It Ain't Easy (Reprise)
Living out of a suitcase for the last 6 months ......
has not been easy!!!
(although I admit to occasionally "suffering in comfort", LOL)
Today I will catch you up
with what's been going on since arriving back,
by air, after my five thousand kilometer, five day, epic,
cross-Canada extravaganza driving journey
( It Ain't Easy: https://steemit.com/travel/@onceuponatime/it-ain-t-easy )
to drop off the "onceuponamobile"
to my sister in southern Ontario.
the very luxurious "onceuponamobile"
has been replaced by a rental:
.
my somewhat less-luxurious "Rent-a-Wreck"
I'm holed up in this rather unassuming motel
(room no. 13, no less)
.
You can no doubt surmise
that I've fallen on hard times since Athens in May.......
....It ain't easy :-)
my Athens digs :-)
But, hey, what ya going to do?
.
I managed to put together the funds to buy a house in Loutraki
and wire them off to the seller's account.
Now I wait for my lawyer in Athens
to process my application for Greek residency
under the Golden Visa program.
And hopefully it all gets done soon
so I can attend Steemfest in November!
Without the residency permit,
I can't return to the EU until mid December.
I had used up my 3 months EU visa last July.
One cannot return until 6 months are up.
And I so badly want to wear
my new Steemit shirts at Steemfest LOL
.
.
Anyway, I'm leaving Terrace for good
in 3 days - flying to Toronto.
Then, if I don't hear good news
about my paperwork
being completed in a week or so,
I think that I will head to Istanbul,
to wait there for my paperwork...
or until mid-December....
whichever comes sooner!
.
.
over and out,
@onceuponatime
Suffering in style in Istanbul could be worse right!?! ;) Maybe all this sufi music is rubbing on you and making your head spin? Awesome!
Thanks for sharing the news as to what is up with you these days, it is always exciting to know what is up with the famous @onceuponatime. By the way, are the next vehicles going to be given the same name as the last one "onceuponamobile"? I loved that name, it deserved it too.
Namaste :)
Mercan Dede is the Boss!
I LOVE is music and presence, thank you so very much for sharing his music, along with his musicians, with us. Namaste :)
Ea un deleite
I travelled the world as a musician for almost 30 years. I found living out of a suitcase quite liberating. In fact now when I go back to the uk for a visit (I live in Vietnam) I take one moderately sized case and last time I went back for 10 weeks. Enjoyed your post though @onceuponatime. I've followed you and updated this one. You may wish to peruse my travel articles. Keep on Steemin'
But 10 weeks is not 6 months! And it sounds as if you have a home base, even if it is in Vietnam. I have no longer a home base - and I have had to get rid of everything that does not fit in my suitcases (including some very precious to me musical instruments). But I look forward to having a home base (or two) again soon :-)
The time fly
Haha ! In room 13, I love that number !! And I love your Steemit shirts :) Way to represent ! xoxo
Dam that really sucks, I hate that countries have the power to Deny a persons visa for such a stupid reason. @infovore inspired me to go last year by giving me a free steemfest ticket in his strem-mag contest. I was very excited to meet him at steemfest; Then his visa got denied and he wasn't able to come. Very disappointing, he was even going to give a talk.
I hope you will be able to make it to steemfest this year. You and @robrigo are the first two people I met; Very good memory for me. would be very sad if I could not see you both again. Sending energy for the best outcome.
My lawyer says that it is looking good that I will be ready in time for Steemfest.
Good news, now lets hope the lawyers are right and that not some paper guy leaves it on his desk... keep fingers crossed..
Very following fans <3 :)
Awesome, Glad you got a good lawyer. It is so weird how that is necessary to have in the world these days.
I'm also learning what it's like to live out of a couple backpacks! I am my own pack mule these days. Now Istanbul eh? You always keep us guessing! Well, let me know if you need some extra company there before Steemfest... I just might be able to swing a visit. :)
I'm up in the air myself. My lawyer now says that I may be able to come directly to Greece soon even if the paperwork is still being processed. I hope to know within a few days.
Hey, I've been reading this long story about the paperwork that I feel like its my close friend's issue lol That would be great if they let you come directly to Greece even if the paperwork will be still in the process. So you will escape the challenge to visit Istanbul - today it is no the safest place to go. Take care and thanks for sharing your story.
Have done this "hotel nomad" sometimes (not so long like you :D ) and yes, it is kind of fun but not for so long ... at least for me. I have to always comeback to a place I can call home or kind of.
And I hope you get all ur papers done in time for the Steemfest :D
Pd: Btw, talking about Steemit shirts and so on... Have you taken a look at my un-official Steemit store?
Not yet, but I will!
Thank you for the nice post.. I guess living from a suitcase is not handy, but I think a lot of people would love to try it.. It's great you almost bought the house.. I hope you get the residentie asap so you can follow your dream.. I am also interested what will happen more in Loutraki when you are there for a long time.. Unfortunately I will not be @ Steemfest but would love to wear the shirt and go in your place ;-) Thanks again for the post.. #CRYPTOLOUTRAKI
Well, if I don't see you at Steemfest, maybe I will see you in Loutraki.
I hope so, In the spring of 2018 I want to go.
Welcome to my life 😀!If you are doing a lot of bank transfers have a look at http://transferwise.com they are often giving a better deal versus banks as the money is kept in the country.
I work in Uk and live in Nehterlands so I use them all the time.
Also revolut is a company that offers the cheapest pay as you go direct debit card so lowest fees when taking money out of the atm.
Maybe it helps!
I hope to see you in Lisbon!!!!
What a gypsy man you are! Exciting plans ahead 🌷
My life is a never ending "journey". I left Bali with only one suitcase one year ago.
How come you only had one suitcase. Aren't you allowed two?
Didn't feel to pay for another one:) I thought its better to start a "new life" with as little as possible. #lessismore
Well in that case you are my hero. I don't know how I could have gotten down to 1 suitcase. It would have been easier to get down to none - that way no having to choose what to leave behind. And that has happened to me before, actually. I had all my possessions packed into a couple of suitcases and a backpack. And I left them outside a friend's house waiting for him to come home. Went for a walk. Came back and they were all gone! Down to zero. That was in Arizona.
Another time I was leaving the Yukon after living there for a year. Crossing the country by Greyhound with all my stuff in a couple of duffel bags under the bus. For the first couple of thousand kilometers I would get out and check at every stop until the luggage compartments under the bus were closed again. Eventually, I got lazy and stopped getting out and checking at each of the dozens of stops. Well, when I got to my destination, you can guess what I saw. My bags were gone and I was down to nothing again!
OMG! What a story!
I guess we have to learn early enough that we actually don't need much anyways and even though you loose so many precious valuable things ....it doesn't really matter.
"We come with nothing and we will go with nothing"
It's been some time I wanted to write about this topic and now you flamed and inspired me.
Such stories need to be told!
You are a wise and experienced man with lots of adventures! 🙌💫
I hope to see you in Lisbon!
omg...Mr. Onceuponunlucky... thats bad. We have that in europe also... uncontrolled luggage "under" the passengers of busses... stealing is so unfair!!!
My living circumstances at the moment tie me to the house and I can only wander off in my mind, dreaming of a travelling life as a vagabond. But I guess, it's always a matter of a healthy balance. If you don't have a homebase to come back to after travelling, chances are you might get lost. But I remember, you are one who knows what he is doing, so I am not concerned ;) I wish you good luck with your Greek ambitions!