TRAPPED! In my Hostel!

Where was this when I needed it?
photo: flowercat

I arrived to my favorite place in the whole world (so far) Olympia, Greece two days ago. Since the town population is 1500 people, there were no CouchSurfers in this area. This leaves me no choice but to stay at “Youth Hostel Olympia”. FML.

The owner of the building is approximately 96 years old and definitely is losing most of his senses. He welcomed me to the hostel, let me know the room was 10 euro for the night, but 12 if I wanted blankets. He also informed me that curfew was 10pm, since I was dead tired and it was 9:45, it was no big deal.

Day Two. I am woken by the owner of the hostel telling me there is no balcony to the room, that it has disappeared. I politely informed him that I was on the balcony last night, and hung my clothes on the line so I am pretty sure it’s okay.

He says “no balcony- you don’t have balcony anymore” Then he comes back to the room 4 minutes later and says “IT’S THE ONE OF APRIL!!!!” Ahhh. April Fools- you don’t have a balcony… ha… ha… ha…. I’m not sure if I like this guy…

After spending the day admiring the fantastic ruins of the “city” and strolling the main drag- which is really all there is to do here, I went back to the hostel to find that I was no longer its sole guest. Vivian from Melbourne, Australia was victim #2. She arrived and I showed her the town, the travel agency, and the jewelers who will be trying to get in her pants for the length of her visit. We had dinner at 830, and by the time it was over- realized it was our “curfew” for the hostel.

Due to the liter of wine I had ingested with dinner, I decided the best option was to go to our rooms in a timely manner, put the ladder over the balcony, jump to the roof and get out of our prison.

This was a great plan- until I realized the ladder was not tall enough to reach the ground floor, as we are on the 2^nd story. Next plan, put the ladder on top of the other ladder. Don’t think I’d live through that.

Next plan? Jump from our balcony to the roof of the neighboring shop and scale down their wall… seems feasible, if not idiotic. However upon closer inspection, I saw the footprints (and consequential broken roof tiles) of the would be escapees before me. Obviously, this was not the right way out.

Plan D- Start a fire, then ask where the fire escape is- no, too severe.
Aha! A paper airplane to the overly friendly jeweler across the street to ask him to help us down… FAIL.

Use my sheet that cost 2 euro to make a rope down to the ladder? Nope, didn’t reach.

After several hours of being trapped on the miserable balcony listening to the town, which just seems to wake up around 1130pm- I admitted defeat, cursed the hostel director, and sunk into a sleep where I dreampt of a hot air balloon escape.

Day Three. I am pleased to report that shortly before writing this, I located a two story ladder and have it neatly hidden two balconies over from mine- muhahaha. I just have to hope that in the next 6 hours of daylight I am not discovered and therefore ruined again! Wish me luck, and a safe landing to the ground floor.