41 - my enjoyment days.
That's my age - for all of you wondering how old I am. It's not a secret as I am not a celebrity or a socialite who has plans to forever claim to be in her "40s" even when it's obvious that she'll never again see the good side of 50!
So, my birthday. I am really, really weird (by social standards) in that I like, LOVE spending my birthday alone. If I can get out of Nigeria on the day, all the better. What are my issues, do I hear someone ask? I doubt if I have any. I just really enjoy my own company and I think on my birthday, I should be allowed to be with myself! I know that my family and loved ones find it most inconveniencing, but being the beautiful people that they all are, they have taken it in their stride.
So, here I am, in Athens - Vouliagmeni to be precise - at a Starwood group hotel called Arion. It is a Spa located by the seaside in beautiful Greece. Greece is my favourite country in the world. If I had to live outside Nigeria, this is where I would love to be. The history (PRESERVED) the culture and the beautiful scenery have brought me back here 3 more times since I first visited some five, six years ago. Even if Nigeria were the way it should be, I would still love this place.
I arrived here yesterday (Monday, 16th) at about 1:15pm local time. As I waited in line at the immigration queue, I wondered what questions I would be asked this time. The last time I was in Athens, I was the last person to leave the airport - at 4am (I got to immigration at about 2:45am) because the immigration officer was confused by me - black, married but with no husband with me, spending only one night and had no friends or relatives here nor was I attending any business or academic function. I am certain the only reason he let me in was the fact that I had visited Athens before and my passport was so full of visas that it was obvious that I was exactly what I said I was - a woman who just loved to travel!
Anyway, yesterday, when it got to my turn, I stepped up to the window, all my papers in hand - hotel booking, spa appointments, return ticket back to London and to lagos, money, travel insurance certificate. The immigration officer stretched his hand out for my passport. I handed it over, drew in a deep breath in preparation for the lengthy interrogation to come. He looked at me, looked at the passport, flipped to the visa page, stamped the passport and handed it back to me. I'm in shock. No questions? Not one word? he did not even say good afternoon or hi or bye. NOTHING!!! I must say that was an amazing experience. Not even in Nigeria do I get to go through immigration so fast! So, a great beginning, yes?
My car to the hotel was waiting -a nice Mercedes E-class TAXI. A 320E. Taxi. I had to ask, as I always do (in Greece & Cyprus, those are the cars they use) how much it cost and how does he pay off the car's cost? The driver - Costa - said he only works for the hotels - that ensures a constant stream of customers. At 60 euro a trip plus tips, that guarantees him at least 6 to 10 trips.
I arrive at the hotel in good time, check in and then just chill out till 5pm when I went for my first set of treatments - a sports massage and a foot massage and a facial. This takes the better part of 3 hours. Then I return to my room, order dinner (for anyone who plans to visit Athens, unless you have a huge appetite, ALWAYS ORDER FROM THE KIDS MENU!!!) do a bit of studying, eat then I simply crash out till 7am this morning.
I struggle with getting out of bed - I am feeling so lazy. I get several texts and a few calls while lounging under the covers. Finally I get out from under the covers, though it takes me another 20 minutes to actually get OUT of bed! It's my birthday after all and I am in ancient Greece, the home of the fabled Olympians (or was that Crete or Cyprus???). I log on to check my mails and I have so many - birthday wishes mostly. Isn't it nice to be remembered? I try to answer them all before I take a shower in the beautiful marble-tiled shower (marble dey fight for this country - it's literally on their streets!)
I go for breakfast and I marvel at the spread - I look at the plates of the people seated and they are heaped. Yet they all look so trim. For me, I have just gained 2 kg just LOOKING at the food. But today, I am NOT dieting, never mind that I ought to have lost weight before this day.
After breakfast, I head to the spa again - I have several more spa treatments designed to pamper the hell out of a body! It was wonderful. I leave here tomorrow.
Happy that I have, once again, succeeded in being selfish on my birthday.
Ah, age does let you get away with stuff!
So, my birthday. I am really, really weird (by social standards) in that I like, LOVE spending my birthday alone. If I can get out of Nigeria on the day, all the better. What are my issues, do I hear someone ask? I doubt if I have any. I just really enjoy my own company and I think on my birthday, I should be allowed to be with myself! I know that my family and loved ones find it most inconveniencing, but being the beautiful people that they all are, they have taken it in their stride.
So, here I am, in Athens - Vouliagmeni to be precise - at a Starwood group hotel called Arion. It is a Spa located by the seaside in beautiful Greece. Greece is my favourite country in the world. If I had to live outside Nigeria, this is where I would love to be. The history (PRESERVED) the culture and the beautiful scenery have brought me back here 3 more times since I first visited some five, six years ago. Even if Nigeria were the way it should be, I would still love this place.
I arrived here yesterday (Monday, 16th) at about 1:15pm local time. As I waited in line at the immigration queue, I wondered what questions I would be asked this time. The last time I was in Athens, I was the last person to leave the airport - at 4am (I got to immigration at about 2:45am) because the immigration officer was confused by me - black, married but with no husband with me, spending only one night and had no friends or relatives here nor was I attending any business or academic function. I am certain the only reason he let me in was the fact that I had visited Athens before and my passport was so full of visas that it was obvious that I was exactly what I said I was - a woman who just loved to travel!
Anyway, yesterday, when it got to my turn, I stepped up to the window, all my papers in hand - hotel booking, spa appointments, return ticket back to London and to lagos, money, travel insurance certificate. The immigration officer stretched his hand out for my passport. I handed it over, drew in a deep breath in preparation for the lengthy interrogation to come. He looked at me, looked at the passport, flipped to the visa page, stamped the passport and handed it back to me. I'm in shock. No questions? Not one word? he did not even say good afternoon or hi or bye. NOTHING!!! I must say that was an amazing experience. Not even in Nigeria do I get to go through immigration so fast! So, a great beginning, yes?
My car to the hotel was waiting -a nice Mercedes E-class TAXI. A 320E. Taxi. I had to ask, as I always do (in Greece & Cyprus, those are the cars they use) how much it cost and how does he pay off the car's cost? The driver - Costa - said he only works for the hotels - that ensures a constant stream of customers. At 60 euro a trip plus tips, that guarantees him at least 6 to 10 trips.
I arrive at the hotel in good time, check in and then just chill out till 5pm when I went for my first set of treatments - a sports massage and a foot massage and a facial. This takes the better part of 3 hours. Then I return to my room, order dinner (for anyone who plans to visit Athens, unless you have a huge appetite, ALWAYS ORDER FROM THE KIDS MENU!!!) do a bit of studying, eat then I simply crash out till 7am this morning.
I struggle with getting out of bed - I am feeling so lazy. I get several texts and a few calls while lounging under the covers. Finally I get out from under the covers, though it takes me another 20 minutes to actually get OUT of bed! It's my birthday after all and I am in ancient Greece, the home of the fabled Olympians (or was that Crete or Cyprus???). I log on to check my mails and I have so many - birthday wishes mostly. Isn't it nice to be remembered? I try to answer them all before I take a shower in the beautiful marble-tiled shower (marble dey fight for this country - it's literally on their streets!)
I go for breakfast and I marvel at the spread - I look at the plates of the people seated and they are heaped. Yet they all look so trim. For me, I have just gained 2 kg just LOOKING at the food. But today, I am NOT dieting, never mind that I ought to have lost weight before this day.
After breakfast, I head to the spa again - I have several more spa treatments designed to pamper the hell out of a body! It was wonderful. I leave here tomorrow.
Happy that I have, once again, succeeded in being selfish on my birthday.
Ah, age does let you get away with stuff!
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