One week, eight days, seven nights, an experience for life, thousand memories to later forget, hundreds of Euros spent, and the chance to say afterwards "I survived, and had a great time".
It all started in a Monday, it was the 29th of June 2009 and it went just like Jack putted it in the attempt to write a journey diary, here transcribed:
"29 Jun 2009
This is the first day of the rest of our life's…
Today we came to Giselle's house in Oura, Albufeira. Apart from some logistic issues, the trip went ok. It's not like the "empty road ahead" but the spirit is almost the same. We went shopping; we bought milk… a lot of milk…
Me and Ginger cooked. It was delicious!"
Okay, it wasn't exactly like Jack wrote. Better start from the beginning, for every trip starts with a journey and not with an arrival.
Day 1
It start's in Lisbon, in the morning of the 29th, it's raining, and the city shows its ever so much beauty. I phone Jack to confirm if he's really stooping me up, taking the bus rather than joining me in the car, in this journey to Albufeira. DeWinter, Giselle, Ginger and Indigno are already enjoying the Algarve's hot sunny day.
I pack my stuff, and put the packs in the car. Say good-bye to the family, leaving a hug, to every brother and sister of mine, a kiss to the parents, and a smile to the house keeper. And to face the highway I departure.
I call Jack to see if his also on his way south, and ring the girls, but no one answers the call.
Almost three hours of a tiresome journey I arrive to Albufeira, and meet my friends, only Jack is missing, he is running a little late, giving me enough time to unpack, and try to settle in the apartment I would call home for the next seven days.
Little time afterwards Jack finally arrives and joins me and Ginger, in the shopping for groceries.
Almost a hundred Euros later (only two liters of milk) and putting the bags of food aside. It's time for me (once again) rush down stairs with Giselle, deWinter and Indigno, to catch a wines and spirits open store. Alcohol was on the every day menu of this stay. Vodka and Tequila were the preference, and bought they were.
At our heroic return dinner was getting ready, giving time to deWinter, Indigno, Giselle and Ginger to take a shower. Dinner served by Jack and Ginger, burgers with spaghetti, it was death-lightful, in my life, must I say and stress it also, never had I eat such stuff. But it did enough to tame the belly bug.
Past midnight, ended the full of laughter supper, I ran to the shower, enjoying the fresh water for the short while I was there.
At one a.m. started the celebrations, and the drinks were served, starting with caipiroska, prepared by Indigno, which I did not enjoy leaving the half full or half empty (you chose), follow then by two shots of vodka mixed with gooseberry juice, to make it more bearable and enjoyable, I still didn't liked it very much but it was getting near. As the perfect way to end this drinking, one shot of Tequila was placed in front of each one of us, salt was licked to the hand and a lime placed on the top of the of the cup. A toast, a lick, a shot, a bite to the lime, the sigh of me running towards the kitchen to puke and a laugh, that's how it went to all of them except for me, who was trying to take the awful taste of the self's mouth and biting the lime like tomorrow would only come if my teeth were melted by the acid in the lemon drops.
It was time to get out of the house, too much noise was made and the neighbors deserved a rest, so out we went. Leaving the house all together for the first time, we headed to a swimming pool that deWinter knew about and it would be safe for us to jump in, at least that was what we thought. In the instant we arrived to the pool surroundings, a guard dog, stationed at one of the apartment balconies, barked like a threat approached (coincidental at the same time we approached the pool), we had no choice, if we wanted to refresh, we had to do it fast and swift, meaning jump in and jump out fast.
But little Giselle was a little in need of peeing, making our swift jump to the pool more like a storming camping near the water as we waited for Giselle to fulfill her necessity.
The adventures short swim left us with a desire for more. It was rebellious and fun. So we tried to infiltrate every swimming pool in the way home, finding excuses to exclude every single attempt.
Exhausted with all the emotion and adventure; the arrival home, felt like a reliving task. But the girls had a surprise prank establish for the innocent boys.
They wanted our company in bed (take this moment to not think about anything sexual if you can), we accepted, although every muscle in my body said not to do so. Because every men can only behave has a gentleman if lust can be ignored, but when lust is seeding beside a man not even the greatest young gentleman can stay put without raising a sword, to so wonderful sin. Thankfully deWinter, uncomfortable with the lack of space, asked if we could be so kind to step out of their mattresses and the one destine to us, and we so kindly and with lots of care to not show the enthusiasm, did so.
Day 2
The morning woke me up early, and so did I to Jack, leaving me with only four hours of rest as Jack turned the other way and resumed his sleep. My sleepless 5 minutes that follow the awakening, offered me the chance to see how peaceful others can be in their sleep, and to go out and buy fresh bread. And off I went in an hour long odyssey, in the search for bread, that turned out not to be that fresh after all, but at least it there was an alternative to the bimbo bread.
At my return home, I woke Jack once more so that someone could open me the door; I took my breakfast, saw once more the peaceful quartet in its sleep, until I did one more attempt to put my body to rest.
Before anyone knew it, it was 3 p.m. and all leaving soul was awake, lying down, but awake. Strangely the bell started to ring without rest.
Giselle as the house owner opened the door to a surprising friend. (Which as it only takes part of this week story, will be referenced just as M) M enter the room, saying hello to everyone, sited down, and then filled us out in how Albufeira was, and told us a little about a gang Giselle mentioned prior to the trip, called K.D.P who had now changed to Q.D.P (Quinta da Palmeira) for spelling reasons.
After the update, we set things off to the beach taking towels, lunch box, sun cream and a volleyball ball. Following a fifteen minutes walk down hill we arrived to the hot sand. We steeled in a place where there was no one in a 2,5 meters radius, and then ran to the cold fresh sea water. All the seven of us in water having a blast, playing water volley, until the girls decide to run with the ball, forcing me and Jack to tag along and chase them, and gather position of the sphere. It was a ruff game with no real winner, ending with everyone lying down on the towel enjoying the sunlight and its burning sensation.
It was going fine until… something out of the ordinary happened. After some childish games and runs and escapes, posterior to having eaten all the prepared sandwiches, and the beach day being at its end; Giselle, Ginger and deWinter summoned me so that they could ask me if I've noticed if someone was interested in me.
I'm not a brainer, but I knew where they wanted to reach with this question. They wanted to know if I was ever so slightly interested in M, and my answer to that, was "It doesn't matter!". They were left speechless, they couldn't sketch a reaction. (There's the possibility that the author is exaggerating). This left the group, only the option of studying the relation, starting to seed between Jack and Indigno.
A relationship looked upon as a rotten seed, through Ginger eyes, who had a bitter relation with Indigno, as we did all except for Giselle. But in Ginger case it was almost criminal, such friendship to be farmed in front of her.
And thus the division of the group started… I think that it was from this moment on that the group peaceful and balanced relation started to deteriorate and to fall down, creating a heavy environment. But let's leave the depressing part to a further in the future moment.
Headed home in a twenty minutes walk up the hill and everyone got their chance before supper to take a warm or fresh shower.
This time dinner was prepared by Ginger, and even though it didn't went that well in the eve, the chicken breast with beer graving and rice, was a wonderful meal, which deserved a 9/10 evaluation.
(whish goes to show that Jack's help, wasn't deserving of such name)
Once more, after the meal the fermented sugar drinks were serve, but this time I stayed out, to settle the stomach down. But to drink from my empty glass, two of Giselle's friends were invited to join us in the late night party fun, (once more the memory can juggle the names so, and because they're always together I'll call them M&M's).
It was a clean night, we were able to see every star, and joke with Jack, saying that his ability to recognize the bright spots in the sky was weakened after the drinks. We then changed the black bright sky for the brownish dirty sealing of a karaoke pub. The girls wanted to show their vocal ability. And after just one verse the Dj was surprised, never did he imagined that four little girls could destroy such good music, as it was the Shania Twain's "Man, I fill like a Woman".
Stormed out of there in the same instant the music ended to avoid a confrontation with the audience, in search for a hideout we entered The Garage, a little disco bar very enjoyable. The girls had a lot of fun, they danced, laughed, and they rode the swinging pole, took a lot of photos and dragged the boys into the dance. And one more moment of awkwardness was created for the present four of us (just a reminder: me, Jack, and the M&M's). We danced to amaze, our short audience loved the show, and laughed at our inability to coordinate the feet with the arms, and the head with the torso. The closing sign was putted out and so were we. We sited in a wall, and deWinter decided to make talk with the also putted out British tourist. It was a great evening, but the stomach was rumbling for food, and because a rumbling stomach can't go unsatisfied, we stopped at a hot dog stand and ate a an traditional American meal, with everything on top.
We then went straight home to get some well deserved sleep. The morning would bring a new day, and we wanted a fresh face to it.
Day 3
Once more it was an early wake up for me, but this time I didn't left the house in search for fresh baked bread. There was some still left and it had to be finished.
I lie down for a little more sleep but it gets frustrated, so I turn my attention to the computer and the web; I checked the mail (no good news), the blog (no bad news) and the sports papers (no news).
And after all that I'm joined by the others in the rising of one's body out of one's bed. Breakfast was served, ate and then the light lunch to take in the beach was prepared, with water and all. Near four o'clock we set down to the beach.
And although the journey to the beach doesn't bring any excitement to the story in this particular day something began that it would then became normal. Instead of the six people group, we now had a group of three on one side of the road (Giselle, Ginger and deWinter), as on the other there was a couple (Indigno and Jack), and I walked the white line, just for now.
Thankfully M&M's joined us half way bringing the group together.
We laid the things in the hot sun and went for a swim, except for the couple; Indigno wasn't feeling so good so Jack stayed with her until it was safe to leave her alone.
This created a little discomfort between the ladies, and if I might add I think some jealousy was mixed to the pot too.
And it was then that all the secrets and gossiping started.
Ladies in their sensitivities my lord,
Have a fragile sensibility.
When a girl's emergent,
Probably it's urgent,
You differ to her gentility, my lord.
Personal disorder cannot be ignored,
Given their gentile proclivities.
Meaning no offense,
It happens they resents it,
Ladies in their sensitivities my lord.
Sorry got carried away for a bit, but it did fill like the plot of a dark musical such as Sweeney Todd.
Though a dark cloud swarm upon us we ignored, as Giselle asked if it was okay to invite some other friends of her. It was nice of her to ask, she had no obligation what so ever, it was her house after all she could invite who ever she wanted, but still she asked, and as her friends we showed no objection, even if one were to be raise it would be certainly discarded as flawed argumentation.
Having that subject sorted out, we moved on to the usual pranks and jokes. This time the joke ended up on a dare. After being called something like a sloth, I dare Giselle in a competition to see who would resist not sleeping for the night. Boys versus Girls, in a resistance clash. Who would be the winner?
For the rest of the day/night, I would turn randomly to anyone of them, but mainly Jack, raise my fist and say "Full Powered!!!", in a playful way.
As the afternoon changed for night we packed our things headed up home, for the preparation of dinner and the night out approaching, but first some of us had to go to the shopping center to get some more groceries to fulfill our Gluttony, and its unholy desires. (I must say has a narrator I'm not really shore that this, but as it puzzles down here fine I'll let it be here for now)
It was Giselle's and deWinter's, but in their inability to cook Ginger saw a cry for help, and answered she did. A fast eggs and sausages with pasta/rice, was the trite.
And the now tired and exhausted, we sat down for a while and rested, but did not sleep… no we were all full powered. And to show it to the world we went out to the wildest bar in Oura, the Wild & Co., it was a bit too wild and no place to enjoy the company. So we moved next door to the bar Chillis. A full of company bar, but not so wild. It even gave me the urges to start dancing, but away from the crowd, I'm not a fan of other people touching me. It was enough to entertain the tired deWinter who decided not to join the rest of the gals in the dancing on top of the balcony.
DeWinter explained that in her point of view, dance isn't to be seen from a downwards position but in a face-to-face point of view or from an upward position. Unfortunately I can't second that argument; dance is to be seen from every point of view, so I do believe.
The bell ringed once more at 4 a.m. and so we made our way into the house and waited for the night to be over and the day to start once more. to accommodate us in this wait I putted the movie Bolt, and all of them went to sleep (all part of my little plan, {crazy, mad laugh]), leaving me all alone to celebrate my latest accomplish, as the sun came up on the east.
But this tired tiger had also to take his time to sleep.
Day 4
Now this was not our usual out of routine day like.
We woke up later than the usual, and at breakfast decision was to go to the health center so that Indigno Could have her eye checked out by a doctor. And more groceries needed to be bought. So I gave a ride to the health care center to Giselle and Indigno and then me and Jack went to buy more stuff to eat.
Portuguese health center aren't that good of a deal so me and Jack decided that after the shopping we should go home, put things away, get a bite to eat, grab something for the girls and talk a bit to deWinter and Ginger about the running week.
The talk wasn't really nothing to recall, and with the rest done. The boys joined the girls in the health care center.
After I entered the HCC I thought I was in a yoga studio, with all the light and window. I remembered asking myself "how can anyone be sick in such a healthily styled place?" and for the two hours we were there Jack mumbled secrets to Indigno, Giselle texted, and I watched the groovy TV. What a fun way to spend one of you vacations days.
2 hours and a huge prescription later, the four of us headed to the nearest drug store to buy the necessary ointments and drops to take care of Indigno Poor Little eye (S). it was then too late to go to the beach, so we dressed our swim suits up and headed to a the first night swimming pool, except for Indigno, that stayed behind to rest her eye.
Apart of all the usual pool play, the pool was a great way to really talk about what had been happening throughout the week.
The girls admitted, not liking were Jack's relation with Indigno was heading, and that they though I started to fancy her too (which was true). But ended up ruining the whole thing, when they said that we couldn't resist a pair of lady legs.
After the pool I don't remember a thing, except that we played poker, and if it were to be for real I would have lost a lot of money, to Ginger. I think I drunk some alcohol, but I really don't recall
Day 5
<Disclaimer>
From this day forward I'm not proud of what I've done, but I know if I had done something less than this I would ended up punching someone Right between the eyes.
I'm sorry
</Disclaimer>
This would be our last day as a small group of six people (or how I like to put it 3+2+1 group of people).
Giselle friends were scheduled to arrive this very day, enlarging our number to 9. But let's leave the bad things for later.
The morning started as usual, and also as it would be usual we went down to the beach, had a final blast, and made me blush.
We as usual went home, to put things away, and pick up the car keys so that me, Jack, Indigno and deWinter could go buy some microwave pizza, to serve as dinner.
Upon our return, Giselle's friends were already settled.
I'll call them Bankjob Beagle, Babyface Beagle and Baggy Beagle. If you don't know them or you know and you need a little help discovering who is who, the first is the main one, the second is the short one, the third and last and not less prick (ups!) was the tall one.
To explain my point of view, in such way I won't offend anyone, I'll use a very complicated metaphor:
Me and Jack; we are Foxes, we get along together just fine having both equal strength in the taking of decisions, meaning we can eventually follow our own life as individuals.
The Beagle boys; their more like Wolfs, they live in some sort of gang, where there's a power pyramid, with only one leader, to in this case two other wolfs. Every decision is taken by the leader, which if contradicted, will then punish his subordinates.
Now wolfs and foxes don't tangle along in the wildness, nor do they do in metaphors. This meaning the pair of us did not started this relationship with the right foot.
And seeing how me and jack distant ourselves from the group, deWinter asked if it was everything all right, we told her the official version of events "we´re just a bit tired". I don't know if it is because deWinter knows us too well or if she saw something on our face we weren't saying, but she then suggested that we should leave earlier than previously agreed.
The idea was a good one even more, because I hate pricks and jealousy started kicking in, but we couldn't do that to Giselle, it wouldn't be fair to her, even more because it is our own fault. We could have said something when she asked if it would be all right, but we didn't.
So I and Jack had to put up with all the shit they made, and keep our own to a minimum.
Well everything would be fine once, we had some alcohol to drink, and freed ourselves a little, but then a little bird came whispering to my ear the word "weed". I jumped, and boycotted all drinks from that point forward.
Because you see I've never been drunk, or even slightly cheerful because of alcohol, because I don't usually drink, so I don't know of what I'm capable of doing or not doing in such state. And every addiction scares me like hell, so in the presence of something so addicted as drugs, I do my best and worst to avoid them.
Even without me, the show must go on. So to free all the spirit left in them the girls decided to drink 10 shots of vodka, mixed with orange juice. They ended up drinking twelve, so jack said; it seemed they thought the number three deserved to be counted three times. The spectacle was so wonderful that I had to leave, and search for a sanctuary, dragging Jack along with me, who reminded to bring peanuts along.
We found sanctuary in the almost abandon Albufeira marine, full of boats but deserted of people. It was quite, chili, well lightened and peaceful. We were there for an hour and a half, and I talked. I don't know why but in that time I fully opened up to Jack; I think for the first time ever I saw in him as a peer and not something bigger nor smaller, from now on we were equals, and I said it all to prove it. If you want he's my second, weak spot in a fight, I'll protect him, so I'm protected as well.
We return at 2 a.m., because nothing good ever happens afterwards, and slammed to a lock door, nobody was home, and no one answered their cell phone. So we waited in the car for some living soul to appear.
And one hour latter appear they did, but it was only Ginger, Babyface and Baggy Beagle. And they were drunk, lost and also with no key.
We offered a rest place in the car to the abandoned trio, and so thankful were the boys to refuse the accommodation, leaving me, Jack and Ginger with a chance to talk. At least it was what I thought until she opened her mouth and started ranting about what had happened, how she had lost the group and how the poor boys had to endure her the whole time, and how Indigno was freaking her out, and how she was sick of having to put on if all the stupid jokes, and so on…
After just 5 minutes of ranting, I was starting to go mad so, to see if it would end eventually, I just agreed with everything (*spoiler alert* big mistake), and after a long fucking ranting bit everyone appeared, and everyone entered the fucking car when I wanted to leave and go to fucking bed, and have some fucking hours of fucking sleep. But some more fucking ranting started and we waited to fucking 5 a.m. to get to the fucking apartment. Where it was visible all the fucking mess I and Jack had let behind to this fuckers to do.
And then to make it even fucking better, deWinter decided to put a fucking show, to entertain the rest of the fucking peeps. I just turned the other way and tried to sleep, tomorrow will be another day, a better day I hope.
Day 6
In the rebound of the previous night I woke up with an enormous headache and decided, not to go to the beach, staying home and trying to get some rest, was the plan. Jack and Indigno decided to stay also to keep me company.
I had one more hour of sleep… and then we talked about everything and nothing, about past, future and present. About what's to come and what will never come. It was a peaceful talk with no second intentions nor somewhere to go. It felt good once again to be where I was.
Then they arrived, saying all with happy faces how a great time they had, and how we should have gone with them. It was a pity really all that false happiness to make us jealous of something we didn't want.
As everyone took a shower, while the Trio that had stayed home and taken already its shower, started cooking, pasta with cream, ham, cheese, and champignon. It would be either delicious or the worst crap ever tasted.
Thankful all of us were to be the first.
The kitchen was left in a big mess, and we didn't really apologize to the others for that, we were rude, and miss behaved, SORRY!
Then the usual drinking started and then they left to the pubs as me and Jack went to our sanctuary, but this time we had the key.
We we're just in the marine for one hour and then Indigno called us to pick her up, and so we did. No peace was really enjoyed this time.
Picked up Indigno, and half an hour later the phone rang again, it was the Two Beagle boys, Babyface and Baggy, seemed they weren't filling very well. We answered to the vomiting call and opened the door for them, we did.
And returned to the car, to talk about whatever there was to talk, while we waited for the rest of the group; who appeared round five a.m. worried they could not find Indigno anywhere…
And then… the story ends.
I don't remember anymore and so I need some help that hasn't been given so far… So I'll publish this until someone else can finish it and bring the story to an end.
Gracias,
John Scar Kramer
