The Village People

Ios, Greece
We slept in because we could. Ando, our Aussie travel mate, was already gone and later so were we. At a little bakery we got some ham and cheese croissants. We’ve slacked off in our exercises (the ones Brad and I committed to in England) so we thought it was about time to do something physical. At the water sport shack we rented kayaks and rowed for about an hour and a half. No matter how far out we went the water was clear all the way to the bottom. Rocky cliffs jutted up from the sea. Around each corner was a little cove with white villas on the hill. Kayaking is something I could get into. It’s a great workout.

The smell of food torments my senses. I could eat every hour on the hour. There is much good food to experience. Back to our mission on the beach, we laid out to darken our skin and lighten our hair. A beautiful Swede made her sandy home in front of us and Brad conversed with her as I listened and smiled. I’m not sure why I’m that way. I just don’t talk that much. I don’t know if it’s that I don’t have much to say or just don’t want to say anything. I think I would like to talk and when I am very comfortable I do. As far as humor, that comes with comfort as well. The other thing is that I become such an amiable, jovial person when I have a few drinks. It’s not that it makes me more confident, though it does a little; it’s that words just start to flow and all of the sudden I’m Mr. Loquacious. I just wonder, though, if I were to travel alone if I’d be the kind of person who would be starved for conversation. I think I could go for days with only minimal conversation such as asking for directions or ordering food.

More writing would be done, that is for sure. I haven’t written many poems lately. That’s something I wish I could write more of. It’s hard not to be inspired here. The three poems I have written on this trip were all female inspired. It’s not bad, but I want to expand my topics. Also, I’d like to begin writing my novel. This journal will be a good reference for later on. Getting behind in journaling kind of prevents me from writing just what’s on my mind. Hence this stream of consciousness right now.

Ando is a smooth mutha. Just hanging out with him the last few days has proved that. He said confidence can get you anywhere and that you can do anything when you put your mind to it. Nothing I haven’t heard before, but he truly believes it and lives by it. He’s started a conversation with a nice looking Aussie chick next to us. With so much ease he does it. He said he’s not that good with the ladies, but he can start conversations and that is the hard part.

This holiday isn’t about meeting girls, even though it’s happened. So what is it about? Oh yeah, finding myself and what I want. My guess is that it won’t happen till I get home for good in December.

The four of us boys went to Delphini’s for dinner. Ando put his moves on our Norwegian waitress and got her to give us a map to the bars she might be at later that night. We all tasted the curry and it was spicy, but nice. Tonight was the night we were going to do The Village up on the hill. On our little patio we played a game called 21 that Ando introduced to us. It went like this: We counted from 1 to 21 around the circle. If someone said two numbers it reversed the direction, three numbers skipped a person. If 21 was reached that person could substitute a number for a word or phrase. If anyone messed up, a drink was taken. Many were as a result.

The last bus came by at midnight and it was crammed full of party seekers looking for one thing or another. What we sought was a place with a chilled out atmosphere where actual conversation could take place. After several disappointing attempts we found the Click Café. Soothing music played in the background and the patrons seemed to be a bit more sophisticated then the standard clubbers. We hung out for awhile half expecting to see the girl from Norway, but not counting on it.

Nick and I made an early exit. We picked up some late night grub then eased down the donkey trail back to the Purple Pig. Sleep came easy…for the first few hours.