Well, I missed the ferry to Italy and have to wait till tomorrow. Got to the port and figured, yes! I'm set, nice bathrooms, wifi, safe away from the pissing rain for the nite. Then, 'parakalo'. Parakalo what, dude? The port closes until, what I managed to communicate, 5am. So I'm out on the street until they open again.
It's really cold but I managed to find a little section of wall that blocks the wind, plus my bag and sleeping bag and full winter gear on now. It's an obvious place under camera view so I don't think anyone will mess with me. When I was walking here earlier it looked so shady, all these people trying to jump the fence to the port had me feeling like I was suddenly on the Mexican American border. It was dark so I couldn't see them, so when I initially got kicked out of the port terminal I was nervous but after sitting here a minute, I know probably fine. They're all saying hi and asking if I'm ok. Still, I'm on guard and won't be sleeping out here. Everything of value is hidden on me so even if some one want to come take my bag it wouldn't matter. Ha! If they could lift it anyway. I have considered if my travel insurance will cover if I beat up a would be robber with my guitar and break it. Hmmm.
So, I don't even know where to start in saying what an inspirational nite I had. I'm dead tired and for a while there, I was considering the medical implications of not peeing for so long, thinking 'uhh, idiot. Should have stayed in Athens for the nite!' but it was all worth it. A man walked up to me asking me if I wanted shelter, a blanket, food or water and he saw my guitar and asked me to play for him. As I finished the song and looked up, there were about 20 guys in roaring applause. The crowd built over time and they all sat cross legged and listened to me for about 5 hours, clapping at the end of every song and asking about where I'm from, why I'm here and where I'm going, telling me of their lives both before they left home in Afghanistan and now and of their dreams, goals and hopes. All left for the same reasons, bombs destroying their towns, their families dying in the war, no work because of the war. They say they run from both the Taliban and the Americans, all of them having walked from Afghanistan to Greece. Yeh. Walked... Now they keep warm in abandoned buildings near the port trying to jump the fence everyday and sneak on the ferry, thinking they have a better chance in Italy. I didn't want to break it to them that it's the same everywhere. I wasn't worried for a moment, tho I was out numbered 20 to 1 easily. When they went to sleep they left one guy to watch out for me until sunrise and and brought me a blankets so I'd be warmer, offering cigarettes and whisky. They offered everything they had tho they had nothing to begin with. I know many claim the crime in most countries is done by immigrants but it's an awfully bold statement that paints everyone who is struggling and ultimately just born in the wrong place in an unbecoming light that's not remotely fair.
Everyone here, from the illegal immigrants to the middle class has this idealised view of America, thinking of it as this utopia that is easy to find work, where no one has problems. I know we have idealised versions of Europe but it's for good reason, history, culture, language, all of which the states is obviously lacking in comparison. The grass is always greener on the other side, I guess. It's amazing how much greek the immigrants spoke after only being here a year despite the nearly impossible nature of learning the language. Knowing its difficult nature makes it disheartening trying to learn. No matter how you try, its still not right or its still not understandable when someone else speaks it. I'm looking forward to a language I'll have a shot at actually learning and seeing what the differences will be between here and there will be really interesting. Egypt and Greece weren't comparable, ya know? Haha
Got my ferry ticket! At student price! Ciao Bari! Saw all my friends from last nite, sneaking around cars and climbing over the fences to get to the very boat I was walking towards. I doubt any of them made it, security is ridiculous. I had a conversation with some one once and they said they believed in countries, in borders and citizenship and for a long time, it was never something I questioned or considered. In light of my anarchist studies and the people I've met along this road, it has been made all to clear to me how those borders are prisons to so many. Born in this place and u can go here, here and here. Born in another place and u need visas, expensive passports and work permits or u are born into a war zone, in the midst of an oil battle. It's not fair... but I guess most would say life isn't fair. Those who said that would also likely be those born in a country with privileges, with no desperate need to escape. I don't know how it would work with open borders. The racism that is inherent almost anywhere in the world would probably prevent it. It's something I need a couple more months to consider before I give my ideal realist perspective on that particular subject. No doubt my mind will be on all I felt becuz of the people I've met who are imprisoned by those borders, for quite some time to come, I'm sure.
I was dreading the ferry ride a little but I neglected to realise it was a blue star ferry, which are top notch. Got 3 big airplane seats I fashioned into a bed and nice bathrooms and wait, what? What's that symbol? A freaking shower? Omg. Omg. It's a NICE shower, like shower room with rainfall and HOT. Seriously, I think it was the best shower of my whole trip. I just wanted to stay in there forever. I could not be more content, clean, happy, grateful and inspired. Now I sleep. : )
Arrived in Bari in good time and took a stroll thru the town to get to my hosts, nice city, bigger than I thought. Took me forever to find a wifi connection. Everything is locked and there are no cafes in sight. I truly regret not learning more Italian before this trip as no one down south speaks a lick of english. Figures, I learn as much Greek as I can and only met 2 or 3 people that didn't speak English. So I'm crash coursing myself but it's not sinking in. I'm still stuck in Greek.
I'm leaving here tomorrow for Sicily. My host could only do one night cuz it's exam time and despite there being some cool musicians here, I need to be moving on. One of my favourite things about travelling has become the recipes I pick up and looking at cooking in a completely different way. Happened to me almost everywhere, including here in Bari, thanks to my amazing host, Luigi. The first Luigi of many I will surely meet. Egypt was the land of Ali. Greece was the land of Stelios, Italy is likely to be the land of Luigi.
Ok very last notes on Greece!
All the buildings have pocket door architecture. Screen, sliding glass door and shutter. Can't imagine what the really need it for. Just thought it was amazing that Bermuda didn't develop more architecture like that. And I freaking love pocket doors.
Everyone lives and breathes theatre here. It's so inspiring and on such a grande scale.
And last but not least, I love it.
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