i keep a diary

a person in 198 photos in 2003

chris a

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At first you thought that this photo was repetitive and not worth including...and then you looked again and noticed Fatty's ridiculous expression in the background and suddenly everything made sense.
grant's surprise party
November 07, 2003
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Chris, the Vin, and Emily.
grant's surprise party
November 07, 2003
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Then Chris, being the "master of my own body" ninja that he is, destroyed them with him spot-on perfect impression (Well, except for the fact that he's not wearing a little brown dress). And the more we started taking, the shit was so funny that WE almost forgot that we really were taking him to his surprise party.
grant's surprise party
November 07, 2003
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John Craven, Fatty, Chris and myself met up with Grant for a lil' birthday dinner at Cafe Gitane in Soho.
grant's surprise party
November 07, 2003
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After we finished eating, the plan was for Emma and Lorelei to call and say that we should meet them at the Sunburned Cow, a bar all the way over on Avenue C. We'd try to arrive right at 10pm, and everyone would jump out yell "Surprise!" (hopefully both surprising Grant and scaring the living shit out of him simutaneously).
grant's surprise party
November 07, 2003
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Fire up iTunes and here cue up Crüe's "Home Sweet Home." Awww, yeah.
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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Here's Chris and Fatty back at my apartment getting ready to head back to their respective homes - so ends our journey.

Between the three of us that had cameras, we managed to take just over 2,000 pictures which I edited down to 21 entries comprised of exactly 790 photos. And so it's with these last few words that I end the European Vacation Series (which is by far, the longest diary project I've ever undertaken). Back to life in NYC!
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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I Fatty and Chris managed to sleep most of the last leg of our trip.
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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As we scrambled up to the gate we realized that there are probably worse things than being accidentally stranded in Iceland for a day or two.
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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With one final pic of the fantasic four, we said goodbye to Grant (who was staying behind in London for another couple of days) and....
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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Shuttlebus from the rental car drop-off to the terminal.
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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Saturday morning we woke up, double checked our packed bags, thanked Grant's parents for their hospitality, and hit the road for Heathrow.
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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Here's another one. This one's my pensive and artsy "I'm acting like the camera's not there, but clearly I must know it is because I'm the one who took the picture" picture. Who's more emo than me? Motherfuck this photo diary nonsense, I'm gonna get me a LiveJournal. (ps - look at the two cutey patooties passed out next to me like little sleeping lambs. Teeheehee.)
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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Gassing up our little Vauxhal rental.
european vacation part 21: heading home!
November 01, 2003
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Saturday, Chris was in town and the four of us got together for brunch at 9th Street Market to reminisce about our recent hijinx in Europe.
the november roundup
November, 2003
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The only question I have is how did we not get beat up? Look at us.
european vacation part 20: halloween in bas vegas, baby!
October 31, 2003
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We posed for one last group photo before all going our separate ways. Let's hear it for Halloween 2003. Wooooo!
european vacation part 20: halloween in bas vegas, baby!
October 31, 2003
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Hahahaha. Right before the shutter clicked Grant bombed Chris with a super sneaky "Who does this guy think he is?" pose.
european vacation part 20: halloween in bas vegas, baby!
October 31, 2003
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ESS-EX! C'mon where my nig-noggz at?
european vacation part 20: halloween in bas vegas, baby!
October 31, 2003
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Awww, yeah - check tha setup! Awwww, look how cute Grant's mom is all displaying the food with the boys. (And be forewarned, anybody making remarks about Moms in the comments section will be promptly banned. In the words, of the Wise Fatty, "Dat shit ain' coo'!")
european vacation part 19: a day in essex
October 31, 2003
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And then we drove back towards Corringham to the White Lion Pub in Fobbing to meet up Grant's dad and...
european vacation part 19: a day in essex
October 31, 2003
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Grant was standoffish at first....
european vacation part 19: a day in essex
October 31, 2003
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....ARCADE TIME! (Look at Grant and Chris peeking out in the background. Hahaha).
european vacation part 19: a day in essex
October 31, 2003
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After a long-ass day of traveling and layovers, we landed in Heathrow a little past 11pm local time.
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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Holy shit. Does this photo even need a caption? Hahahaha.
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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...we arrived safely and without incident (save a slight yelling match between Grant and the rest of the passengers in the car who politely asked him if he would "SLOW THE FUCK DOWN SO DON'T HYDROPLANE OFF THE ROAD AND DIE FOR FUCK'S SAKE!") at Grant's parent's home and celebrated with some stiff drinks...
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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...Chris managed to regain his composure and display his Greek Mac like a true Greek MACK. Awwww, yeah.
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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The GREEK MAC! That's right. Two lamb patties in a pita with lettuce, tomato and tahini. After the initial surprise of the Greek Mac wore off...
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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Despite all of my SUSPICIOUS CAMERA ACTIVITY I somehow managed to make it aboard the plane. Wait, where's the Fatty?
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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We bid our lovely condo a fond farewell and piled into our sweet, lil' rental one last time.
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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Once in the airport, we grabbed a quick slice...
european vacation part 18: leaving crete.
October 30, 2003
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With a fistfulla cone, we bid a last fond-farewell to Rethymnon.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Being that we were leaving Crete in the morning to head back to the UK, we decided to take one more trip into Rethymnon to walk around and get some ice cream.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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...a kick to it. Hooo-ah!
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Not completely happy with the shaky, hand-held quality of the previous "Scootering" footage we'd shot a few days earlier, Chris strapped the camera to the back of my bike so we could film our mountainous ascent on the coastal backroads. (I'll get around to posting clips of this someday. Don't worry, with the exception of Grant trying to brain we while I'm squatting down and talking to the bike-mounted cam, you're really not missing much).
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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After fucking around for too long in Bali, we ended up having to make the 35 minute trip back to our condo at dusk (freezing our asses off the whole way). After dropping the bikes off and picking up our car, we headed to a nearby restaurant for an early dinner.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Then Chris had an idea!
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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More dangerous, high speed scooter hijinx for the benefit of the camera.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Chris. Hahahahah.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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This photo should give you some perspective on the size of the main room you descend into. It was breath-taking.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Chris raising tha roof.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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...I claimed I wanted to get a picture of these three on their way down, but it was really just my sneaky was of getting them to go first in case there were any ScoobyDoo-esque villians waiting below.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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We were the ONLY tourists there making the experience of descending down into them even creepier.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Fatty, Grant and Chris.
european vacation part 17: the melidoni caves.
October 29, 2003
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Once quick CHiPs-inspired coldlamp with the scooter...
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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Same with tha Grizza.
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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Twenty minutes later, and down at the bottom of the mountain we just ridden over, we stopped again to warm our hands.
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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These tiny pics really don't do the mountains in the background justice. Click here to open a hi-res version in a new window.
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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A small chapel off to the side of the Monestary tells the story (which I grabbed a rehash of from this site):

"The Greek freedom fighters would register their displeasure with the Turks (normally some Turks would be discovered dead) and the Turks would show their displeasure by killing everyone in a town or village. In 1866 around 1,000 Cretens took refuge in the Monastery fearing Turkish retribution. The people, which did include several freedom fighters, held out for two days before the 12,0000 Turks laying siege were able to rupture the walls. However, instead of surrendering the abbot (a local hero) and the people inside decided to ignite the gun powder in the powder keg room. 829 of the Cretens died. It is said anywhere from 100 to 1000 Turks were killed in the explosion."
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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The four of us read this truly amazing story and reflected upon it for a few minutes...
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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We saddled back up on our HOGGZ and hit the road. We only managed to get about 1/4 mile when Grant, who was leading the pack, slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road hysterically laughing and pointing...
european vacation part 16: scootering again.
October 29, 2003
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Seasoned veterans at this point in the trip, we even managed to drink our raki without so much as a grimmace. Opa! Opa!
european vacation part 15: relaxing.
October 28, 2003
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Hahahaha. Check out Chris trying to feed him a potato bigger than his head.
european vacation part 15: relaxing.
October 28, 2003
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If you look closely, you can just barely see Grant peeking out between me and Fatty.
european vacation part 15: relaxing.
October 28, 2003
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Awww, who's better than Chris, huh?
european vacation part 15: relaxing.
October 28, 2003
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After a few songs I gave up and headed back to our table on the sidelines to coldlamp with my boys.
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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Here's Fatty, Grant and Chris upon arrival - quasi-drunk from dinner and already in awe of the stupid amounts of hot Greek women. (Make sure to look at all three of their priceless expressions).
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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Looky, looky! What's going on here in this picture? After Grant was done giving her the "See, aren't we fun guys?" photo review, she quickly cozied up to tha Grizza.
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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We chatted Michael up for a few minutes and after we'd established a rapport, I asked him if I had any shot with his cute friend and he replied (please make sure you read the next sentence in your best Balki from "Perfect Strangers" voice) "Don' be ree-deek-you-los!"
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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Throwing down for the cam.
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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After the girls were done telling us about their travels, Grant took Fatty's cam and gave them a run down of our trip thus far.
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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Here's Chris reacting to "the new" Grant.
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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Yaaaaay, Amstel.
european vacation part 14: the buddha cafe.
October 27, 2003
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With bellies full of steak and heads full of raki, we decided to hit the town in search of some girls (to frighten them with our BREAFFFF).
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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With the leather-panted Gunther giving us the stinkeye from across the table we took a view pictures more pics without her in the background to try to throw him off our perv trail. By the way, ever notice how stuff like Coke, ketchup and McDonalds always taste not-so-great overseas? Well with beer, it works the other way around. The beer we are drinking is Amstel. (not Amstel light, regular Amstel) Maybe it was the crisp sea breeze or the abundance of badobnkadonk butts out there but it was hands down one of the best beers I've ever had.
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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And then a group shot. HA HA HA HA. Notice in the background you can see the chick's equally-attractive German boyfriend totally catching on to what we were up too. Das gig ist up, ja?
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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We walked around town for awhile and eventually managed to find the steak joint. After we'd been seated, we noticed a heartbreakingly attractive German woman sitting at a nearby table and all of a sudden Grant wants to take a picture of Chris reading a menu.
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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The camera never lies. That's why the picture is blurred. But turn down a complimentary digestif in Greece and you might get your ass handed to you along with the check. Looks like we have some shots to drink. Oh well, here's to minimal liver damage.
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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Same thing; Different sauce.
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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Immediately after scaring him in the shower, we ran back inside, set up the camera and Chris hid behind the door to see if we could manage to scare him twice in ten minutes.
european vacation part 13: steak dinner.
October 27, 2003
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It was right at this wall where we received our first bit of exciting news: That the tour's almost over
european vacation part 12: knossos ruins.
October 27, 2003
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Aw, yeah. Let's hear it for culture.
european vacation part 12: knossos ruins.
October 27, 2003
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Chris jumping off the rock (and getting bonus points for coldlamping mid-air Thrasher magazine style, circa 1984).
european vacation part 11: caves of matala.
October 26, 2003
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Chris on a rock.
european vacation part 11: caves of matala.
October 26, 2003
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Chris and Grant on a rock.
european vacation part 11: caves of matala.
October 26, 2003
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All the caves were carved in the rocks by the Romans and were used as a cemetery! In the late 1960s, a bunch of hippies found them and for two years the caves caves became a commune (Joni Mitchell actually spent six months here living in one of the caves). More and more hippies kept coming until the local authorities got fed up and kicked all of their dirty, patchouli-smelling asses the fuck off the beach. ("Take your guitar and MOVE IT, Harpo! Now!"). Boo-yah!
european vacation part 11: caves of matala.
October 26, 2003
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Here's Chris demonstrating how engorged he became watching Fatty writhe around in the sand.
european vacation part 11: caves of matala.
October 26, 2003
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The beginning of sunset.
european vacation part 11: caves of matala.
October 26, 2003
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Where we proceeded to throw down group beach coldlamps, awww yeah. Check out all the rocks on the beach. The waves there made the craziest sound. Each time the water washed out back towards to ocean, it would drag all of the smaller rocks across the larger rocks on the bottom and make this bizarre, underwater rumbling noise. After a quick swim, we laid down to dry off in the sun and were all quickly lulled to sleep by the sound of the water.
european vacation part 10: agia gahlini.
October 26, 2003
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Here's us bright and early out on our front porch enjoying a breakfast of Greek yogurt and granola. Mmmmmmmm. (ps - what's up, busted dudes in the morning?)
european vacation part 10: agia gahlini.
October 26, 2003
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And for one of the main courses: Fresh octipi! Tenticliscous!
european vacation part 10: agia gahlini.
October 26, 2003
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After our busy day of swimming and napping, we headed over to one of the nearby beach restaurants for some lunch. Chris and me.
european vacation part 10: agia gahlini.
October 26, 2003
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Thanks, Kostas!
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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We wandered the streets for almost an hour trying to decide on where we wanted to eat (ok, trying to find the place that had the most hot girls dining there). The problem was, there was so many restaurants (and so many hot girls) that we couldn't make up our minds. Finally, as we neared the point of collapse from hunger, we were courted by this dude, Kostas Vallasso, and he was so friendly and funny that we decided to eat as his place.
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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Here's our condo's little porch out front.
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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Hungry boys.
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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...he brought out more white wine. Amidst all the merriment (shit-talking and recalled moments of scooter-glory), we suddenly realized that we were all completely shit-hammered. When we (slurringly) asked him, "Kostassssch, why are we schooooo drunk?" He explained that the local wines contained approximately 14% alcohol. (Which explains why these pics are starting to get as blurry as our vision was).
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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Fatty and Chris.
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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Which led to us getting hopelessly lost. With all the narrow, windy roads it took us a good 25 minutes to find our way out of town and back to the road that led home.
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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Here's us riding down a sidestreet clearly not meant for scooter traffic. Doh!
european vacation part 9: dinner with kostas vallassos.
October 25, 2003
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Afterwards we walked around the surrounding area...
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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And now here's our Quadrophenia inspired SCOOTERGANG shots.
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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How tough is the Fatty in this pic? See that drop off behind Fatty in the pic? That's actually a steep road that leads down to this little tiny part of the penninsula that goes out into the water. We drove down to explore and take a closer look.
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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And here's "Stone Cold Player."
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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First up is Chris. Here he is demonstrating the pose called "Care Free Cowboy."
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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After we were finished taking in the view, we decided it was high time that we took some shots of each of us pimping and coldlamping on our HOGGZ!
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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We parked our bikes and Chris and I set out on foot to check it out.
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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And my personal fave: "Kiss me, I'm Greek."
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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Kudos to the Fatty for managing to catch...
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003
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All these pics are from Fatty's cam. Here's Chris going for a behind the head catch.
european vacation part 8: scooter madness!
October 25, 2003