HELLOOOOO, okay so we managed to find another internet place today!

Haha so after I wrote yesterday we rode our bikes back to the Sunshine House through the little town of Basilico and ended up befriending two boys around the age of fourteen who were also on their bikes. I forget their names but they were very friendly and we ended up kind of being creepers and following them around haha because we didn't want to go back to the Sunshine House. Anyways we bike around with them and end up meeting their friends who looked pretty confused by the fact that they had picked up some stray americans. Anyways we end up outside of a very scenic little church a couple of blocks away from the Sunshine House and befriend an old women whose name is Olga and who happens to speak English. She helps us communicate with our new friends and acts as a very decent translator. After that we ventured back and learned some life lessons from our friend Tim.

Today was yet another exciting day!!! WE had a day OFF which meant we could do whatever we wanted. We started the day off by taking a bus into Halkida where we then kind of ventured around and checked everything out. On our way to the bus ride a very attractive Greek teen shouted out of his car GIRLS!! GOODMORNING GIRLS!!The bus ride was free courtesy of the bus driver and it was exciting because we couldn't wait to explore. Anyways we walk around for a little and I eat a delicous hot chocolate crossiant. Chelsea buys a pin for her bag that says " I have AIDS, do you want some?" all in GREEK of course. haha We then walk along the Promenade which basically is like this boardwalk area that runs along the aegean sea. It is so beautiful and lined with trees and little cafe shops. We stop at one and decide to enjoy a drink. It is very classy place, and we sit in the outside shaded area. We saw a couple of characters while we were there including, what looked to be a couple of middle-aged men from the Greek mafia, some attractive young guys who were totally creepin!!!, and then this very serious-looking old man. We didn't know what to order so we asked the waiter for a menu, only to find out that it was completely in Greek (they don't get very many foreigners). Anways we manage to point out what we want by spastically waving at the drink that the girl has next to us, which ended up being soooo good, it was kind of like a chocolate cappuchinoish milkshake! After that we decided to walk over the Old Bridge and go to a Turkish Fortress. GEtting there consisted of following some shady directions from our guidebook and walking up thousands of steps. At the top it was beautiful and we had an amazing view of Halkida. It was really hot so we were all sweaty and gross at this point but none the less guys kept creepin. We went back down and got our picture taken by this older guy who insisted that we should later meet him for coffee. O we also saw some crazies jump off of the old bridge into the bay below. And this group of three other guys approached us and we had an interesting conversation that got the point across that we were American and going on holiday in Halkida. After we walk back over the main bridge we go back to the restaurant that we had our drinks in and I somehow manage to lock myself into the bathroom with no visible way out. I am rattling the door so hard that a woman hears me on the other side and begins to yell in Greek. I don't know what she is saying and begin to shout back in english. Finally she begins to say "Wait! wait" and I do, I then found out that she grabbed one of the guys that worked there and made him let me out. It all caused quite the scene, and was sooo embarassing, haha but he got me out so all was well. Then we proceeded to go see a church only to find that it was closed for siesta time (basically there is a four hour time period in the afternoon where all the stores close). from there we decide to hop in a cab with yet another friendly cab driver who takes us to the bus station so we can catch a bus to Eretria, a beautiful beach oasis. when we got to the ticket booth in the bus station we befriend a woman at the desk, her name is Dmetria and she speaks very good english. She helps us figure out where to wait for our bus, and tells us that she will hook us up with some Greek guys. haha She also gives us some good advice about where to go, and tells us to come visit her anytime YAYYYY we have made friends in Halkida! haha.

The bus ride to Eretria is fun, and we manage to practice some phrases from Chelsea's greek translator book. We arrive in Eretria which is a small place and not full of any foreign tourists (it is more a place for Greek tourists to go). Anyways we arrive and meet the friendly owner of one of the local touristy shops who generously gives us free magnets. After that we head to the beach and the view is SOOOOO AMAZING!!!!!! We walk around and swam in the perfectly clear water. WE managed to find like this floating peace of plastic that was the size of the mattress so we float around on that, in honestly one of the most beautiful beaches ever. It was warm and sunny and beautiful out, eventually we get tired and after about an hour and a half we journey back to the bus station to come into Halkida. On the way back some very old greek men stop us and try to get us to drink coffee with them in their shack thing by the beach (SKETCH, and we say no thanks and kind of giggle awkwardly and then keep walking). Then we walk by some outdoor tavernas where a whole group of men begin to talk to us. WE keep walking but then one of them comes up to us, clearly pleased that we are American and begins to say, "COME IN!!! For the beatiful americans we will give you desert or a drink.": Haha after hearing the word dessert we are enticed and go to sit down. The man seats us at a special seat with a beach view and proceeds to give us some bottled water. He chats away friendly and his friends join in occasionally, they are clearly all excited that the Americans took their bait and sat down. IT was SAFE so once again parents don't freak haha we were in public no where scary. They then serve us the icecream specials, and one of the old men grabs two little flower pot things from the other tables and puts them on ours haha. And then another guy comes and pours us shots and insist that we drink. WE take that as our sign to leave and we turn down the shots and instead distract them by taking a few pictures with them and then leave. It was really funny and the icecream was delicious. After that we waited for the bus into Halkida and here we are. I absolutely love Halkida and find the city so cute and very quaint. I can't wait to see the rest of the places we will explore later in our trip.

OOOO I almost forgot, our cab driver on the way to the internet cafe, was once again extremely attractive, and he gave us his number haha, i forget his name but he wore aviators so it doesn't matter. So thats about it!!!!!!!! O and everyone here can't believe that we are american (I think that is why we are getting so much attention. Not many western tourists venture here, so we feel like we are seeing the real GREECE. It is so wonderful to mix touring with traveling.

I must go my time is about to run out. LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!