"High Tea" = BINGO...who knew?

10/19/09

Today I located the third and final flower shop in Gozo. It’s not terribly far from the other two, on the way to Kercem. As per my usual experience, this place wasn’t open either. And though it said to inquire at the store around the corner if they were closed, there was no such store. Grrr. So I’ll be going back again another day.

More importantly friends, today I penetrated the male-est of male spaces – the Aurora Theatre (The Band Club associated with the Cathedral). I’m sure I probably said this about Tapie’s as well but in the case of Tapie’s it’s a very male “café” – Band Clubs are a completely different animal altogether. Every day I walk past it and there they sit, like sentinels guarding the place. They advertise constant football programming and you rarely see women on the steps or inside as you walk past – except, again, for maybe the stray tourist here or there that wanders in. Or, if there’s a special event, like the Opera or the club night they have during Festa. Because I know the club is open to the public for food and drink, I plunged my way inside, remembering my pal Sue’s mantra “my money is just as good as anyone else’s!” I ordered an Iced Tea Peach and it was given to me in a can. This was telling because anytime you order a drink here, whether it’s served in a can or a bottle they give you a glass to go with it. Unless you are taking it to go, and if they aren’t sure, then they ask you if you want one. Clearly the guy behind the counter didn’t think I’d be staying.

As I exited, I interrupted the three sentinels, excusing myself as I did so, and decided to break the ice by inquiring after the signs for “High Tea” that I’ve seen around. They explained that it’s BINGO and that there is a High Tea that takes place at night or alternatively, there’s a “Morning Coffee” that is also a BINGO session but takes place in the morning. They inquired after my accent and the next thing you know, I’m standing there with them for a good half hour. One of them, Paul, explained they were all members of the band club. Though I heard him quite well I pretended I misheard and said “men’s club?” They laughed and Paul said, “no no no BAND club. Women are welcome. We have wives and daughters and mothers and they all come here to play. More at night though for cards and things.” One of the other guys laughingly said, “Yes, they come to play but not to play anything with sex!” Man, talk about an island full of D.O.M.’s!!!

Eventually the subject of the opera that the theatre hosted last weekend (Aida) came up and oddly at that very moment a woman who was in the opera as part of the choir approached and started talking with one of the men. By the time I left, I’d been introduced to her, and she explained that one of her sons is a bass singer with the opera company and another is the conductor. She used to sing soprano solos herself, and told me that right now they are all preparing for the Christmas concert. (Donna – this reminded me of you!) She was walking back home so I offered to walk back part way with her. Her name is Mary and she was very keen to know my name, including my surname and how to spell it. On our way up the street, we ran into Alfred (the lawyer I met last week) and he hailed us both, making sure to tell me that Mary is the prettiest soprano in Gozo. I have a feeling that Alfred says something like this to every woman on the island, as I recall him saying something similar to the waitress at Gangus last week.

It’s been cool here the last couple of days. I’ve even worn a light sweater in the daytime. But I talked to the French lady who owns Organika today (the store below me) and she said tomorrow it’s supposed to get up to 27 (that’s 80 F). I enjoyed the cool day today. With the sun shining it reminded me of those bright autumn days back home that are warmer than you expect them to be. The kind where you leave the house with a jacket but are thankful you know how to layer because you end up peeling down to a T-Shirt whenever you’re standing in the sun. It reminded me of the last time I went to the Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival and I realized by now that’s over with, as is (I am sure) the Bay View Bash and some of the other fun street fairs I like to go to at home. And it’s less than 2 weeks until Halloween…crazy. Today is officially my halfway mark. I can’t believe how fast it’s going.