arms are full and thighs are empty.

SATURDAY 18th AUGUST

Faro. we arrive, he watches me pack my bags, silentlike, and i leave him the bicycle – I m sure he realises I m going to miss the bicycle more than him – but she never let me down or left me behind – and all my stuff wont fit in the bag and once the handle breaks I have no idea how I m gonig to carry it – but he leaves, for Sagres maybe, and thats the end of that –

I need a room for the night – I have no idea of the layout fo the town – so I wander around aimlessly with my arms full – find an internet cafe – check AW – check hostels in Faro – check nudist beaches – there are cheap rooms, sure, the question is are they available – unable to find the youth hostel, I pass by another – the girl at the desk does not smile at me – she takes the money for two nights then comes back and says they re full, tomorrow – tant pis – but its a relief to drop the bags even if it is only for a night – hot shower – head out ot investigate at midnight – I realise I m hungry and think pizza, chinese – but have to settle for half a churro I find on the top of a bin – get lost – smoke one on the balcony – bed –

Still, breakfast in free, even if it is overrun by small French things – i have always thought that any male who speaks while cupping his balls is destined for mediocrity –

Nearly there. But not home, not 40-40, no, not yet, and not for a long while –

A mat for wiping feet at the entrance that does not say ‘Welcome’ but rather ‘Use Me’ (my BDSM friends would love this)

Oh and I found a fiver on the bathroom floor this morning, belter, gave all my small change to the buskers (he plays violin amazingly well)

Not mad keen on Faro, overall, its a bit plastic, a place to extract money from the travellers, and I have not discovered the nudist beach yet – But a little more research helps, theres a regional train to Tavira then a 2 euro boat trip to 16km of beach where nudism is supposedly common – but I need to find a room tonight first – 

They have a room for me in the next place, check in after 4pm (weird system, or lack of system), a bed in the basement, she apologises, but maybe she can get me a better bed tmoro – i dont really mind – the basement smells a little – i find the green dress i ve been looking for in an Indian shop beside the hostel –

the ticker says 37 degrees – but the breeze is beginning to blow – Freakshop – where to go, for the evenoing – I havent even seen a nice place to sit and play the guitar – skulls with grills – drunken sparrows – Playboy: the undead issue – I yawn before the second coffee of the day, the heat is dismantling me again – 

LATER –
——————–
I have moved my bags to the next hostel, realised I need ot stay for 4 and not 3 nights – but she gave me a knock-down price as I m sleeping in the basement – thats ok I have the room to myself and the fan – but no windows, no stars – I continue to sort through my stuff and get rid, and throw away –

Place names in Porto.
Matosinhos. Castelo do Queijo. Serralves. Palacio de Cristal. Praca de Mousinho Albuquerque. Cedofeito. Miragaia. Sao Bento. Boavista. Senhora da Hora. Carolina Michaelis. Lapa. Trindade. Santo Ildefonso. Bom Pastor. Amial. Combatentes. Paranhos. Bonfim. Rio Tinto. Aliados. Passeio Alegre. Bolhao. Heroismo. Estadio do Dragao.

Giora- the Jewish man staying in the hostel- is nice he is trying to sell property in Andalucia, if I had 100,00 euro I d be there – he invites me tot eh folklore festival tonight and Olhaos jazzy beach party tmoro evening –