FanStory.com - The Door of 67by Kaiku

I journey with words. Formats used are brief in their design. One and two-line poems offering a glimpse of a troubled heart or an exhilarating moment. Haiku, a style bringing depth to shallow waters and Flash, a stream of shortness in measured breadth. The following snapshots are stories revealing depth of action lying in the quickness of 67 words: moments lived in the coastal town of Albufeira.

My Play List
Melodies of my past inspire. A Journey taken as a Foreigner. Flying rather than driving my Fleetwood. It was all about Bob and a guy named Rod. Mornings greeted in song and sometimes dance. Lyrics are listened to acting as singular guides inspiring another day in Albufeira. Mac, Stewart and Seger became my household friends offered an open door into my daily life. Mornings were always rocking!

The Laundromat
About every 10 days I walk in a southerly direction for about 100 yards skirting my apartment complex. I descend a flight of 22 steps, cross a broad roundabout then ascend another 44 serpentine steps crossing a courtyard of 70 feet before descending another 60 steps onto a concrete promenade. I am carrying a backpack stuffed with t-shirts, socks, underwear. Two hours later I return, laundry completed.

For the Love of the Game
I have played golf my entire life. On the outskirts of town there is a fine course called the Salgados Golf Course. I make the 4-mile trip on my bicycle. I don`t need golf clubs. They have a quaint little practice area with a driving range that is netted. There are a couple of putting and chipping greens. Golf clubs are offered without charge. I`m in heaven.

Stupid is as Stupid Does
I`m a walker. Although I had a bicycle, most of my adventures took place on foot. There is a large shopping mall with cinema in a small town called Guia. On foot it`s close to a 2-hour walk. Terrain is rather flat, but the country roads are quite narrow and winding in design. The town is located just north of Albufeira. The 8€ cab ride traveled south.

Part Deux
I spent 8 years in the metal roofing business. I supplied styles of formed metal that would cover any angle of roof; gable, hip, gambrel, French hip, shed and Dutch hip. These roofs had pitches of 1/12 to 12/12. Roofers were sometimes tethered for safety because of the steepness. When you walk the streets of Albufeira, you walk these roof pitches. And there is no tethering.

Lagos
Spectacular. It`s the only word to describe this coastal beauty located west of Albufeira, 90-minutes by bus. Lagos is one of the most southern cities in Portugal: located close to the point of being the most southwesterly point of the country. The high cliffs ribboned in colors of burnt oranges, pale yellows and skirted with lush hues of green are magnificent. Boardwalks are your free tour guides.

Albufeira Posting
FanStory will be the death of me. Rather, my desire to write something of consequence will play a role in my demise. A post on FS is an invitation to madness. My writings occur in flurries. Daily contest prompts accentuate the scribbling. Succinct and clever is my attempted style. Morning reviews begin early on and continue throughout the day. Alas, nothing of consequence: I must quit posting.

The Beach
Smooth, sandy beaches, private coves and caves bearing dark secrets are part of Albufeira. The Atlantic playfully fondles the southern coast of Portugal with moon driven tides. Look closely, a dolphin leaps or a jellyfish gets beached all the while the sun, moon and stars maintain their watch. Surfers ride waters in Pera, swimmers bear chilled waters. Warm days might offer a topless treat. No pictures please.