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Alternative Ibiza?

OK. It has stopped raining.

Life moves on. In his new role Joe ends up smoking most of his profit. He moves on to a life of smuggling heroin from India. He becomes addicted himself. Today he is clean. He had a hospital appointment yesterday. All is generally good, but he isn't even allowed to touch alcohol now.

The details aren't really necessary. Eventually he was caught with One and a Half Kilos of heroin. He served Two and a Half years.

He met his partner in Madrid and started to build a new life. His son and ex remain in Madrid where he ran a bar. After the break-up he returned to life as a 'hustler'. He has been hustling in Ibiza for many years.

A long story not really told here in all it's glory.

Joe lives in an old boat house close to the port. I've been his guest for a few nights now. Good conversation. Good food. Good company. I'm trying to think of the best way to thank him before I leave. Cash is easy, but I would like to give a bit more. He has been a total fucking gentleman.

He continues to 'hustle'. He is in his boat house with the owners permission. It is a cool place, but there is no water, or electricity. Surviving winter until the tourists arrive in hoards during summer. It is easy then.

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I will post a bit more and a couple of photos later.
 
Is Joe happy to have you post up his photo, and then go on about his drug dealing?

Yep. I never publish unless I am happy that they are happy.

He has served his time and paid his price.

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I'm waiting to speak to another good friend I have made here before continuing the story.
 
Probably a good idea to post a bit of my own story now just to remind myself of current state of play.

I'm getting far to comfortable in a bad way here :D I have a backpack full of clean clothes for travel. That is a good thing, because I look a total mess! I need to shave my beard. I need to buy new boots. I get through boots like nobodies business. Scuff them to shit whilst sprawling on pavements sketching. I have a load of stuff I have to post to clients - many internet orders came in whilst here. It is going to cost a small fortune and leave me pretty much skint. Work is waiting for me in Denia, so I just need money for the ferry. My mission is to get back to Granada where more work is waiting, but it will be colder there :( My birthday approaches and I would like to share it with the people who know me best.

1. Sketch for cash.
2. Buy new boots.
3. Take all packages to the post office.
4. Stop drinking.
5. Shower and shave.
6. Get some ointment for my ugly scalp psoriasis.
7. Bin my dirty worn out clothes and 'dress up' for travel.
8. Say good byes and find a worthwhile gift for Joe.

I make that about Two days :)

I wanna go home!
 
Señor Ralph.

Ralph was the first person to introduce himself to me here. Generally, simple playground politic rules are worth remembering. In this instance, the first to offer help, or a simple introduction turned out to be a champion.

ralph.JPG

Ralph is originally from Trinidad and Tobago. He would like to go home. However, he used to be a very heavy drinker and suffered a stroke. Seems people of African decent are more prone to strokes induced via booze. Another friend from St Martins island tells me there were no problems with local rum. It was only after whisky was introduced that people started to suffer prematurely.

Ralph is a bit of a hero for me here. He is walking everyday. Little by little he is recovering full use of the left side of his body. He uses his bike Two days a week.

When he had his stroke he was left on the streets penniless, with no bed and no support. He found a home in what is not much more than a shed. He works the San Jordi hippie market as a 'car park attendant' every Saturday morning.

He doesn't want to return home in his present state because he would feel too vulnerable.
 
What's the weather like at the moment, Stan? Any idea what it'll be like in April on Mallorca or the other islands?

We're looking for Easter sun but already left it a bit late as the flights are a bit expensive now, especially to Canaries. Either way, Mallorca and the Balearics seem more interesting!
 
What's the weather like at the moment, Stan?

Very pleasant. One of the reasons I am in no rush to get back to the mainland. Temperature wise it seems to average 15ºC max and 10ºC min. Fair amount of rain mind compared to Granada, and very humid. Humid to the point that your clothes actually feel damp at times.

I am told it can rain big time in April, but it isn't reliable. Should be in the mid 20's by day.
 
I've decided never to go to Spain. I couldn't abide being called 'Black Johnny' by Stan and his drinking buddies. :(

Personally, I wouldn't call you Johnny Negro. Common practice in Spanish culture to refer to people by their appearance. I am often referred to as Rubio even though I have little hair and wear a hat. I don't think anyone here finds the term negro offensive. However, Spain has to be one of the most backwards countries in Western Europe when it comes to racism. It isn't just the Spanish. The English expat community here have a problem amongst them. Not all of them, but many openly use the other N word. I do not spend time with these people.

As for the boots: I am a hiker, so primarily buy boots for walking comfort. I have tried work boots. They last well, but slow you down on long hikes. Hiking boots with good rubber toe protection is what I look for.
 
It's not just the Spaniards. Try being black in South America.

When the Liverpool/Uruguayan player Luis Suarez was suspended for a fairly long time for calling a black player 'a little nigger' he genuinely couldnt see what the other player was upset about. Does my head in. I have a lot of friends in SA and some of them use similar language. what can do you do.
 
He should obviously know better, but for some spanish speakers, seeing as "negro" isn't so offensive in the spanish language and is quite commonly used, they can sort of view "nigger" as equivalent. I don't know, that's just my impression in Spain.

I definitely wouldn't say the Spanish are quite as racist and bigoted as some make out. Yes, they use seemingly racist terms but they're not filled with anger and hatred towards people, it can be bad but it's very casual racism. There are obviously exceptions, and I'm not defending either, but it does often come out of ignorance and lack of 'exposure' to other cultures, unlike in South America. I'd imagine a fair percentage of people in other European countries, for example France, Britain and Germany harbour some much more bigoted opinions, for example.
 
Is Ibiza actually like this?

Possibly, but I haven't seen it like that.

Everybody is on a demonstration today. Some greedy fucking idiot wants to build an oil rig off the coast. It won't happen. The entire population of the island seem to be in town. Good business for me - just picked up another HUGE mural. This place will not let me leave.
 
Possibly, but I haven't seen it like that.

Everybody is on a demonstration today. Some greedy fucking idiot wants to build an oil rig off the coast. It won't happen. The entire population of the island seem to be in town. Good business for me - just picked up another HUGE mural. This place will not let me leave.
 
port.JPG

Dawn at the port.

Now I am feeling a bit more relaxed physically, mentally and financially I will list the things I enjoy about Ibiza. Early Sunday morning at the port reading a paper and drinking fizzy water whilst the sun rises slowly over the harbour and the old town. I like that.

Those who are a bit more adept at learning languages than myself would like it here. Possibly the perfect place to come and practice if you're a keen learner of European languages. A 10 minute stroll around town and you will hear conversations in Spanish, local Catalan, English, German, Italian, French, Dutch, Flemish... almost any European language and more. My client for tomorrow is Russian. At the other extreme you can get by here without problems just speaking English. Although, I shall be conversing in Spanish with my Russian client.

It's another beautiful day. I like the weather here most of the time.
 
I think everyone must be at the beach. It really is that warm and sunny today. The town is deserted. No business today.

Being the horribly pragmatic sort of person I am :D I have bought Joe a new bottle of gas. I have downloaded Ghost Dog - The Way of The Samurai because he is into gangster movies and I am not. It is a nice compromise. I shall be cooking Chinese fish soup to serve with rice and a Mexican salad. I am searching for women to invite. That may be the difficult part. Not the finding them, just the getting them to accept an invitation.
 
"Hello Mr Moscow, I have come to paint your mural. Can I use your shower please? You see, I have been staying at a friends ocupa and he has cats and there is no water and I stink of cat shit and stuff".

Sometimes there is absolutely no point whatsoever in trying to maintain a professional image. This guy is cool. No worries at all about asking to use his shower. In fact, he insisted :D

Igor came to Ibiza 10 years ago to work on charter sailing boats. He now has family here, so he is staying here despite the high cost and not having any work out of season. House prices here have to be amongst the highest in Europe. I still don't understand why.
 
A bad photograph from a borked camera of my last job. It actually looks much nicer in reality. It is a mural in a nursery based on a picture the mother of new born daughter saw in a glossy magazine. Bit of a rip off, but it is what she wanted and she loves it. Happy client.

butterfly.JPG

The work I pick up from meetings in the street is where the real money is. Here in Ibiza I got extremely lucky. Two exceptionally nice, very prestigious and sort after jobs came my way purely by chance. I'm waiting to hear about another Two jobs. This I did for very little because I like the guy who is dad and he has paid me in more ways than cash.

It isn't about selling sketches on the street - it is about who you meet.

You meet all sorts. I am now about to return to a conversation with a guy who claims Apple stole his dance movements to use on touch screen technology. He wants his cash. He is serious :D He flails his arms about and says "look, I was doing this in clubs Eight years ago, and now everyone is doing it with their fingers on iPhones. It was my invention".

Entertaining to a point. Then it gets a bit tiresome. He won't go away.
 
Then it gets a bit tiresome. He won't go away.
i know the feeling
Stan & Pickman's:

at_home_with_hinge_and_bracket.jpg
 
My birthday, and I am still here :D

It is another beautiful, sunny day. I have a meeting with a stunningly beautiful young woman. Sadly, just to discuss work.

Spain doesn't do birthday presents. Here it works the other way around. If you want mates to celebrate your birthday you have to pay. You buy the cake and the drinks. Seems fair to me, but I wish I had kept my mouth shut. Thirsty mouths will be expecting. Ferry ticket cash will vanish once again.
 
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