stopped! That was exciting for me! To have the words turn into meaning and register in my brain…and then realize that was just Italian!!!! It is ironic to get accustomed after 5 weeks in Italy, that I am actually here….and now be hoping to make the ferry to Greece tonight. Nutso! We shall see how today plays out…I don’t have tickets yet.
The day in short: 20 minute car ride, 40 minute train ride, where I made friends with 19 year old girl wwoofers from Canada! Super exciting and grounding to speak English with people having a common experience! On that train I was also serenaded by an Italian man by singing Frank Sinatra…and complimenting my smile over and over…the wwoofers gave me a wonderful excuse to go sit with them….then a 4 hour bus ride…which arrived to Taranto late so I caught the later 1 hour train to Bari….and on this train…lol….here is the story: First of all...let me say that I am in ‘Alone Girl Traveling Mentality plus exhaustion’… so…I was alone in the train compartment until a man joined me…my alarms were lightly dinging…but was able to relax after a quick glance…middle aged, general feeling OK… through the reflection of my window I noticed him looking at me and smiling …and I thought ‘you don’t actually know he is looking at you’…but decided for precautionary purposed to assume. A few minutes later…randomly he comes over and offers me candy, of which I hear my mothers voice ‘never take candy from strangerssss’ so I politely take one, and when he is not looking pocket it and randomly act like I have something in my mouth….lol. He starts talking…trying to make conversation without knowing much English…I am uncomfortable and feeling too tired to try using my small Italian…but being polite I speak back…we end up having an enjoyable conversation about why I am traveling alone…to how I am beautiful and need to be aware and keep attention to divert men on my travels…about his children…his travels to America some 20 years before…prehistoric history we decided…I forgot how awkward silences can be…and then we had arrived in Bari. Which put me in serious Go Team mode…as I had to find the right bus…and the right ferry port…to FIND OUT if I can buy a ticket for tonight…and then if not find a place to stay and book the ferry for tomorrow night…SO this all raging through my adrenaline…I can barely make out him asking me if I would like to get some tea…and I tried to explain…no thankyou I have no idea how I am making a ferry tonight so I need to promptly leave….and this is all in A+ charades…he walked with me to the buses helped me find the right bus..30 minutes till it leaves…so why not get tea with me- he asks?...we go to 2 places near by he doesn’t think is good enough, and then we sit down, he buys me cappuccino and water, and then chocolate for my journey…AND my bus ticket! It was all a bit rushed as to make my bus…but we made it back… ciao ciao kisses, he reiterated: Attention! Divert Men!...many Gratzie Gratzie (thank yous) and I was on my bus full of italian men …alone again with my huge bag . I was just closing my eyes to regain my calm collectness after the whirlwind of on gaurd, watching my back, being polite, shocked, and grateful the last hour and half when I hear a male American voice…I swing around, which is a miracle in itself with my bag the size of Rhode Island, and help the guy buy his bus ticket…long story short…Brian is from New Jersey, also going to Athens from Patras, also does not have a ferry ticket, also 22. After a surprised we have almost everything in common conversation, we buddy up and travel the next leg to Athens together.

We made the ferry, shared many laughs, and about 4 hours of sleep later (16 hour ferry ride) we make it to Patras. Then for a 4 hour train ride to Athens. We arrive, Im exhausted, be walk slightly lost finding a hostel is ends up being closed…to walk to another that ends up being the best hostel ever…near the metro…free internet…only 13.50 euro a night.
It was wonderful to be able to have someone to travel with after the last month alone. It ended up that there was not a ferry to Paros the next morning…so we went to the Akropolis together on Thursday and I stayed another night in Athens. Found a great pita place for a veggie pita 1 euro! And while eating I was able to see these 2 delectable specimen of the tall dark fit and handsome greek breed. (hehe..no im not sexist..) It was a nice couple of days.
Holy Shite Im in Greece!