Day Four-Hitchhiking

I'm exhausted. My feet hurt. My back hurts. I smell horrible and I keep getting wiffs of decaying carcass. We are finished for the day and I MUST leave Ekpaz-if only for a couple of hours.

I decide to hitchhike to town. I've done it before with the other volunteers. It's daylight; I'm feeling pretty confident.

Start walking.

 A taxi passes but I'm holding out.

Traffic is sparse.

Two mopeds drive by. They have seats but look like tourists. No thank you.

A small, white car approaches. An old man with glasses (basically goggles) opens the passenger side door.

"Ekharisto. Thank you."

"Yes. No problem." He has a North American accent. Oh. He says he's from the US. We begin to chat about our respective hometowns. He's curious about me. What I'm doing on Aegina Island. What I do in Ohio. I ask him questions too but he's more interested in talking about me. We make it to town. He pulls over  and I think he's letting me out here. Fine. I go for the handle.

"Don't run off too quickly now. What are your plans?"

"My plans in general?"

"Yes, your plans right now."

"I'm going to the internet cafe."

"How about this...I'm having some friends over in a little bit  and you are welcome to join. You can come now and use my internet for free."

Uh oh.

"Yeah I actually have to do some other errands too. I need to go to the store and stuff."  I reach for the handle again. It's still daylight but I put my hand in my sweatshirt pocket. I feel around for the sharp rock that I grabbed before I got in the car.

"Alright. I will drive you around the corner." Awkward now........he continues on to the next street...slowly.

"OK this is good." I'm ready to get out despite the rain that will drench me. He doesn't have to drive me to the front.

"Do you have an umbrella?"

"No. It's OK. I'll be fine."

"Do you want one?" He reaches down to his side but I'm half way out the door.

"Thanks! I'll be fine." I give a little wave and dash across the street.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to hitchhike back up; I cut my web roaming short and trek towards Ekpaz. It's six miles and the taxi costs about 10 euros; despite pervy old men, hitchhiking is more attractive.

A small Geo Metro races by and a girl with crazy hair doesn't acknowledge me.

Two guys on a moped going the other direction give me the double raised eyebrows and check me out. Really? I feel like asking if they would like some E. coli-it's bound to be  on my body somewhere.

I drag my feet for another 15 minutes when a red pickup truck stops at the intersection.  I stick my thumb out. He gives me a sideways peace sign and I run up. The door swings open.

A burly moustachio man spurts off some Greek. He looks willing but he's trying to clarify something.

"Ekpaz," My only way of communicating that I need a ride.

More Greek with some gestures.

I hop in. "Ekpaz." I repeat. He gives me an exasperated look and his hands say, "whatever."

We ride in silence. Past the olive trees. Up the winding hill. About 50 meters from Ekpaz, he stops and points to the right. He's going a different direction. Ah ha. That's what he was trying to tell me.

 "OK. OK. Ekharisto. Thank you. Thank you." He says nothing and I continue on my way.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People told me to be careful with Greek men but which one do you think was creepier?