Planes, trains, automobiles...ferries, buses, taxis--OH MY!

If you are going to travel, you have to take some type of transportation. Well, until the whole teleportation or 'beam me up, Scotty' thing happens. I am ready for that!

The hardest part of travel for me is the transportation! It is the necessary evi l of travel. You can't travel far without public transportation. Well, I take that back...you can, but you would need a whole lot more money and moxie than I have. You could hire a driver to take you places to avoid public transportation. Or, you can brave the European roads with your own rented (for hire as they say here) car, which I haven't done yet because I am too terrified of the driving practices here to even try it.

But again, necessary evil...if I want to see things and visit the places, that means flights, train rides, bus trips, ferries and taxis. Each one has its merits and MANY downfalls, plenty of my What is Happening Here moments are centered on transportation.

You may remember the most recent transportation nightmare, 20 hours of delays ...FLYING. With flying you are just at the mercy of the airlines. I know, everyone has their favorite but trust me...they are all the same. Flying comes with multiple baggage rules, delays, rude attendants and a big tin can of coughing, snoring passengers. The good thing about flying around in Europe is that you can do it on a whim and it is still so cheap!!! I can book a flight from Corfu to Athens for three days from now for $35. The bad thing...my bag costs more than the flight.

You may remember that TRAINS are my favorite mode of travel. Love the trains. I wish the US had a better train system. Such a nice way to travel. As long as you read the schedule carefully and don't take the wrong one, all is good. Be a little sleepy and pick the wrong one to the airport....well, five trains later I did make it to the airport to be harassed by overcautious Berlin security (see above for flying). METROS fall in this category most often, unless of course, they are packed like sardines and then you have to watch your wallet!

Now, this week I took a FERRY from Corfu to Albania. Normally, I am all in for ferries...mostly because it involves outside time (sunshine and water). However, this time they were delayed by 45 minutes, meaning I sat outside on the upper deck in the sun for a long time! But that isn't the worst thing, the real worst thing is what you can't avoid if you use public transportation, PEOPLE. If the two drunk guys behind me had stopped squabbling like siblings, I could just quietly read my book, but nooooo....every time I thought they were done, one essentially poked the other with words until it started up all over again. For the love, STOP. If you are on public transportation, just SHUT IT! No one wants to hear about how you ruined his chances by talking about his girlfriend in front of the hot girl. No one. Ever.

People are also a problem on BUSSES. In the States, it may be a bit crowded but nothing like I have experienced in Greece and Albania. Well, actually, not Albania because I just said nope, not doing it. I am just not going to be that close to people. When I say close, I mean...sharing sweat close, standing room only close. In Greece, I missed my stop because there was just no way to get out of the bus. I just kept going and got off later, which worked out because I had a beer and a snack waiting to return the other way. Busses are a necessary evil in Europe but definitely not my favorite.

I can't even explain the TAXIS. Imagine NYC with roads half the size, less maintained, no curbs or guardrails, more honking and drivers with no interest in rules. It is terrifying. Best to just not look!!!

All that said, it has to be done. You can't see the world without transportation...either be a millionaire or suck it up and take the least difficult way to the destination. Dad always said 'the bus is leaving' and he was right, time to get on and go!

Unless I can use my feet, then I always use my feet.