Day NinetyEight

Gregg's arrival

and we prepare our backpacks 

for road trips 

from hometown Nicosia

to airport town Larnaca

to beach town Paralimni.

Just,

we haven't got a car.

We go to the bus stop

and after waiting some hot minutes

we ask for a hike

from a guy who's stopped at the supermarket.

I find this hilarious,

a hitch hike in my own village

from one side of the village

to the other,

but good old Alex

goes for it

and we get the ride in the end.

The guy is a typical

guy from the 

area.

Speaks broken English

and hasn't practice speaking it

in ages

ever.

He turns to me for brief conversation

but he can tell how grateful

the girls are 

I love Alex's communication ways;

she is confident 

at delivering 

her message across.

She thanks the person

to their face.

The guy drops us at a car renting place

but it seems that we won't be able to

rent a car before 5pm this evening.

Thing is,

Gregg arrives at 3pm.

I call dad.

He's on his way home.

We need his car.

He needs his car.

At 4.

We need it now.

Until 4.

It's half past 2.

He's 10 minutes away.

He arrives.

We have backpacks with us.

They don't fit in the car.

Bella's in the car too.

She's excited to see us.

She's barking.

I get in the car.

The girls stay.

We drive home.

Unload Bella and dad

and stuff from the boot.

I go back.

Get the girls.

We're on the way to the airport

to possibly arrive 

10-15 minutes late.

Perfect timing 

on Cypriot time.

And it's a road trip.

We arrive;

stealing in a suspicious

white stuff dealer-like car

and find 

Gregg waiting outside.

He doesn't recognise us

cz he doesn't know what to look for.

We have no internet at home so Alex didn't 

check her phone for updates.

We have no horn 

on the dodge car.

He has no luggage

and it's a wrap,

he sees us and jumps in.

We're all eager to tell him our journey

but it seems like he has his own story

to tell us.

It's hilarious.

Road trip back home

and we arrive bang on 4pm.

These timing skills should be rewarded.

I'm starving.

My dad has cooked!

Yum.

He takes the car and sets off.

We make some calls for the car.

Looks like it's not happening today. 

At least we're all packed for timorrow.

We play UNO instead.

Cut in!

Day SeventyNine

Mammi in Beirut

And I wait for her with a sign at arrivals.

I watch people arriving 
and an old man catches my attention with the way
he drops his bag on the floor to pick up
his grandson.

He holds him in his arms
and the little boy surrenders to the hug
and starts flipping his legs 
in the way a dog would its tail.

And I can't rember the time
I melted in such a hug;
from family members.

Then I remember
my mum is about to arrive
and it's my chance to be a child again;
after being an adult for so long.

Spot the mum

Day SistyFour

Quiz night

Day TwentyFive

This friendly looking white man opens the door to our dorm at late o'clock and looks in without saying anything.

Four Mississippi seconds pass 

and I eventually say,

'...are you looking for something?'

Dumb question coming from someone working 

at the hostel, but I was off duty at the time.

'I booked a room but the note has the wrong name!?'

'Ok... what's your name?'

'Alexander'

'Oh ok, you're upstairs'

(Thank god I'm such a proactive worker man, I even know the late arrivals' names)

'How do you get there?'

(The awkwardness continues)

'You just walk up the stairs...!..?'

'Ok, thank you...'

He closes the dorm door and heads up the stairs.

The morning comes and I recognise newbie Alex at breakfast.

'Hello Alex,' I say with a cheeky provocative tone

'Did you find your room?'

We laugh as the ice breaks.

We move to the couches and have a lovely morning chat. He tells me he's from Canada and builds bridges in mountains as a job.

I say I'm from Cyprus and he says that's where I'm coming from!

Fastest comfort zone entry 

of the week!

Nice one Alex.