My experience with the Greeks did not end at the bar.  The Italian guy I was with that night and  who was now friends with the Greeks happened to work at a discotheque in Rimini.  He said he would love to have us as his guests.  I really didn’t want to go at first.  I try and do a lot of things.  But one thing I NEVER do is dance.  I hate dancing.  But as I said before, this trip was about breaking out of my shell, and doing thing I would normally never do.  I reluctantly said yes.  There was no turning back now.

The day came, and I was supposed to meet my Italian friend (for the purpose of anonymity I will call him Mario) in front of the school at 8:30.  As the time approached, I got more and more nervous.  I was secretly hoping that Mario would not show up.  Going to an all night dance club was something that really intimidated me.  Like a fine tuned Swiss watch, Mario arrived exactly at 8:30.  Off we went.

We picked up the Greeks and headed to Rimini.  The drive there was beautiful.  We finally arrived in Rimini and my jaw dropped. It was not what I expected at all.  It looked like Miami Beach.  The streets were lined with dozens and dozens of four and five star hotels.  The beach was covered with thousands of umbrellas.  We walked around the beach a bit, and I was able to see what the water in the Adriatic felt like. Much warmer than at home.  We were only there a few minutes, then it was off to the disco.

The disco was called Echoes.  It is located up on a hill that overlooks all of Rimini.  We walked in, and once again, my jaw hit the floor.  It was this massive outdoor dance party.  Waterfalls lined the pathway that lead to the dance floor.  Life size elephant and cow sculptures towered over the tables of the VIP section.  This place was like nothing I had ever seen. When we got there, the music had  not yet begun. Instead the dance floor had a huge buffet table.  Probably the best buffet I have ever had.  Then at 1am on the dot, like the chimes of a grandfather clock, the music began.  Pulsating beats drowned out all conversation.  It was the kind of music you don’t hear, you feel.  It pounds your chest, almost knocking the wind out of you.  The dance floor was flooded within second. What a spectacle.

The music and the dancing didn’t cease for hours.  Europeans are like robots. They go all night without stopping.  Hours upon hours of this.  I couldn’t keep up.  I had a blast anyway.

We finally got headed out around 5am.  As I watched the the sky turn from black to deep blue,  I couldn’t help but smile.  I never saw myself standing next to a group of people I had just met,watching the sun rise over an all night dance party.  It is one of many experiences on this trip I know I will never forget.