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Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
Kate was asking for Jason Webster st...
Kate posted this in the "@ GuitarristaMadrid" thread... about life and stuff, but it was too wide with Arash's lovely Alhambra photos, so I moved it.
quote:
I was at least hoping for Jason Webster type plot, running with the Gitanos, stealing cars, meeting Paco pissing behind a tree
We all know Jason is full of it but I've got a good one for you. It's not Spain but there are gitanos and some flamenco (well Rumba Catalan). This will probably be in Volume 2 of my memoirs, "10 Francs to St.Tropez"
When I was 23 I was living in the South of France, on the Côte d'Azur. I made the acquaintance of Gilles. He was tinkering with the twin carburetors of his hot Renault 5 Gordini, so I tried to help him as a pretext to learn some more French words. He was lean and muscular. Black wavy hair and a pock-marked face. He mostly grunted and indicated with his chin so it didn't extend my vocabulary much, but we seemed to get on. He was a gitano from the Carmague. A snake-hipped waiter for the season.
One warm August night we are sitting outside a bar by the sea smoking Gitanes and talking crap after several Pelforths. About eight of us, all French except me and another English guy I worked with. Someone was strumming a rumba and we were happy.
Suddenly an older guy storms over and starts arguing with the guitarist. I didn't understand what he said. Gilles remonstrates with him so the stranger leans down and shouts into Gilles's face. Quick as a flash, Gilles pulls a flick knife and cuts off the tip of his nose. I recall a small lump of flesh falling into the ashtray. There is blood everywhere. Clutching at his nose with one hand, he cries out, steps back and pulls a pistol. He fires into our parasol. Boom! Probably a single-shot black powder gun that one could buy in supermarkets at the time, but we couldn't be sure.
Everyone scatters and runs like hell, leaving behind the screams of tourists and the bloody, snub-nosed gunman waving his firearm in the air.
I stop to look back and now there three other men running towards the bar. "Nosey" points in my general direction and now they are coming at me. I run again, up the hill toward the town. Being a little drunk, I am not sure where I am. Looking down the hill, it seems I am the only stray the posse can see. Up the hill, a full moon is rising.
Then, as I am stumbling around trying to think, a car flies over the top and screeches to a halt, leaving black marks on the asphalt. The passenger door of the blue Renault flies open and Gilles is beckoning madly with his chin. Now we are around and gone, very fast. The fuel mixture still smells very rich to me.
"We are miles away, slow down Gilles!" "No" "Why not?" "The car... it is not mine"
Back home to a sleepless, adrenalin-soaked sweat.
Tune in next time when Gilles asks me to drive a Citroen to Frejus for him.
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Kate was asking for Jason Webste... (in reply to Ailsa)
quote:
Amazing story! Don't care if it's true or not, I'll buy your memoirs!
Good, because Volume 1 will cover the loss in a corpse a snow drift and a leg to a dog, the IRA assassination of a new friend and a nasty terrorist attack one sunny London morning. Umm, bit of a theme emerging isn't there? On a lighter note, I do get to date a bunny girl.
Now you've got me thinking about the whole memoir thing, but no-one will ever, ever believe me. Not even you and you've met me!
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: Kate was asking for Jason Webste... (in reply to Escribano)
I will believe you Simon. My memoirs too will include the " I lived with a terrorist" story, but I think I should wait till the guy concerned is dead. I really dont want to run into him again. And my stories from Granada will definitely have to be published posthumously !
RE: Kate was asking for Jason Webste... (in reply to Escribano)
Action-packed preview Simon! Now I know the real reason for your film studies.
quote:
My memoirs too will include the " I lived with a terrorist" story
Sometimes when you're travelling you meet people on the road and travel together for a while, share accomodation, etc. In Bolivia I shared a room for several days with a Peruvian guy (exiled in Sweden) who turned out to be the brother-in-law of Abimael Guzmán. I found out later he was delivering funds to Sendero.
Posts: 4530
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)
RE: Kate was asking for Jason Webste... (in reply to Kate)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Kate
My memoirs too will include the " I lived with a terrorist" story,
i also have a similar story, except: i was the terrorist
interesting stories everyone. PIM LOL so did you marry her? i would have. they are rich. you could have bought 100 Media Lunas or anything else you like
Hello Mezzo & thank you for your kind welcome & for taking the time to post those links. If I go, I'll have to fly from London & dodge the BA strikes & volcanos plus find somewhere to stay at this late stage, but still would love to.
quote:
ORIGINAL: mezzo
Hola humming and welcome I don't think i'm going this year. If you're around do not hesitate to go there, it's a really nice pilgrimage.
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