Read up on preceding events in previous episode: ‘Four Smiles‘.
“Tequila boys?” I jested. Leaning over the counter of the beach bar, I tried to get the attention of one of the pretty waitresses. Ollie let out a moan of misery. We’d hit the bars hard on our first night out and today Ollie was paying the piper. With watery eyes and a miserable look on his round sun-burnt face it was hard not to feel sorry for him. “I need something with electrolytes, I feel like I am going to be sick again.”
He’d woken all off us this morning when he was spewing his guts out in the sink next to the garden shed. “Sounds like somebody is strangling a wild boar”. Joe said with a smirk on his face. Standing on neighboring balconies that overlooked the garden, Joe and I were spectating the entertaining event that marked the start of the day. ” I feel better than I deserve”, I admitted. “You?”.
“Fit as a fiddle mate.”
That didn’t surprise me at all. Nothing ever seemed to faze Joe. Tierry, who slept on the other side of the apartment rushed through my room to join the view. “The guy at it again?”.
“Oh you know it”.
“I told him to lay of the tequila, remember?”.
“Oh you know it”.
Joe folded his hands around his mouth. “Oliviaaaa, what time is breakfast served?!”
Ollie was kept himself upright by holding on tightly to the sink. Still panting, he looked over his shoulder. “I think I need a sick-day boys. I’m afraid, that once again I severely overestimated myself.”
“But yesterday you were convinced that nerds didn’t get drunk!” Tierry called.
“What was that thing he kept saying over and over and over again?” I asked the others.
Joe had the twinkle in his eyes again. “He said; …According to chemistry, Alcohol is a Solution!”
“That’s it!” I exclaimed. The three of us had to grab the balcony railing as we crippled with hysterical laughter.
Ollie leaned against the shed, then slowly he bent his knees and slid his back down against the wall. As he sat there with his legs stretched out in front of him, staring at the floor, he looked like the embodiment of defeat. Sadly he looked up at the balcony. “Can somebody get me a glass of water please?”
I wanted to get a jump on the day. “Alright guys, let’s get down, I’ll cook us some breakfast. And then let’s see if we can glue Humpty-Dumpty back together.”
When we’d gotten into the car two days before, Tierry had asked Joe which direction to take. “South on SR 99. We’ve got a long drive ahead boys, there’s Red Bull in the trunk. We will be driving through the night. And then some more.” Joe had stayed true to his role as Mystery-Destination-Planner and none of us had a clue where we were going. I’d been sound asleep when in the middle of the night the car slowed down. Joe rhythmically tapped the steering wheel to the music that was playing softly in the background. “Passports ready boys?” Disoriented I peered through the window. I saw a couple of cars queuing up in front of us as we were slowly approaching a metal archway that read in white letters: ‘Tecate’.
We were heading into Mexico.
After a smooth transition at the border patrol Joe pulled over in a narrow street. Even though it was late, there were plenty people about. Sitting on red and blue plastic furniture on either sides of the streets, we saw the patios filled with people drinking, smoking and laughing. A boombox was playing upbeat dance music. The small shops and taquerias were decorated with signs painted in bright colors. Evidently surprised we weren’t turning back onto the highway Ollie asked in a nervous tone: “Ehm, what are we doing?”
“Tacos baby, I am not wasting another second now that we’re in Mexico!” Joe said excited. “Nice one, I could eat.” Tierry answered while stretching out his arms in front of him. We stepped into the hot and damp Mexican night and picked a table with a couple of free seats. Joe walked inside and came back minutes later with four beers in one hand and a tray stacked with tacos and dipping sauces in the other. “Provecho amigo’s”, he said as he placed the midnight snacks on the table. Tierry wringed his hands in delight.
“Which one is the hot sauce again?” Ollie asked, suspiciously looking at the three different dipping sauces on the tray.
“What colors are chili flakes then, bookworm?”
“Red.”
“So there you go.”
“Better not have that, I’ll just stick with the guacamole.”
What Joe, Tierry and me all knew, was that the green sauce was not guacamole. I saw the anticipation on Joe’s face as he closely watched Ollie put three large spoons of green jalapeno salsa on his taco. It took about three seconds after his first bite until he realized he’d made a mistake. The poor boy opened his eyes wide, turned beet red in his face, then desperately reached for his beer. He gulped down half the bottle, trying to ease his suffering.
“Aaaah! Joe, you’re a righteous prick alright, my mouth’s on fire. My god that burns!”
Joe had tears rolling down his face from laughter, shaking heavily as he was holding on to his ribs.
“Sorry amigo, welcome to Mexico!”
Ollie downed the rest of his beer and exhaled, long and deeply.
“No need for apologies you bearded bastard. Revenge is going to be sweet. Keep your guard up.”
“Surprise me” Joe countered cheerfully.
I just smiled. The tacos were brilliant. Washing them down with cold beer, even better. It was a really humid night. With the cool AC blazing on full wack in the car, we were now adjusting, all sweating heavily.
” ¿ Tocas La Guitarra “
A young Mexican kid, dressed in a black sleeveless ACDC shirt, had approached our table and held up his acoustic guitar. He had directed his question at Joe. This didn’t surprise any of us. Since Joe looked like he was dropped into a cauldron of Rock’n Roll, the boy probably figured him the most likely one to play guitar. Joe, never one to pass up the opportunity to corroborate that stereotype, put up his hand. “Si amigo”. The boy smiled a big smile, handed Joe the guitar and then yelled something in the direction of the kitchen. He spoke such rapid Spanish, that none of us understood a word he said. It however quickly became evident when the dance music that had been playing on the boombox suddenly stopped. Joe quickly drank the last of his beer and stood up. The people surrounding us were now watching Joe closely, full anticipation. Joe cleared his throat.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Hermanos Y Hermanas, for one night only in the beautiful streets of Tecate… On the drums, I give you, from the Sunshine State, … Tierrrrrryyyy!”
Tierry just smiled. As an acknowledgement he rolled up his sleeves and turned his baseball cap backwards. Rhythmically he started a beat by drumming with both his hands, jamming onto the table top. Joe tuned in with some fast paced guitar riffs. Then he started belting out the lyrics of Sweet Child o’ Mine.
As I watched how Joe and Tierry entertained the bystanders in the patio, I felt a sense of euphoria. Not even 24 hours on the road and we already had a story.
Back on the highway we drove for a couple of hours, dozing in and out of sleep. Joe finally parked the car, stating we’d arrived. We got out and grabbed our bags from the trunk. I could smell the ocean. Still sleepy we carried our luggage into the reception area, ready to check into our apartment. The night porter looked up from his computer screen. “Ah gentlemen” he spoke with a thick Spanish accent, “a late night arrival I see, I hope you’ve had a pleasant journey. Welcome to Ensenada!”
“Are you sure don’t want tequila Ollie? A little hair of the dog will have you bouncing around like last night in no time.”
“Meeeeeh, alright alright, but make it a beer. And you’d better promise I’ll feel better.”
“I promise.”
Tierry, Ollie and me leaned up against the bar, looking out over the sandy bay. “Joe still surfing?”
“Yes, but the tide is falling, I guess he should be out soon.”
The waitress put down our beers. “Cheers fellows.” I gave Ollie a reassuring pad on his shoulder. “You’ll get there tiger”. Tierry took off his sunglasses and squinted against the bright afternoon sun.
“That’s him alright”.
Carrying his surfboard under his arm Joe emerged from the shallow water. He untied his leash and peeled off the top half of his wetsuit, showing off his impressive tattooed torso.
“Look at this guy. Poseidon doesn’t hold a candle to him.”
Ollie was right. With his bushy beard and long wet hair he earned the looks of several intrigued sunbathing girls on the beach. Tierry waved and Joe caught his eye.
“Una mas por favor” I asked the waitress.
“Thanks amigo!” Joe greedily gulped down half the bottle I handed him. “It was firing a couple of minutes ago man, it’s made me thirsty”. Joe dropped his surfboard in the stand and also leaned up against the bar. The four of us admiring the attractive summer scenery spread out in front of us.
“Whatcha think boys? Will we manage here?”
“As soon as I feel better, I can get used to this” Ollie admitted.
“Like I said, we’re exactly where we need to be” Tierry repeated his earlier statement.
“Yeah, this town will do” I agreed, and I waved at the waitress to get us another round.
It was a summer night
Such a perfect day
We were so laid back
Just watching the waves
It was our time
There was no rain
We would just love
Then do it all again
Cold ain’t for me – Oceans
Read up on following events in next episode: ‘Beneath the surface‘.
