balconies

there's two downsides to vacationing (or holiday as they say over here) in cyprus alone. the first, no one to apply sunblock to your back (and my double-jointed arms still couldn't do the job) and the second, there's no one else in the room when you lock yourself out on the balcony. lets start with number two. 

for a budget hotel, i had a pretty sweet room, and view of the sea (picture is a view from balcony). before bed each night i'd sit on the balcony for a few minutes. logically, of course, i would shut the sliding glass door all the way. logically, of course, this led to me locking myself out. i couldn't have picked a better time: 11 pm on a tuesday. what to do? option one--spend the night on the balcony,  but then what in the morning? option two--climb over, and around the building i might add, to my neighbor's balcony. i chose option two. 

i am a bit clumsy, if you didn't know. this makes my little journey around the third story of a building all the more scary. i took a few deep breaths, and around i went. success. but now i found myself on my neighbor's balcony. no idea who these people are. i knocked softly. no answer. knocked harder. a man in his late 60s approached the door. i'd be a bit freaked out too--someone appearing on my balcony so late in the evening. i tried to explain to him i locked myself out and needed to come through his room. problem was, he only spoke greek, and i, only english. through a series of hand gestures i somehow convinced the nice man to let me in. 

crisis averted? well, not quite. so then i ventured down to the reception, told the attendant what happened. surely he has a master key. problem number two--when i locked my door i left the key in the door (translation: his master key won't work.) now what? knock on the neighbor's door again, climb to my balcony, and attempt to break into my room. i let him do this solo. after a few minutes, successful break in. 

i'd like to say i'm shocked by these chain of events, but i'm not. i'm just impressed with myself i didn't fall, especially after two glasses of wine.