Saturday 30 July 2011

My Travels in Your Hands: QUEST 2

'PING!' and we're off. The fasten seatbelt sign's glow fades, press 'UP' button, joystick left and WHAM, little old man stands up from the aisle in front of me. Can I squeeze round him? Button 'B': a shuffle, an embarassed shoulder shrug, and we're off again on quest 2 of the day 'GET THE FERRY'. Baddies in blue are round the next corner, it's customs. Hit the 'A' key, and throw down my EU status bonus card and in moments I'm through. But even the golden 'under 26' status won't make my backpack round the carousel any faster. Button C: nervous fidgeting.

Taking a hit with an EUR8 train fare, and almost seeing GAME OVER after a missed train, a secret route, a great battle with the semi-broken Athens metro and an altercation with the stunning heat and utter confusion of Piraeus (Athens's port) the victory is MINE. Key A, Key B, joystick left, and Highspeed 4 to Naxos sails off into the sunset, with, Hallelujah, me on it. Credits roll, bad 80s arcade game over.

And now I'm in Naxos. It's a Greek island, replete with sun, sea, sand, and houses that look like sugar cubes chucked across the landscape. I have spent my first 24 hours eating surprisingly good food (food in Greece normally sucks), swimming in turquoise waters and relaxing in the hotel jacuzzi. Life is tough.

 The deserted beach where I spent the day.

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