Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
I looked blindly about for any signs of my two companions with no success. I needed to sit
down as my head was beginning to spin, and I managed to fall into a vacant chair next to
the wall where several other people sat waiting to dance or to summon up the courage to ask
someone. They were certainly watching my messy arrival and manner of seat. Eyebrows
were raised in disdain by the older local folk while the young ones tittered behind their
brown hands, their bright black eyes aglow with amusement. I was vaguely aware of the
attention, but frankly I didn't give a hoot; I was well beyond social etiquette or the lack
thereof. I might have gotten away with it if the room had just remained still for a while.
A particularly lively song was now whirling around the turntable, and the incessant caco-
phony penetrated my foggy mind. The room started moving around me in circles like a
merry-go- round in time with the Latin beat.
When the room was just a blur, I decided it was time to get outside the hotel while the
going was good. I stood up suddenly and fell over just as quickly, taking my chair with
me all the way down to the hard floor where I came to rest with the chair perched on top
of me. In a daze I shook my head as if to clear it and struggled to get up, clutching on to
the wall for support. I narrowly missed sitting down heavily on top of a highly disgruntled,
old lady who stared frostily at me, this disgusting visitor, through her clear and sparkling
spectacles, shaking her coiffured grey head in disbelief. I mumbled an apology which was
faintly heard and not understood. Willing, strong hands suddenly gripped me under each
armpit, and I felt myself being propelled briskly to the entrance of the hotel and not too
gently laid to rest on the freshly mowed front lawn. I promptly fell asleep.
Within minutes it seemed I was being roughly shaken awake, and I was delighted to see my
two sailing companions leaning over me in consternation. “Are you alright then?” Paula's
sweet English voice cut through, “Blimey, you must have had a lot to drink!”
“I think it was that bloody scorpion stuff he was having,” observed Herman.
“Yes, you're absolutely right; he was getting rather stuck into that, wasn't he? Can you get
up then? We must go and find a place to sleep still, remember?” she asked.
I shook my head, which was really beginning to hurt, and struggled to my feet. “I'm sorry
guys; I guess that scorpion sting was a lot stronger than I expected; let's go and find a place
to sleep.”
Between Paula and Herman, I was escorted off down the path of the hotel lawn in search
of a place to crash. First, we had to go back to the beach to collect our sleeping bags and
clothing. Soon we were foraging about in the bushes and found the big army sack. We had
not noticed before, but the sky had turned dark and cloudy, and now the first of the rain
could be felt. “Oh no! Can you bloody well believe it? This is just too bad!” cursed Paula.
