“Travels to a Different Time” : July 23, 1971: Novalja and Rab, Yugoslavia; The Mad Snorer Gets Us Pounding on Walls and Doors: Meeting California Fairies!

We were off to the island of Rab today but had a poor sleep because a stupid guy was snoring in the next room and so loud it sounded like thunder. Mom went to the door and pounded and I banged on the wall. It stopped or at least until we fell asleep. At 9 off we went to a small boat that was to take us to the island of Rab. It was a short 90-minute trip and we went to the tourist office and were sent to a pension to a filthy room and a reeking bathroom stinking of sewage. We tried again and found a room in a newly constructed pension. We went for lunch to a nearby restaurant and were charged an enormous price for a cutlet. I wanted to walk around the town and Mom went up for a sleep but upon returning I had to knock on the door to get in waking Mom up with good news as I found a shop selling English newspapers and magazines. She pleaded with me to get some reading material which I did. Then a hot shower. After a good dinner of fish and salad we met two fairies from California. They, like us, had amusing stories to tell about Yugoslavia. These are the first homosexuals I met and they were good guys. Prostitutes and homosexuals in Yugoslavia how educational! Who will we meet next?