I Can Talk to Cats C3

Chapter 3: A Trip to Greece (Part One)

Translated by Lime

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Greece, Athens International Airport.

After flying for nearly 10 hours, the time zone in Greece was 6 hours behind the time in China. The current time was now midnight, but the airport was still crowded.

“Let’s separate here then, I’ll go travel while you catch a bus to your hometown. Goodbye for now.”

In front of the large gate, Lin Lan bid her farewell to the young college student while he waved and smiled at her.

“Boss, I wish you a pleasant trip and hope that you forget all your troubles in the morning! By the way, don’t forget the Athens tourism strategy that I’ve told you on the plane, make sure nothing goes wrong on your free trip!”

“Thanks!”

After they separated, Lin Lan called a taxi to head to the hotel that was booked. From the window and balcony, Lin Lan would be able to see the Aegean Sea near Farlong Bay. The waves crashed against the cliffs, and she could see the self-serve breakfast buffet area.

Well, she would enjoy all the benefits of the trip that was originally for two people.

As Lin Lan dragged her suitcase into the hotel, she saw two stray cats sitting at the door. She paused for a moment but didn’t stop walking to the front desk.

After checking in at the front desk and receiving the room card, the bellboy hospitably came with her to the corresponding room. When Lin Lan entered, there was only one person left in the double room. She fell onto the large bed and let out a tired sigh.

In fact, it was impossible to be completely relaxed. It was impossible to smile as if nothing had happened.

After breaking up with her lover, even if she worked hard to preserve her dignity on the spot and revenge was sweet, the injury that he caused was not lessened by even a little unless she had never liked him in the first place. 

From the beginning to the present moment, Lin Lan didn’t feel sad.

But now that it was over, she didn’t feel happy either.

The soft light shone down on the crisp, white double bed that the woman was laying on. She was curled up into a ball and her hand clutched the quilt, her head buried deep into the pillow. Her shoulders shook noiselessly.

    …………

In the morning, Lin Lan woke up from her dream to the sound of waves.

Yesterday night, she slept late which added to the fatigue of traveling. It was already 11 o’clock when she awoke, meaning that the buffet breakfast had already closed.

Her heart scolded the pair of cheaters, and she clutched her empty stomach as she went to search for food.

Fortunately, there were many convenience stores and restaurants in the area for tourists, so Lin Lan did not need to search for long before she satiated her hunger.

After she had enough to eat and bought some snacks, she began to wander and explore the foreign country.

The street Lin Lan walked on was very clean and tidy, surrounded by all kinds of specialty stores and even more necessity stores for tourists. She looked out at the vast ocean and the white town ahead.

Lin Lan had quit her job before she traveled. This was not the peak holiday time for many tourists to visit Greece, so she didn’t see as many fellow Chinese tourists as she had seen in the photos online.

She was just thinking about whether or not to take the bus to the pure white town when she heard a lot of laughter and standard Mandarin being spoken.

“Hubby, hurry up, hurry up. The small town in front has a holy place with a sea shrine. I want to go there to see the Aegean Sea!” The young girl in a bohemian dress took her partner’s hand and ran happily to the bus station. She was so excited that she almost made the man behind her stumble.

“I know, I know, the town is right there and won’t run away. There won’t be many people competing with you for a seat since we booked our honeymoon trip at a time where there aren’t many tourists.”

Her husband tried to persuade her, but the girl didn’t listen, still making a lot of noise.

“We’re going to take so many pictures there! You have to make me look beautiful, you know!”

“Okay, okay, okay, you’re the boss! Slow down and watch your step!”

The honeymoon couple passed by Lin Lan like a gust of wind, and the good mood she had earlier blew away with them.

In her mind, she scolded Shao Xiuye and that woman again, and Lin Lan walked back to the hotel.

The tourist guide recommended: go see the small scenic town, go see the statues, go see lovers and eat dog food? Lin Lan decisively crossed out the list.

Next to the entrance of the hotel, Lin Lan heard a cat’s voice. When she looked towards the sound, she saw two fluffy little guys lying on a windowsill in front of the hotel, basking in the sun. The security guards didn’t drive them away, so they lazily rolled around. After noticing Lin Lan’s gaze, the cats were not alert, and one that was a calico cat, jumped down and ran to her.

“Miaow~” The kitty weaved in and out of Lin Lan’s legs and even began to roll in front of her.

Lin Lan knew that she didn’t naturally have an affinity with cats, but she did carry food in her hands.

A minute later, the two cats were eating the squid ring on the ground with relish, and Lin Lan stood there, somewhat helpless but tolerant: “No matter if they are foreign or domestic, they are still small floofs that have sharp noses. You guys eat, I’m going back.”

When she entered the front door, she heard meowing from behind her, probably saying goodbye to her.

I wish I could understand them, wouldn’t that be great? A fleeting thought came to her mind, but it quickly disappeared.

Her plan of going to see the sea failed, but there was still around half a day’s time left. Lin Lan took out the tourist guide and crossed off the first stop to see the sea in the small town of Oia. Her eyes fixated on the next one, an important attraction in Greece: Athens.

“Everyone come look over here, this is the very famous “Porch of the Maidens.” The six, beautiful, maiden stone pillars are symmetrical on the left and right, four in the front and one on both sides.”

A Chinese tour guide holding a small loudspeaker skillfully introduced the main points of the scenic spot to the tourists in Mandarin. Lan Lan listens from behind in interest. Wherever the group went, she followed and she blended in with the rest of the Chinese tourists.

Although it wasn’t the peak time for tourism and there weren’t many Chinese tourists visiting Athens, it didn’t mean that there weren’t any at all. Just like the couple on their honeymoon that Lin Lan encountered earlier, there was also a Chinese tourist group. Travel was cheaper in the off-season, and in a foreign country, everyone was more friendly to their fellow countrymen who were also mostly black haired and black eyed. Lin Lan, a random person, was thus ignored and allowed to stay behind the team to listen.

“There are three shrines in the Erechtheion temple that are dedicated to Zeus, Poseidon, and Hephaestus. When it comes to the Erechtheion, there is another legend: It is said that this is the place where Athena, the goddess of war, and Poseidon, the god of the sea, fought in order to become the Athenian God of protection. At the beginning, Zeus, the King of Gods, asked the two to provide humanity with one of the most useful things to determine victory or defeat. Poseidon gave a warhorse, while Athena gave an olive tree. In the end, the humans chose to embrace the olive tree. This is the origin of the name of Athens, the capital of Greece.”

The tour guide led his tourist group around the temple, his mouth never stopping to explain. A cat passed by the guide’s feet, attracting most of the people’s attention.

“Guide,” a tourist interrupted at this moment, pointing to the cat that had just run away, “I’ve always wanted to ask before, why are there so many cats here?”

“This is normal,” the guide immediately replied, “Cats are very popular in Greece. They have been the symbol of gods since ancient Greece. In the old times, many people around the world were unable to deal with the damage and diseases that rats caused. At that moment, the importance of cats became obvious. Egypt viewed cats as gods, and so did Greece. Do you know Artemis, the God of the Moon in Greek mythology? She not only represents the moon, but also represents nature and the goddess of hunting. Sometimes she appears in front of people as a cat. Therefore, the Moon Goddess is also called the Mother of the Cat. People also call the cats, the Gods’ Cat. Cats live very well in Greece. The local people are very tolerant and take good care of them. It’s no surprise to see them in the temple.”

The group of tourists suddenly understood, and Lin Lan also nodded along. No wonder there are so many stray cats everywhere that aren’t afraid of people.

“Let me continue to introduce you to this location, now, we are in a temple dedicated to Zeus. Do you know something about Zeus? He is well-known as a passionate king in Greek mythology. In addition to Hera, his seventh wife and the only queen of the palace, he also made love to many goddesses, fairies, and mortal women, who consequently gave birth to many gods and demigods. The Moon Goddess, Artemis, that was mentioned earlier was born to Zeus and Leto, the sixth wife and the goddess of motherhood…”

Lin Lan didn’t know much about Greek mythology and was shocked to hear about so many love affairs in the life of Zeus. It wasn’t even enough to have seven wives. The affairs he had with other lovers and the illegitimate children could have formed a large company. After the tour guide introduced Poseidon’s extensive love history, she didn’t want to talk anymore.

It seems that in every era and all over the world, the playfulness and amorous behaviors of men had never changed. No matter how excellent and beautiful their preexisting partner was, they would continue to fall for the third, fourth, and fifth woman. The difference between a good man and a bad man is whether they are able to restrain themselves.

The tour guide didn’t say much more about these gods’ love history, but more about what kind of powers these gods possessed, such as what they were proficient in and what they symbolized.

“It’s rare to come to Greece to see these ancient temples standing for thousands of years. You can try to come here and make a wish. Maybe there will be gods willing to listen to you.”

In the end, the tour guide made a joke and burst into laughter, but no one refused. When you see the temple, you go in, when you see the God, you worship. It was not whether most people made a wish but if it came true. In the case it is realized, all the tourists made a wish. Lin Lan also joined them.

–I hope all the scumbags in this world will disappear!

Making such a wish in the temple of the scumbag god, she may be the least sincere among the group of Chinese tourists who are also not sincere.

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