The youth of today....

On my morning walk, tidal wave dodging and grinfest this morning along the beach I got chatting to a local lad called Carlos. He was carrying lots of shell necklaces - the sort of thing you'd buy wear for a day get home and then quickly realise the error of the purchase. He wasn't a great salesman our Carlos - I didn't need to sprout my usual ' no Gracias señor ( although in his case Chico) - he didn't try and flog me anything. He was too concerned with the sores on my arms ( apparently I need to burst them, it will hurt but be worth it. Impressively this knowledge was gained through hand signals only). He also told me my skin was ' Blanco'

The bloody youth of today - 6 weeks I've been working on this. *

Carlos looked horrified when I told him that in two more weeks I'd be the colour he was. Well it was either horror or him cringing at my god awful Spanish. I'll probably never know. But what I do know is that if there's one promise I can keep - it's that of turning from Blanco to sunkissedo. I've got a long running bet with my dad on it. When do we get to the Caribbean ( again)?

X

* this is almost as insulting as the time an Austrian backpacker approached me on the ferry to Uruguay from Burnos Aires. I presumed he wanted to engage in the usual traveller chit chat of did I know of anywhere to stay/ where had I been etc etc. Not unlike the usual freshers week A Levels shit chat.

Alas he was actually after suntan creme. His exact line was:-

' hello do you speak English? You look like you probably have suncream on you - can I borrow some'

I took it to suggest I was pale and obviously had to have suncream, that or I looked ' sensible'. Neither are flattering options. He wouldn't have approached Angelina Jolie with the same lines. Harumph.