Mine! All Mine!
After 5 horrendous nights spent at Youth Hotel Olympia, (seriously people, if you’re coming to Anicent Olympia, Greece- do yourself a favor and stay in a hotel. It’s only about 10 euro more and you will have hot water, no curfew, clean sheets, a room to yourself, and no creepy hostel owners constantly coming in your room for no reason. I’m all for low budget travel, and have made some serious compromises in “standards” to save a few euro, but this was NOT worth it- okay, end rant. Moving on!) I decided I was still not done with this town.
I love the people, the atmosphere, and the surrounding towns are also incredibly charming. The great thing about my itinerary is that it’s only a vague idea in the back of my mind, and with (quite literally) all the time in the world I am able to grant myself the gift of doing what I want, when I want. I want to stay in Olympia longer!
Thanks to my friend here, Panagos, and his awesome mother (whom I think I want to adopt) I found a flat for a month for 300 euro. I have my OWN bathroom, my own fridge, my own dining room (okay, I have a table and chairs in my living room but it’s exciting!) a balcony, HOT WATER 24 hours a day, and no freaking curfew.
Last night was my first night in my new place and when I woke up this morning I laid in bed for about 15 minutes laughing out loud at the fact I just woke up in my own house- in Greece.
Now, let me back up and tell you about renting a place in Greece.
After trying on my own for a few days to find a place, and realizing I was not the woman for the job, I turned it over to Maria- Panagos’ Mom. She was at church and asked around if anyone had a room to rent for a “nice American girl”. (ugh- isn’t that false advertising?) The woman comes over to the hotel- looks at me, says “300 Euro a month, come on Monday”, and takes her leave. On Monday I walk to the house with everything I own in tow.
After opening the door she gives me the keys, shows me how to plug in the fridge, adjust the heating and A/C (yeah…. A/C!!) and shows me the bathroom and closet. Then she wishes me “Hronia Pola” (many good years) and shuts the door behind her. I didn’t even pay her yet! She doesn’t even know my name! She didn’t do a background check! Nope, just- here are the keys, here’s the place- see you later. I don’t even know where she lives! This is the Greek
My Patio. My Home.
way. They assume you will do something because you say you will- because that’s how they operate. What a tremendous breath of fresh air.
In fact, as I write this I am sitting on my balcony staring into the forested mountains of Flokas. The air is scented with the blossoms of all the orange trees in town, the budding jasmine and of course, a slight tinge of cigarette smoke. (duh, its Greece)
The sun is coming through the cypress and pines to find its way onto my face and shoulders, kissing me as lightly as a lover. My breath comes easier and I cannot erase the smile that is plastered onto my face. I’m home… for now.
'My Home in Olympia, Greece' have 13 comments
April 6, 2010 @ 7:06 am Annie Browne
That’s awesome!!! Congrats, and enjoy your new pad.
April 6, 2010 @ 7:34 am livevicuriously
thanks! it should be a very fun month! 😀
April 6, 2010 @ 7:16 am Keith
Such an awesome setup you’ve got now! You definitely made the right choice to kick the hostel. Well done, well done. Wish I was there.
April 6, 2010 @ 7:33 am livevicuriously
well it’s only a short flight here- there’s always room for a fellow traveler wherever I am~*
April 6, 2010 @ 6:48 pm Mom
It was so nice seeing you and talking to you yesterday. You look great, by the way. I love that you are breathing in all of the extraordinary ordinary pleasures. Why is it we forget to do that, no matter where we are? I must make the concentrated effort to created that habit in my life again. The fragrance may not be orange blossoms (but the exhaust off Curbaril). The sun may not be peeking through Cypress and pine trees (but houses and garages), but it is still a beautiful moment and I will remember to breath it in. Thank you, Miss Brandy, for once again reminding me to be grateful and present in my own beautiful life.
April 6, 2010 @ 6:52 pm livevicuriously
never forget that you are 10 minutes from world class vineyards, 20 minutes from the GORGEOUS Pacific Ocean Coastline, and surrounded by friends and family. we are all lucky in our own way, Mom 🙂
April 6, 2010 @ 7:18 pm Paula
Perfection! *sigh*
. . .now remember to USE that little fridge and table of yours and stock up on some feta, olives, yogurt, etc. . . starvation is not the path to happiness either!
Enjoy every sun-soaked minute!!!
Love ya,
Paula
April 7, 2010 @ 7:55 pm livevicuriously
Fridge is officially stocked! Apples, oranges, feta and some boiled eggs! With a gallon of olive oil (yup, serious) I should be good for a month! Just found out there is a bakery two doors down that still does wood burning… ohhh yes!
April 7, 2010 @ 8:04 pm Mom
I want some…..
April 6, 2010 @ 9:55 pm Leilani
THIS is great! Congrats on your new digs 🙂
April 7, 2010 @ 3:34 am Adam
Wow that’s so cool that you found your own place! Glad to hear that your time in Greece is going so so well
April 7, 2010 @ 7:58 pm livevicuriously
Im loving it here! Although the wandering spirit has its hold on me- we just may meet somewhere else in EU…. or Australia! 😉
December 12, 2012 @ 10:48 am Olympia Greece - Finding an Apartment | 30Traveler
[…] as a friend of a friend of a friend, I did not want to insult the generosity extended to me. It was quite a trusting arrangement, as the woman gave me a visual once over, said “300 euro” and handed me the keys. I didn’t […]