The Best Punchline Ever
I’ve always had a love of Greek mythology and since the age of 12, when I actually tried Greek cuisine for the first time while in New York City, there has been a running joke in the family about my aunt and I going to Greece one day. Through the years there has been gifts exchanged with the theme of Greece, maps, travel brochures and language books.
Then it changed.
My high school graduation was around the corner. One day my mom and I went out running errands and while driving around she let a secret slip.
They were planning it. Planning the trip, the dream trip, the best punchline to a joke ever. My aunt and I were going to go to Greece together for almost two weeks after I had graduated!
I couldn’t believe my ears and called my aunt as soon as we got home. As it turned out my aunt couldn’t believe her ears either, because my parents had not actually talked to her about it yet. So, we all discussed it because there was a lot to discuss.
At the time, my aunt was being treated for cancer and it wasn’t her first time either so there was a lot to consider and plan and figure out. It had been made clear that while yes, we were planning the trip, there was a chance that it wouldn’t happen. But it did! (obviously)
She got the ‘all clear’ from the doctors, a list of medications and a set of rules to follow while on the trip. I paid close attention since it was only going be myself and her actually travelling and then the planning really picked up. Possible cities, sights, tours and activities, which flights to take and when. It was all coming together and so quickly; it was almost a blur. Until the day.
My parents took me to meet up with my aunt and get on our first flight. Before actually arriving in Greece, we picked flights specifically to have a long layover in Paris, France. We planned a day there as well, as many touristy things as possible; Eiffel Tower, Shakespeare and Company, Notre Dame, and crepes. We had only 12 hours and we did it all.
We finally landed in Athens after almost a complete day later and very late at night. But we managed to get a taxi and arrived at our hotel, well hostel actually. That’s right we were staying in a very stereotypical hostel in Athens, just under the Acropolis. We almost immediately fell asleep and when we woke up and stepped outside for the first time in the light of day, it hit us. Where we were, who we were, how we got there, and we were in awe. Even as we wandered around, looking for a place for breakfast and much needed coffee, we saw ruins and art and history just lining the streets of the city and it was beautiful.
Once we settled on a place and sat at a table and ordered, my aunt turned to me and just started chuckling to herself at first. So, I had to ask what was so funny and she explained how we were there all because of a joke that was started even before I had hit my teen years. In her words, ‘it had to be the best punchline she ever heard.’ So that became the theme of the rest of the trip. Each time we did something that struck awe or wonderment in us, we just chuckled about the punchline.
Now in all the planning we had discussed we actually hadn’t made many concrete plans. We had the room in the hostel booked only for a few days while we explored Athens. Lucky for us, across the street was a travel agent so we went in and asked for suggestions. We were told about a boat tour that went to three small islands and was well priced for what it offered, so of course we bought tickets for the day that our reservation at the hostel ended.
We checked out, took our bags and climbed on the boat. Just before we arrived at the first island, we tracked down an employee/manager of the tour and asked if it would be possible for us to spend a night on the island and get the boat the next day, they agreed and so we did that with each of the three islands; boat, find and book hotel, day exploring, sleep, boat in the morning, next island. It might have been one of the best choices we made on the trip.
The first island was Hydra, and it was an absolute postcard of an island. It was so small that there were no cars whatsoever, only bikes and donkeys. Cliffs leading down to clear blue ocean water, stray cats overrunning the small side streets and even a celebrity sighting (America Ferrera). It was one of the most peaceful places I had ever been to and I will always dream of returning.
The second island was Poros, slightly larger than Hydra, but just as beautiful. We asked the staff in the hotel we found about the island and where we should go. We were told about a monastery filled with history and it certainly piqued our interest. We arrived before it actually opened to the public, so we found a small, secluded beach beneath the hill it sat on. It had a handful of chairs and lounges and we were offered to use them free of charge (normally small fee for tourists) while we waited. It was beautiful and not obnoxiously swarmed with tourists, normally why we avoided beaches.
The last island was Aegina. The largest and busiest island of the bunch, there were cars and horse-drawn carriages. We agreed while on this island we would simply wonder and explore without guidance and see what happens. We found a few ruins and beautiful views, touristy shops and delicious meals.
The next day we returned to Athens and still had a few days until our flight back home. So, we went back to the travel agent who suggested the boat and told us about a small city not too far that was surrounded in different ruins and held tours around their histories, of course we booked it and were soon on our way to Epidaurus. Exploring its ancient theatre and archaeological sites.
We then had our final full day in Athens, our flight early the next morning. So, we decided to spend it doing what got us into this joke in the first place, eating. In the beginning of chatting with the travel agent, prior to the boat tour suggestion, there was also mention of an afternoon-long food tour of Athens. It was amazing. We were shown local merchants, markets and the best drinks the city had to offer. It was probably the best finale we could have done before finally returning home and sharing the stories of our adventure.
I wish could now tell you that we plan to go back once again and explore even more the beautiful country. Unfortunately, that won’t be possible for us. Less than two years after our punchline, my aunt’s cancer returned yet again and got the best of her this time. She was in her mid-fifties. I hope I can go back to Greece eventually and relive some moments we shared but I know it will never match up to the first time around.
I’ll always remember the best punchline ever.
