A Benatti Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It’s been a nice holiday season over here in Mirandola. This year, the Benatti family stayed home and invited me to partake in their Christmas festivities. No snow unfortunately, so I still haven’t had that ‘White Christmas’ I’ve always dreamed about, woe is me. Either way, things were relatively quiet and low key. The flu has been going around the Benatti house so everyone was a little underneath the weather. Except for me, that is. I Am Legend!

We exchanged gifts on Christmas day (video below) after a nice lunch featuring tortellini and some turkey-like meat. Pasta on Christmas, you say? Big surprise, I know. Our desert consisted of Christmas cookies, chocolates, and some sweetbread topped with powdered-sugar and/or Nutella spread- mmmm! Dinner was pretty much the same stuff from lunch. Leftovers baby!

Like I said, Christmas this year was pretty low key. It's a mite lonely being away for another year from the family and friends. But, I had the Benatti family here to keep me company this time around. For New Year’s I’ll probably just have a nice dinner with Paltro and the gang. I’ve got my Cuban ready 'cause I got a feeling ’09 is gonna be a good one. But, 2008 was damn good so it'll be pretty hard to top. Only time will tell…

Oh, and I want to say congratulations to Steven who had a baby boy over there in Texas. I saw the pics. I can't believe you're a father, man! Congratulations!

Benatti family opening gifts.

An Italian Nativity scene. Reminds me of the one we used to set up back home, albeit a little more elaborate... Nico is taller than me now.
I can still wupp Freddy, but not much longer..
What Christmas isn't complete without some kind of game console? In this case, an X-Box Elite.

Freddy is sick. We had to drag him over to open presents, but once he got going he had a little more enthusiasm. Julio is my Mexican name for those of you who don't know the story, it's kinda complicated. The boys know it nonetheless, as I addressed it so on their gift which you can't really see (it was an X-box controller).

Random Note

I watched 'A Streetcar Named Desire' last night by myself. Good thing! I was gonna show it to Nico. I guess it's not that bad, but it is one fucked up story if you ask me. I can't believe Marlon Brando rapes the sister at the very end, it totally took me by surprise. Up 'til then I was sympathizing with him, what with having to put up with a stupid, lying sister-in-law for 4 months. Of course he's gonna be pissed...

If you haven't seen the movie and I just ruined it for you- sorry 'bout that. It's a good movie though, just not one of my favorites.

Bologna With Chris

I’m sorry, I know it’s been a while but not a lot has happened unfortunately. I’ve spent my time reading; a book every two days (literally). In the last two weeks I have read 8 books in my spare time, no shit- some bigger than others. Whereas last year I spent much of my time and money on food and wine, this time around my focus is on staying in shape and reading (but not writing, yet). Trying to be more productive, see.

Work is going well. Freddy and Nico are bigger than last year… and much more to handle, Freddy in particular. But I love these boyz, they’re like my lil’ brothers, man. I’ve been getting them to watch old movies with me. The other day we watched Casablanca, and tomorrow we’re gonna see Chinatown. Others on the list include: Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, various Hitchcock...

I did go Bologna on Thursday to meet up with Chris Lee, his mother, aunt, and charming girlfriend. We had an apperitivo, then dinner with wine. It was fabulous to see Sharon, like a piece of home. How I do miss home... Chris is doing well, gonna be a lawyer next year in L.A. Who knows where I’ll be, but we’ve made plans to meet up again so stay tuned.

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Ciao.

Ahhh, it's been a while.


Look closely at this fountain. Now, take a look at where the water is coming out... look closelier...

Milano

Went to Milan this weekend, finally, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a while now; didn’t think I’d get the chance. I stayed with a girl I met back on Ios, Marta, who showed me around the city where I saw a church (big surprise), some big ass graveyard, the football stadium and of course THAT fabulous shopping strip! Actually, the city wasn’t anything too spectacular (sorry Milano), but I had a nice trip. I didn’t even bring my camera along the little tour Marta gave me, so no pics. Sorry about that! But like I said: nothing missed.

I stayed in the heart of the city, which is pretty modern so pretty boring. Boston is probably the largest urban-type city I’ve seen and have to compare with, and Boston was definitely more interesting than Milan- what wit all dem’ brick buildings and all!

Overall, it was a nice weekend. I had some good wine, thick-dough pizza (as opposed to the thin, southern style), panini and possibly the best Tiramisu I’ve ever had (we went to some famous restaurant for the last two, called Primo Guisto).

Not much else going atm, but maybe I'll head to Florence next weekend and visit good ole' Chris Lee, who is apparently here working or studying- or something. It would be good to see my old friend, who showed me the path way back in the genesis of my travels. If not for him, well, all might have been lost..

Back in Mirandola

I arrived safely in Ancona last week without any problems with immigration, lucky me. From there, I headed straight to Mirandola to see my old friends and the Benatti family. The older brother, Nico, hasn’t changed much but Freddy is definitely taller and stronger! Stefano has lost weight; I would say about 30 pounds! Whereas I used to compare him to Tony Soprano, now I would say he’s more of a Silvio. Eugenia is the same, ever so sweet. Paltro’s got a girlfriend, but it’s good to see him nonetheless. I have missed Mirandola, and all my old friends! I even went to a super market that I used to patron and a guy named Mario -who always used to hook me up with free bottles of wine- recognized me, and, of course he gave me a bottle of Montepulciano to boot! I’ve missed Italy, let the wine flow!

I was under the impression that I’d be here as a visitor for roughly one month, but as it turns out Eugenia thought I was coming to teach English again. This was a bit of a shock because I was prepared to head home, money is low and times are tough. What a break! I told Eugenia that I wanted to think about it- another Christmas/New year’s away from the family, away from home. But hey, I need the money and it feels right. I guess not ready to come home yet, so don’t ask! I don’t even know what I’ll do next. I have a few ideas/possibilities, but I’m here ‘til January and for now that’s all I know.

So it’s been a week now and I’m already getting into the groove. No word from James, but that was expected. I promised some pictures from my stay in Athens which are now posted below, so there ya go. I’ll take some pics of Mirandola next week. Ciao~

Photos o' Athens

This is James.
This is James' beamer- makes it pretty fun to ride around Athens. He's a pretty crazy driver too, but seemed to know what he was doing...
James' room where I sometimes spent an excess of 20 hours.
My mobile home. As you can see it's gotten a little fat, need to put it on a diet.

Found this in one of them black market shops in the center of Athens: 70% absinthe and made using 30% wormwood (apparently). I'm quite sure that it's not legal, but it was fun to try. As you can see it came in a dropper, which we used to mix into cokes. We didn't hallucinate at all, but I have to aggree with the info on wikipedia- absinthe creates a sort of lucid-state of drunkeness, where you don't feel stupid-drunk, but rather quit coherent mentally, and nor are you inhibited quite as much in the physical sense.
Went out clubbing on occasion, renting out tables and spending way too much money on alcohol and trying to be big shots (well not so much me, but you get the idea).

James' gun. It used to be his grandfathers and is still wanted by the police for whatever reason. Notice the clip is loaded with live bullets. I wanted to go and shoot it somewhere, but he wasn't keen. Crazy malaka...

Happy Halloween!

I had to write one more entry before heading off to Italy tomorrow. It’s Halloween and I just want to wish everyone a good one, whether it be sweet parties or taking dem kiddies out trick o’ treatin’! Around this time last year I was going caving in North England, ah those were good times! I miss those days, and those people. I miss everybody. But, I’m heading off to meet my Italian family back in Mirandola, to see my old friends and hopefully have some good times. I can’t wait to eat Italian food and drink good wine again (Greek wine sucks!).

It’s truly been a strange week here and I just have to say that staying with James has been the strangest situation I’ve ever encountered as a guest. I live here in his room, and when he comes home (8 hours later), he sleeps in another room! I tried to confront him about this, but he is evasive and non confrontational about the whole thing. If I had a problem with someone, I’d kick ‘em out before I go and start sleeping elsewhere. Obviously he’s in the same state as I, in that we aren’t meshing. There’s not been one argument, just… segregation. I know how I think of him since staying here, but I wonder what he thinks of me?

So anyway, I don’t know what’s in store for my future. It’s a critical time now and this thing could go any way. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. Money is low and I need work.

I know I’ve been really lazy with pics, but you’ve seen it all anyway; it’s nowhere new. I’ll get some pics of James and post ‘em, cause I don’t think I have any and at this point and I should! Oh, and I want to say my congratulations to a childhood friend, recently married- way to go Tommy! I hear the wedding was fabulous and that you rocked the dance floor, man. Enjoy the honeymoon and don’t knock her up too soon! Just kidding…

Happy Halloween!

Agli Lupoli

I've been living here in Athens for over two weeks now, staying as a guest with James in Agli Lupoli. It's been an interesting time, but I'm ready to move on. I know James is probably tired of me, and to tell you the truth the feeling is more than mutual. Actually, I'm pretty tired of Greece altogether. Athens IS a rough city, and although I tried I just haven't been able to feel like I can belong.

For starters, James is only 19 and his household is a pretty rocky environment (I know mine was back then). There's lots of drama, and not to just here but even with his crazy friends when we go out. He burns through money that his parents give him like crazy, whilst I try my best not to spend what I've worked hard for all Summer. He and his friends are very tough and seem prone to getting into fights. I know they don't like me, which is probably why I've spent these last few days sitting around the house while he's off galavanting. But it's alright, one of them is a racist whom I just can't stand, sitting there as he rants about blacks while listening to rap music like a hypocrite. I hate ignorant people. James cares mostly about status and I think the only reason he likes me or wanted me to come stay so badly is because of the guy he saw on Ios. He looked up to me I think, but that's not all of who I am- sorry to disappoint. I feel like maturity plays a big part here and I shudder to think I was that bad once. I still like the guy, but I just don't mesh in his environment. And don't get me wrong, I'm still thankful he let me come stay and see another side of Athens.

So, it's time to move on. I am heading back to Italy in a few days via ferry. Wish me luck that I don't get caught by immigration for staying in Greece longer than 3 months, or for being in the EU longer than 6. :P

Back In Athens

Well here's the scoop~ I couldn't hack it. I got tired of it, folks. I went through over a week training, reading and writing almost every day and then going back over the material when in the end it still just wasn't what I'm looking for. I don't like it and I'm not gonna send it. Sure enough, I started heading up to town to hit up the pub- meeting people whatnot, but man as soon as it started I knew I was in trouble! But I was quick to kill my own buzz, 'cause as soon as the money started flyin' I knew it was time to get the hell out of there! I didn't work hard all Summer savin' and scrapin' only to lose it all on an all but empty island!

And so, I moved on to Athens to stay with a friend whom I met back in Summer time. His name is James. He is a Greek American from Jersey who is living in Athens until he is properly drafted into the Greek army for a year next month. I've been staying here with his family for a few days so far and already it's a very different experience compared to Athens as a tourist before. For starters, I go to coffee everyday surrounded by Greeks in a non tourist part of Athens playing/learning backgammon, eating amazing foods and trying to learn Greek but failing miserably at attracting one of the many beautiful girls attentions(so many here, believe me).

James actually comes from a unique and special family that goes back to Jersey where they were very much affiliated with Greek Mafia and used to own a club that apparently hosted Joe Pesci as a comedian but fired him at some point. Frank Sinatra also attended this club on occasion (seen pictures of both guys with the dad). At some point, James' father had to leave and return to Greece etc., etc. for whatever reason. So, here we are driving around in James' BMW convertible (whatever) without concern for police due to these past ties, living it up. What are we to do but enjoy ourselves? And yet I ask myself: who am I but a lone Californian run away? Am I destined for Office Space? I dunno. Makes the old life feel so boring....

So here I am still figuring out what to do with myself at this point. I hear the economy sucks back home; that true? Well, in the meantime I have two family names which come out of Sparta that I intend to investigate before I leave- James promised to help call and that is what we will do. I also need to figure out how get out of this fucking country without too much reprisal, but from what I understand that is becoming more and more difficult as everyone is all pissed off at America. Thus, everyone is paying more attention to illegal travelers abroad. Eh? Eh?

I'll figure out what to do but until then we'll just have to see. I do have time and until then, maybe the horizon will get a little bit brighter.

The Quiet Life... and my bald head.

Okay, let me just say first of all that the quiet life is great. Now that I’m out of work it’s time for a holiday. I’m really enjoying being a hermit and all I do is read and write, go to the beach and exercise. But, when you have so much time on your hands one tends to have crazy thoughts... I know that I’m gonna get a lot of flack for this, but I feel that I have a responsibility to report the following:

Have you ever wondered what you would look like completely bald? I have. And so, given that I spend most of time alone here on my balcony-world, I thought it would be the perfect to opportunity to see for myself.

I had to get drunk in order to follow through with it, and I’m still embarrassed to go into town at certain times when I’ll see people that I know. Mostly, I just don’t want to go through the ‘shock process’ which is inevitable, I suppose. By the end of it I was pretty pissed (drunk) and don’t really remember going to sleep, but one thing I didn’t intend that I guess I did, was shave part of my right eyebrow. This is something my friend Steven used to do, or Vanilla Ice if you wanna bring it there. I didn’t intend it. I don’t like it. It’s a little too hardcore for me, but oh well. I have time to grow everything back and look normal again. In the meantime, I can continue on with my book and all the latter.

I took a few pictures and made a few videos of the process, posted below. Well, the connection here is too shady for the videos so I gave up. Enjoy, and be kind…

My drunk ass had to go and shave part of my eyebrow, sheesh.

Rainy Days

After a summer full of hot and sweaty days here on Ios my prayers have finally been answered. I was just telling my parents the other day how much I’d give for a rainy day, curled up in blankets with a cup of coffee and my book. It was fantastic.

The last few days have been cloudy, cool and calm. All the people are gone now and I’ve only a few more days at Piperri. I’ve only been working a few hours each day and that’s mostly spent cleaning the kitchen, wiping the grease and grime or just twiddling my thumbs. The end is nigh.

It was the closing night at Slammers Bar last night, only two bars left! So, I swung by and had a beer with my old boss from 69 and a famous Slammer shot- had to try one: you put on a bike helmet, down a shot of Cuervo with tonic water and then take a fire extinguisher to the head via the bartender. Really, all it did was give me a slight headache. I just wish I’d brought my camera.

I spend most of my days now working out, reading and writing. It’s nice to feel back in shape, which didn’t take long without drinking and a healthier diet (than gyros). The writing is going well. My second chapter proved to be hard one, but the third is flowing again just like the first. Gotta push through that shit!

Not much else really. Life is good. It’ll be interesting to see what happens once I’m completely finished working. How long can I stand the life of a hermit? So much free time. Well, only time can tell..

From the Absent Prof

Hey guys, it’s been a long time. I know. Not much happening here, just two jobs working many hours without respite. I got a new job washing dishes at restaurant called Piperri. The work is hard but it feels good. I get better money than 69 and a meal to boot. The staff are interesting but I like them: a snotty little Greek girl, two bitchy English girls (are they all bitchy?) and a flamboyant but apparently not gay English owner. Being from London, their accents are very strong and I hear all kinds of cockney that makes no fucking sense unless explained. The owner Mark always calls me different names, sometimes similar to ‘Clint’ and other times way off; so I do the same to him. The music is classy and eclectic, stuff like Dean Martin and Sinatra until the end of the night where it’s English ska and Amy Winehouse. None of them like hip hop. Hanging in the back with the Greek cook, I’ve learned to count to ten in Greek and all kinds of random shit.

After getting off at Piperri, I throw on my 69 shirt and head to work and a night of drinking, flirting, all that Jazz. Then, I go home and sleep and do it again. So, as you can see I’ve been as busy as a malaka, but things are winding down now. The crowds have tapered off and all the clubs are closing. I finished at 69 a few days ago and have about two more weeks at Piperri.

What now? My friends are all gone and I feel like the only one left. Even my asshole Albanian neighbors are gone. Once more I can wake up and walk out on my balcony, nude as the day I was born… I’ve managed to save a lot more money here that I thought. I’ve so many options ahead. But the truth is that I like it here. It’s quiet again just like it was back at the beginning and it’s so nice. I’ve had my fun partying, met some cool people and shared good times but now it’s time collect myself. I can live here for months cheaply, something I might do. Or, I might move on. I’ve started writing again, my old novel from back in the day. I’m reading a lot and working out again, eating healthy. Shit, I haven’t even had a drink for two days and after nearly three months at 69 drinking every night I’m sure my liver hates me. Time to detox.

As soon I finish at the restaurant I’m gonna live like a hermit, not sure how long really. I miss all you guys and sorry for being the absent professor, but I’m back now and hopefully I still have some readers left.

One Year Malaka!

Well it’s been a year now. One year since I flew over to Venice on a one-way ticket and walked into that shit hotel scared as hell asking myself “Oh dear God, what did I do?” One whole year living abroad and I am still here, man. Dunno how but I did it but now I can cross that off in my goal book. Shit, I’m living my dream and loving life :)

I’m much healthier again now since I’ve started taking my antibiotics. All of my friends are pretty much gone and there’s really only two more weeks of this craziness before things start to chill the fuck out. I don’t know how much longer I will work at 69, but they generally close somewhere in September. More money is always nice and if the job gets easier I just might do it!

There are some strange pictures of my leg below so let me just explain: What you see below is a bit of damage that can only come from yet another stupid game of my childhood brought back to life- The Dead Leg Game. Basically, you hit the person in the leg when they are not paying attention and they cannot hit you back. Rather, they must wait later until when you are not paying attention to get the proper revenge. I was hit twice while making out, which was not funny at the time but now’s worth the chuckle. Yes, it’s immature but such a fun game! I wouldn’t advise playing the dead leg game with people who are much bigger and stronger than you, nor when drunk with said people, and certainly not two days in a row. I am still healing… Other games not to play: The BB gun game (how many pumps can you do?), The Circle Game and too many more. For God’s Sake, man! Grow up!!

~Happy anniversary me!

The good thing about the Italian wave is the women... these beauties are from Roma.
Costas and Dragon. Our security.
Some of the new Italian Kamaki staff.
This is the other Costas who I'm always beefin' with. He still tries to tell me what to do and I still don't listen..
My wounded leg took a few shot to the knee cap somehow. The next day i discovered this

Is Too Much Fun Too Much?

Wow, it’s been a while yet again and a lot has happened. I posted two blogs at once here so there is a lot below to catch up on...

We are in peak season now and my job has transformed. We charge cover now, 7 euros and everything has changed. I still bring girls in for drinks but after the first few hours the TRUE madness begins. I can’t move, let alone walk around. When I am not drunk, the job is too crazy to handle. Hence, I cannot seem to go a single night without getting drunk just to get through it all. I’ve been sick with various illnesses that I fight off with 4-5 kiwis and a few cloves of garlic a day. My diet was good, but both that and my rigorous workout routine have finally gone kaput. To top it all off I got a temporary roommate who has been staying with me in our tiny room for the past few weeks. He’s the Swedish guy Johan, whom I mentioned in a prior post. He’s easy to live with and we get into a lot of fun/trouble so it’s been worth losing my routine.

I don’t know how much longer I can handle this lifestyle. I’ve seen so many come and go that I feel like I’m in a race and I'll probably be first to place in the running. But is that a good thing? Our entire staff at Disco 69 has changed and probably will again over the next few weeks. All of my English speaking neighbors where I live have changed once and are about to again. Soon, all of my friends will be gone and all I’ll be left with are my Albanian neighbors and the ginormous swarm of aggressive Italians who pack the tiny street outside my club. Even Johan leaves in a few days, but hopefully then I can get back to my routine. I’ve even got some antibiotics that I can start taking, but I’m waiting ‘til he leaves because I can’t drink whilst on ‘em- God it’s gonna suck (but 5 days no drinking would also be heavenly)!

Amidst all this stupor, I am still managing to save money, so that is good. The 15^th of August is supposed to be the end of peak season, where all begins to wind down. So if I can just make it there and get healthy again all should be well. Wish me luck….

Another post with pictures below~

On the phone with my parents.
My roommate Johan.
A few times a week I have to carry this banner up and down the beach to promote the club. Good times.

Irish Day ~ Pog mo thóin

Yet another country day. Australia day was only two weeks before. Now, as an ignorant American of course I am unaware, but man these days can be fun. So far, Irish day has been the only thing close to matching Swedish midsummer but I’d have to say that the Swedes still take the cake.

My temporary roommate, Johan and I decided to start our day off right with a big ass bottle of wine. We then proceeded to bust in on our half-naked neighbors, John (the dude from Boston) and some girl. Afterwards, we all went out to commence partying with the Irish crowd. They formed a parade which would’ve been fun but Johan needed to stock his bar, so we had to miss the parade. But, afterwards we had REAL breakfast in a bowl of White Russian cereal at a local restaurant. It was quite strong but the Kahlua does its trick, man. After that, I do believe we were all on our way to getting friggin’ locked (Irish term for drunk, smashed, hammered, etc.)

The rest of our day was such a blur, dude. Honestly, it seemed too short. Johan and I went tubing with two friends. Tubing is where you hold onto a single or multi-person tube and get dragged along by a boat (we all did single tubes, but at the same time). We were all so smashed that they shouldn’t have let us on, but we knew the guy and he hooked us up. Johan was the first to fall off and I came in 2^nd. We had a bet… but we were all so fucked up that afterwards everyone just kinda forgot.

Two more bottles of wine and lots of nudity later I was stumbling home to shower and go into work. My night was crazy and from what I hear it was pure comedy. To get girls to come into the clubs I would run up and bite them on the neck or shoulder, to which I did get pushed a few times, but I wasn’t to be deterred. I also know that I gave at least two strange girls hickies, because they came by the next night and gave me a hard time about it. What’s the problem? By the end of the night I was leaning against the wall afraid to move ‘lest I fall in a manner most-unflattering. I didn’t even have to clean that night. My coworkers brought me my money and random girls brought me food. Basically, I just made out with girls all night and infuriated my newest boss, but our Greek bartenders love me and told him to STFU. Even the owner, Frankie, saw me in my state but he just laughed.

You think I’m done?? Nope. Afterwards, Johan got off work and walked me to another club. I just drank water for an hour where, upon my insistence, we went back to shots. The last club to close on Ios is a place called Scorpion, where we partied until around 11am. Afterwards, we stole a giant road mirror and smuggled it home (picture below).

So what is my conclusion to this fantabulous story? Well, the only thing I have to say is: don’t do it unless you are prepared to accept the consequences. We partied literally 24 hours and somehow I survived the onslaught. Nobody thought I’d be around the next day but I was; I still am, malaka! Dat’s how we do on da Westsiiiiide, homey. Nevertheless, I’ve been sick ever since with multiple ailments which include: sinusitis, a yellow tongue, a jacked up ankle and sore muscles from drunk-tubing and refusing to let go even after being tipped. It could’ve-should’ve been worse…

Pog mo thóin!!

White Russian and corn flakes.


Pre-parade.
This sign says 'No Naturysm' which basically means 'No Nudity.'
That really friggin hurt....
You see people passed out in random places here on Ios all the time... especially during a country day.
This was the giant convex road mirror that we stole and brought up to our balcony. It's in my room now.... ;D

Indian Day

The 4th of July sucked here. Some random Germans went on a spree calling it 'Indian Day' and dressed up as Native Americans which was a little comical. But I dare say that Canada day a few days earlier was probably better.


These are my 'Irish Lads.' If asked, they can spit whole conversation in 'Pikey' as seen in the movie 'Snatch.'

A Good Day

I had a wonderful evening the other day. I went with this Canadian/Israeli girl named Alex to the highest point on the island to watch the sun set. There's a tiny church (they’re all tiny) at the top which overlooks the island. It was incredibly windy up there but the view was spectacular. We brought a bottle of wine and drank to Ios. At one point, I went around to the other side and found a group of people tucked away from the wind, drinking something from a bucket with over fifty straws. One of them had a guitar and was playing Chili Pepper and Oasis songs; others were playing backgammon or taking pictures. We came over to be fellow hippies and joined the group. Ios was once known as ‘The Hippy Island,’ where all the hippies back in the 60’s came to visit. On the rocks and various parts of the stairs are all kinds of signatures and messages from people of this past. I tried to imagine them up here back in the day, enjoying the heavenly view, smoking weed, playing music and escaping the shackles of society.

It was my first day off in over a month since starting work.

“Damn, I gotta’ say it was a good day.”

-Ice Cube

Alex took this shot which has her reflection, our shadows on the wall, and then the view behind.
Yet another sunset shot, but I think this one is pretty money

The Swedish Midsummer Festival

Oh this crazy life and oh the crazy Swedes. Yesterday was the Swedish midsummer celebration here on Ios and I have never partied so hard in my entire life. The drinking and abhorrent celebration began at 10.30am where the first bar was serving cereal doused with white Russians. Now, bear in mind that I am going on about 4 hours of hapless sleep and a typical hangover. Already the Jaeger was flowing faster than beer. By 2.30pm everyone was drunk and parading down the road in hundred degree weather to the beach and poolside of Far Out resort on Mylopotos. It was a long and slow, drunken parade. As I said, Jaeger was flowing and I don’t think I paid for a drink all afternoon. When we rolled up to the pool, everyone was getting naked and jumping into the water. Naked Swedes were everywhere, screaming, singing, fucking. Debauchery was an understatement.

I tried hard to keep myself low-key knowing that I would have to work at 11.30 that night, but the craziness was only just beginning. Somehow I managed to squeeze in a two hour nap near the day’s end and tore myself away to eat and prepare for work. As I strolled in, my boss looked me up and down knowingly and says ‘Go inside and get a coffee.’ We all made it in but it was close and the night was only beginning.

My description of the night is going to be a little bare but what can I say? I needed a hair off the dog’s back, as they say in the UK (or is it Ireland?) just to level out and from there it was on. Most of my night was a blur but a fond blur. Our streets were packed and everyone was happy and partying like hippies. How did they do it? How did I? I do not know but I will never forget that day.

My Swedish friend Johan.
I forget her name.