The Exploits of a TurboGeek!

So, I left off with a night out partying… Well, we’ll follow up with more partying. Friday was a pleasant day. It started off with me joining Zuza at my favorite lunch spot, Cafe 127. For those of you who don’t know, I took up drinking coffee in Cyprus, because I actually found coffee that I enjoyed drinking. Cafe 127 was the place where that happened. In addition to great coffee, they had great lunches, sandwiches and salads that I still crave. Also, a very cute manager whose birthday was January 27th, which I found to be an amusing coincidence.

After lunch, Zuza and I adjourned to a beach where we lounged a bit in the sun, and swam around in the warmth Mediterranean sea. We saw no fish, which is unsurprising. Apparently there weren’t many environmental controls in place for fishing, and the fisheries were destroyed. According to some rumors I heard, the most popular lure was dynamite… Anyhow, no little fishes, so no medium or large fishes, and therefore no likelihood of sharks devouring us. Also, no sharks are that daring.

After swimming, I went back and spent some quality time with Tim and Magy. I did go out to the bars and ran into a few fun people to chat with. I walked the ladies from the Welcome Inn home, and then trekked home on my own, pausing to send a text message to some random folks stored in my phone, bragging about wandering home drunk, along the beach, with a Gyro. In reality, I had finished they Gyro about an hour prior, but I could still taste it quite fully… I got home without incident and mentally prepared myself for Saturday… Agia Napa!!!

Agia Napa deserves an entry of its own, so I’ll save one for that… I’ll fast forward one day to sunday, the day we woke up in Agia Napa.

On sunday morning, we woke up shortly afternoon when the hotel manager called us to tell us to get out. We should have checked out at noon and it was now 12:30. In truth, I had been fading in and out of consciousness for a while, long enough to catch on the news that a Cypriot airliner had crashed in Athens, and thinking to myself that there were some folks who definitely had a tougher morning than me.

Eventually we all convened for breakfast, and what a sorry sight we were. Me, Tim and Kai (Zuza’s Boyfriend) were still incapacitated. The girls all ordered Shandy’s to drink (Beer and Sprite) while the boys all tried to convince ourselves to eat simply because we knew we needed to. It didn’t really work, as I more than once found myself chewing my bite of sandwich some 243 times, simply because I didn’t want to swallow it yet. Towards the end of lunch I attempted to feel better by refusing to believe that I felt as hung over as I did. It only part worked.

After driving back to Limassol, Tim and I were groggy for most of the rest of the evening, and during a small barbecue where Magy’s family came over and we caught up a bit. After everyone went home, I did eventually go out, but it was sufficiently late that most folks I would have spent time with were already home in bed. Wandering down the street, I couldn’t help but notice several people wandering around covered in soap suds. I set my quest to find the source of the suds… Somewhere in Limassol a “Foam Party” was underway…

On the way, I was surprised to be greeted by the call “CALIFORNIA” in a thick Irish brogue. I looked ahead to see a family of folks I had met at the Welcome Inn the night before. I was surprised and gladdened by my apparent residual celebrity as a lovely Irish lass ran up to greet me. She offered me her hands to hold (which I accepted) as her eyes danced with joy. Taking her hands, I was a bit puzzled when she then ran up my legs and placed her feet on my chest yelling “Swing Me!”

No, I don’t understand women, especially 6 year olds… However, I take instruction fairly well, so there I was, swinging some Irish kid around at 1am on a Mediterranean island. Life is strange, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I found the Foam Party at the Hippodrome, but decided to abstain since I’d never been there before, and I didn’t want to get foamy all by myself. I eventually found my way home and found that while monday morning waited until afternoon to begin, it was still too soon. I tried to have lunch at Cafe 127, but it was closed due to a holiday and a day of mourning for the Airliner crash… Also closed was the CD store, where I hoped to get some CD’s. Back at the apartment, I relaxed the rest of the day away. We all fell asleep in the evening, so rather than wake Tim and Magy, I left a note, and started the bar tour solo.

I met up with Kai and Zuza, who were still recovering from Napa, whereas I mysteriously felt quite well. Tim and Magy eventually joined us, and we spent some quality time together. Kai and Zuza went home first, and I convinced Tim and Magy to join me at the Welcome Inn to close the night. Not before Magy convinced Tim to go to a strip club for a “Bachelor Party”, however. I politely declined, since I had ignited a firestorm of worry by first asking Tim had a party planned and fanning the flames by offering to coordinate one for him. After the heartburn I had caused, I definitely didn’t want to be a part of a bachelor party that started at a strip club, with the bride-to-be in tow.

We rendezvous’d at the Welcome Inn, Tim and Magy having been thankfully spared from hearing me sing. I had a great time talking with all of my friends there, and to be honest, I’m still some what wistful, wishing I could visit that bar more easily.

I don’t know how to explain it, but somehow, that place is just home for me. I guess the world is like that sometimes. Travel around often enough, and eventually you find the places that just feel right, and that is a place I will always remember well.

With that, I think that I shall draw everything to a close. I still owe you the tale of Napa, as well as Tuesday, my last day in Cyprus. Be well, and be happy!

Hi There!

I’m back from Cyprus, so here is the run-down from my trip!!!

Wednesday Morning: Wake up at 8am, finish packing, drop off my rental car, take train to airport.
Wednesday Morning Actual: Oversleep, frantically pack, drop off the car, miss my train and buy new ticket. Oddly, make it to the airport only 30 minutes behind schedule. On the way, agree to be interviewed by a German lady with a big microphone who seems to think I know more German than I do. Once I understand the point of the interview, tell her about how much fun I had on my vacation, then go to catch my flight to start my vacation… Quietly, I hope to myself that I will have as much fun as I just said I would.

Wednesday Afternoon: Flight is delayed 1 hour, continue reading my book.

Wednesday Night: Arrive in Cyprus. Pick up my luggage and my rental car. Find that my car is manual, though I requested automatic. It does have AC, which is all that counts. While exiting the airport, remind myself several times about right turns being tricky, and that I need to shift with my left hand. Quietly marvel at my brain which rejects the first sign I encounter, in Greek, but automatically switches modes to reading Greek along with driving on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the car, shifting with the wrong hand, but still operating the pedals with the same feet… I like my brain.

Wednesday Late Night: Arrive in Limassol (Lemesos) and meet up with my friend Tim and his Fiance, Magy. Go out to dinner. At dinner, succumb to heat exhaustion and dehydration. Excuse myself to the Men’s room for some cool water splashing. Then excuse myself to the sidewalk for fresh air. Throw up. Head back to Tim and Magy’s place. Manage to regulate my inner workings well enough to sit quietly and chat. Throw up violently after taking an aspirin and feel much better.

Thursday: Sleep late, watch “Meet the Fockers.” and go out to dinner. Generally enjoy the day.
Thursday Night: Head out to “Malibu” and run into Zuza, who I expect to see there. She’s in Cyprus from Poland, working and living with her Boyfriend. One of my main reasons for going to Cyprus is to visit with her there. We agree to meet up later at the “Welcome Inn” and Tim, Magy and I depart for Welcome Inn.
At the Welcome Inn, I am astounded to find Sabina and Katie working there, both from Poland, they were working there when I was in the habit of visiting every night last year. Hugs and kisses abound. Further surprise as Debi is also working there, she used to haunt the bar with me, and elected to stay on vacation indefinitely. Chris, in charge of Karaoke is also working, and introduces the bar to me, and sings a song about California in my honor. Additionally, a family from Britain whom I met last year is present. More hugs and kisses. Tim and Magy marvel that it is as if no time has elapsed. I’ve been gone nearly a year, yet I’m still a celebrity.

Later, I sing some Karaoke (the same song I always sing) and Tim and Magy leave (not a causal relationship, I hope). Now largely alone, I wander up to the bar and start talking to the servers. I buy them drinks, and offer to buy some for the patrons nearby. A cute girl is the only one to decline, albeit politely. I insist…
“C’mon, join me in a drink, then I’ll stop bothering you.” I say.
“How about you don’t buy me a drink, but you keep bothering me?” she says with a British accent.
I smile, and realise that I’m flirting.
“Well, you’re going to get a drink either way, and I’ll just keep bothering you until you tire of me.” I reply, and she nod in agreement. I subsequently invite her to join me and my friends (none of whom are present) at the Auld Triangle, later that night, and she accepts.

Zuza arrives with Wayne, her co-worker and more hugs and kisses (from Zuza, not Wayne). Anita, the girl I’ve just met appears annoyed. We all move on to the Auld Triangle, though on the way I over hear Anita explaining to Wayne the cons of “Two Waitresses at the Same Table” and decide to pretend I didn’t. Zuza and I spend a good deal of time catching up. Anita declines my offer to dance, setting the tone for our interaction for the remainder of the evening. Zuza accepts, and much dancing ensues. At some point, Anita disappears as does Wayne. Zuza and I share a cab to our respective homes. Well her home, and my friend’s home where I’m staying…

My first night out partying, and I have had a great time!

Actually, this is a good breaking point. More to come, hopefully with more impassioned prose

This is a quickie. Did you hear about the Cypriot plane that crashed? Well, yes I’m in Cyprus right now, and no, I wasn’t on it. Condolences to the families and loved ones for all aboard that flight T’is a sad day.