Has anyone gone away somewhere when they first stopped drinking where there are no AA meetings and most others are Holiday drinking around them? What did you do? How did you do? I am only on my 3rd day without a drink.

Hi, A very important question and a situation that I'm sure many of us have found ourselves in. I've done a good bit of travelling where there aren't meetings (or very few) but I was sober a while before I'd done that. I know I was very apprehensive when I had to work out of town for a month after being sober for a only few months. I made it a point to find meetings and stay in contact with my sponsor back home. I guess I would suggest taking the book Alcoholics Anonymous along and making a point of reading it every day. The AA Grapevine is a wonderful "meeting in print" that also helps me a lot when I'm away from meetings. You can pick it up at some meetings. I would also say, if you're in a situation that seems to be too much for you (like a party) simply excuse yourself and go chill out with some of that reading I mentioned. Also, ask some people at meetings near you about their experiences. I think you should find at least some people who can share their experience with similar situations. Don't fret if you're feeling that you'll never be able to handle situations where others are drinking. I think you'll find it gets easier the longer you stay away from that drink. It has for me at least. Here are a few things I found in the Grapevine archives that may or may not be appropriate. Keep in touch and thanks for posting. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A TRUE STORY En route to my first sober vacation, I confessed my apprehension to my husband. The idea of being on a plane without a drink was unthinkable. I came through the flight without incident and was absolutely floored to be met with a large banner in the airport saying, "AA Welcomes You." I grabbed my husband's arm and pointed to the sign. He looked at it for a moment, turned to me, and said quietly, "May, it stands for American Airlines." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ No Matter How Far We Roam A globetrotter finds AA from Latvia to Niger Volume 60 Issue 4 September 2003 A few months ago, I was in Africa, traveling from Lome, Togo, to Niamey, Niger, by way of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I ended up stranded in Ouagadougou for about twelve hours. I had been advised before traveling to call my organization's office there if any problems came up. I made the call and spoke to a nice man who sent someone to assist me at the airport. The day proceeded and eventually I got to Niamey with a minimum of distress. When I returned home, I was looking in the AA International Directory for meetings at the next place I would be traveling to, flipped past the entry for Burkina Faso, and noticed an entry for a loner there. It was the very same man that I'd been speaking to on the phone! I later sent him an e-mail to thank him for his assistance and to let him know of our Bill W. connection, and we've traded some correspondence since. I loved the synchronicity of this incident, and found that he enjoyed it, too. Last year, I found myself in Bali, Indonesia, and connected with some folks to go to a meeting there. While introducing myself, a voice from behind me said, "You're Kathy from _____!" (a place where I lived six years before, on the other side of the globe). Mark had remembered me because of a thank-you note that I'd written to a Round-Up Committee that he had chaired after attending the Nice, France AA Round-up in September 1995. It truly is a small world when we can connect every place we go. Some time ago I was in a rough spot in a place with no meetings. I picked up my book, got quiet, and thought about all the meetings occurring at that moment all over the globe. I discovered that the spirit of AA and a connection to a Higher Power can be carried in our hearts no matter where we are. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi again, I didn't see your previous post about going to Greece. Spent many a drunken hour on the Greek Islands (and mainland) years ago. Sober travel is MUCH better and what a great way to make friends if you get to meetings. It makes vacations really wonderful experiences. Here's a bunch of English Speaking AA meetings in Greece. What island are you going to? LEFKADA ISLAND MONDAY 15:30 9, M. Sikelianou St., 1st floor Phone: +30-26450-23481 (from 20:00 - 21:00 hrs.) Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PAROS ISLAND MONDAY 19:00 call for direction: Phone: +30-6937-500227 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 THASSOS ISLAND MONDAY 20:00 Abundant Life Group call for directions: Phone: +30-25930-23937 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PATRAS MODAY 20:30 5, Patreos St. 1st floor Phone: +30-26103-42026 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 LEFKADA ISLAND THURSDAY 15:30 9.M. Sikelianou St., 1st Floor Phone: +30-26450-23481 (from 20:00 - 21:00 hrs.) Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PAROS ISLAND THURSDAY 19:00 Call for directions Phone: +30-6937-500227 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PATRAS THURSDAY 20:30 5, Patreos St. 1st Floor Phone: +30-26103-42026 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PAROS ISLAND FRIDAY 19:00 call for directions Phone: =30-6937-500227 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 Alcoholics Anonymous +30(210) 6452972, +30(694) 4922220 CRETE FRIDAY 19.30 HANIA GROUP Open Agios Konstantinos Church, Nea Hora, Hania (non-smoking - wheel chair access) Phone: +30-28250-22319 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PATRAS TUESDAY 17.30 PATRA Open Patreous 14 (nxt Ag.Agirous Church) Last Updated: 12/24/2002 HYDRA ISLAND SATURDAY 10:00 Kamini Group Open call to confirm meeting Phone: +30-22980-53252 Last Updated: 6/01/2005 PATRAS SATURDAY 12.30 PATRA Open Patreous 14 (nxt Ag.Agirous Church) Last Updated: 12/24/2002 SALONICA THURSDAY 17.30 AS BILL SEES IT GROUP 6, Dodekanissou St, 4th fl. Last Updated: 01/11/04 http://www.aa-europe.net/events/ermioni_2005.htm AA Athens - 00-30-1-6452972 The Parthenon Group The Parthenon Group of Alcoholics Anonymous is a friendly international group which holds english-speaking meetings twice a day. Many people who live in other countries consider our group their home group even though they may only visit during their holidays. MEETINGS AND CONTACTS IN GREECE ATHENS CENTRAL Parthenon Group 156 Ippokratous St. Athens-(Exarchia) 124 72 Meetings Daily 12:00 and 18:45 Tel. 64. 52 .972 (answering machine) e-mail: parthgrp@yahoo.com Athens info General information on Athens (until we get a map up) ATHENS SOUTH Voula Group Vas. Pavlou 1 and Leoforos Vouliagmenis Mon./Wed./Fri. 18:45 Tel. 96.10.470 ATHENS NORTH: North Corner Group Mondays-18:45 Tel: 80.72.391 THESSALONIKI As Bill Sees It Group 6 Dodekanisou St. 5th Floor Thessaloniki 54622 Tues. & Thurs. 19:00 Tel: 03/92.29.573 Coleen 03/12.31.224 Mike Please try emailing - parthgrp@yahoo.com and tell them what you're doing. Maybe they know someone on the island where you'll be going who can meet you. We sober alcoholics are all over the place. They may also have info on more meetings.

Thank You for your help and support.I love "AA welcomes you" that was great.

If you don't think you can go on vacation and be around drinkers without drinking it's ok to just not go. It's your life and your recovery. You get to decide how important it is to you.