And now I sit on the 8th floor balcony of hostel Hairy Lemon in Saranda, Albania over looking the ocean and the barren lego-like port town sprawling up the sides of the mountains. The whole place seems to be under construction - forever. How did I get here?!? I must go back to where it started in Roma at the end of May, which seems like a million memories ago...
(Third U.S. team - Thrid Eye Tribe - in our finest!)200+ boomerangers and those associated with boomerangers from 15 or so countries gathered in Rome to battle out the world championships.. in the end, the US won!! for the first time since 2002. It was amazing. Personally, I had a bit of a bizarre experience due to being hit in the head on the first day of competition (by the new world champion of course!), which left me with a split ear, a slight concussion, and a bruised mentality. Non the less, my team did AMAZING (shout out to Third eye Tribe!) and I was estatic to have been a part of the experience and energized by this unique international community that I have grown to love so deeply. In the off moments from throwing, I was able to explore Rome - Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican at night - and took an overnight trip northeast of Rome driving along rivers, waterfalls and breathtaking countrysides ending up at 14th century monastary turned bed and breakfast nesteled in the mountains. I felt like a princess in a caslte and loved every minute of it.
After the highs of 10 days in the boomerang world, 8 of us set out to explore the Greek island, Corfu. The trip was epic. We took a bus to the trian station in Rome, an over night train to another train landing us in Bari, Italy for a few spectacular hours where we ate the freshest mozerella EVER and shopped for some new Italian swag. The next leg was an overnight ferry that turned out to be prodominantly for Greek truckers. We found a spot on the floor under the "trucker's lounge" sign, set up a barracade, and played drinking games until we passede out - it was the only way. Another ferry and 36 hours from the start, we finally landed in PARADISE. Staying right on the cliffside overlooking the beach, we soaked up the sun, salt, fresh foods, and seaside air that was much needed for all of us. We rented scooters and explored the terrain and beauties of the island. an epic day that we all agreed was in the top ten of our lives..... We slathered our bodies in the natural clay from the cliffsides leaving our skin SO soft - a bootleg version of a mud bath.... We got massaged in the open air by an essentric South African man - very interesting guy - and one of the best massages of my life - i have never been so man-handled! what a time. After 4 glorious days, we all went our seperate ways and Adam (my brother), Dana (my good friend), and I decided since we were only a 1/2 hour ferry from Albania, we'd go to the port town Serenda, and stay a night before we head back to mainland Greece and visit Meteora on our way to Athens.
I am feeling sky high, happy and healthy (one traveler we met in a hostel in Albania told me I was the healthiest looking person he'd seen traveling - ever! ha!).. Next stops mainland Greece and then back to the Greek islands... I hope I find the motivation to update more than every 3 weeks! but i am concentrating on the moment so no promises!
(I tried to upload more pictures but the intenet is NOT being nice to me.. booo... I am posting some on my facebook page)
