guy time part 2 - oliver

Seeing Oliver was here the adventure could begin. He'd looked at street level maps prior so he'd know where to go; also to find the way out afterwards when they might well be slightly drunk but who knew what adventures they'd discover.

"That's good Oliver. We start by cutting down here" he replied with a smile as he pointed out what most people would call a street but it looked like a cobbled alleyway to him. Buildings either side of it enclosed it all the way down until the exit was reached. Not that it stopped light getting it and at 7pm there was still plenty of that.

"That's how you get to the old town from here" he added as knowing these back ways might well help Oliver in his job. So he led the way.

Oliver Dougard

"This is a city. You never really get away completely away from trouble but you'll find that's more of a possibility where we are going" David remarked. So when they exited the alleyway he looked round for landmarks and followed them in a mostly westerly direction. It didn't matter where you entered the slums but you had to be more careful.

The old town still looked vibrant and full of life but its buildings were older. That was obvious as he stopped at a takeaway food place. This did fish and chicken so he suggested "did you get something to eat before heading out? Now would be a good time if you didn't?"

Oliver Dougard

“I also ate before hand but we can get something afterwards. That’s when you’ll need something to soak up the alcohol” he replied cheerfully. That was usually how a guys night out finished by his experiences. Then sometimes getting people back home or into a taxi. Putting Oliver up for the night may not be an option.

So with this location remembered it was off they went again. You could see when the west slums began even with cleaner streets this days. It also didn’t take long to find a bar that was partly inside a building and partly a covered beer garden. Clearly some tourists braved the areas reputation as they stuck out unlike locals who blended in.

Oliver Dougard

As far as things went this far into the slums was still on its fringes. So still reasonably safe though you couldn't state with certainty the quality of the alcohol on offer.

"I hope it stays nice and the beer is at least drinkable" he agreed and off the the bar they headed. David noticed a local craft beer and he'd take that risk given he was used to beers from small UK brewers already.

So placing their orders it was time to find a table as the juke box played. The indoor part of the bar looked like the place to start.

Oliver Dougard

"Centre I think" David replied. "You can't usually go wrong with beer no matter in the world you are. Being positive is a good trait. Red Stripe is a good regional brand if you can't get the American beers" he added as this product of the West Indies got everywhere.

His beer was going to be in a bottle anyway as their glasses got given to them.

Oliver Dougard

David almost chuckled seeing Oliver check the chair. If you wanted a customer to come back it made sense to ensure the chair wouldn’t break on them but this was a more relaxed home one he’d left behind.

“That sounds like a good plan. You learn by doing and also by having broader horizons. Picking a beer is a little thing that leads to expanding those further” he replied. So with orders decided he went to the bar to collect them.

Oliver Dougard