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The Bartender in Greece
SOMEWHERE ON THE AGEAN SEA – They didn't have to ask twice.
When I was quizzed by a group of friends this spring about my interest
in going to Greece this summer and, if interested would be I their tour
guide, I was almost packed and headed out the door before they finished
the question.
 Greece
is, to me, the finest place on Earth. At least in July, when people
from all over the world come here to socialize, party, revel and soak
in the blinding sunlight and spectacular scenery.
Mykonos, Santorini, Ios, Paros, they all lay before me like a great
treasure waiting to be rediscovered.
With great beaches, cheap drinks, an international audience and a laid-back,
anything-goes attitude, Greece has all the ingredients to serve up a
party of planetary proportions.
The national symbol of Greece is, I have deduced, shot glass. Shots
are everywhere, enjoyed by everyone.
Find space on top
of a bar and The Bartender is there (top). Likewise, find an empty seat
next to three Australian beauties and he's there, too.
Make friends with a bartender or bar owner and the stuff flows like
lava.This trip, I did shots with old friends, new friends, strangers,
bar employees, restaurant owners and even with a shop owner in Santorini
because he wanted to expand his collection of Nike watches and I have
a friend who works at Nike. You can bet the next time I return, it will
be like deja vu with all these people.
Man, do I love this place!
Another fun night
at the Skandinavian Bar.
It had been three years since my last visit, yet in some ways it was
as if I had never left. The charming and amusing Greek girl with whom
I had rented an apartment on Mykonos during the last visit had the place
ready again. Evangelica is her name and she has a charming sense of
humor. When traveling partner Chris Cox inquired about the location
of the beaches upon arriving in Mykonos, Evangelica quipped, "You
are on an island. The beaches are all around you!"
The bartenders, bar owners, managers and everyone, seemingly, I had
encountered during previous visits not only remembered me but welcomed
me back as if I were returning home. In a way, I was. My heart and soul
is in Greece, and I simply must return time and time again to visit
the place which has become such an important part of me.
From the start, as I made mention to Mr. Cox, it was obvious the Travel
Gods were with us. Our plane to Amsterdam – where we were to spend
the first night before flying onto Athens and ferrying to Mykonos the
next day – was empty enough for us to spread out over entire
rows of seats.
On the way to Athens, traveling partner Dave Munoz and I both spent
time bonding with the captain in the cockpit bonding. This happened
as we were over Bosnia and any fears of a conflict quickly subsides
when we spotted the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet sailing below us.
With Munoz (left)
and Chris atop a live, active, steaming volcano.
From those points forward, it was a party and emotional frenzy. After
about two days, we knew almost everyone on Mykonos, just as it always
is on that crazy island. A few days later, while headed to Santorini
aboard a ferry, I became very emotional upon seeing that island for
the first time in three years. I was almost to the point of watery eyes.
Santorini touches me with an heartfelt spirit, and it was being unleashed
after three years in a cage. It was an inspiring moment.
Sandra (right) was
as beautiful as Santorini, as was the smiling
staff at the Tropical Bar.
Santorini provide other inspirations, none more so than when a chance
encounter with a Canadian named Sandra allowed me to spend much time
enjoying her lively company.
Climbing to the top of the live, active, steaming volcano was interesting.
In three previous visits, it was an adventure I had never experienced.
The views onto Santorini from the volcano were just as spectacular as
the ones on Santorini of the volcano. And as for the danger factor,
well, we figured it it's going to blow, being on it can't be much worse
than being a just few kilometers away. Except for the fact we didn't
have a drink in our hand.
Even Athens provided great memories. An early-morning departure back
home had me phoning a friend in the city I met a few days earlier on
Mykonos. We met up at one o;clock in the morning and had such a good
time I almost missed my flight. To top if off – and much to the
shaking heads of traveling companions Chris Cox and Dave Munoz –
I wound up in first class. One can only thank the Travel Gods for their
generosity.
In a trip with so many highs, there were only three disappointments:
• One, my camera decided to go on holiday the moment I arrived
in Mykonos.
• Two, the Down Under bar in Mykonos is a thing of the past
• Three, the glory days of Two Brothers Bar in Santorini are in
the past. These two bars, by the way, were among my favorite in all
the islands.
Oh, well, I'll take what happened over what didn't.
-- The Bartender
July 2000
 Cheers!
 Greece
Travel Guide
PubClub
Happy Hour Party Bus: Ski Trip 2001
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