Day 143
Location 28: Budva, Montenegro
Mar. 23, 2023
I was challenged to a tennis match today by Nema, a guy in my hostel. It was more of an invite than a challenge actually. Nema is a tennis coach and plays competitvely, but none of that concerned me, because unlike an NBA team tanking for draft picks, I was playing to win.
As soon as the tennis began, it was clear that I was outmatched. Nema had a stronger serve, a better strategy, and more skills than I had. But I had determination, atheleticism, and most importantly, delusion.
He won the first set handily, 6-1. It felt like a slaughter, but now I was warmed up.
The second set went to me, 6-4. At this point, the competitive juices are flowing like sparkling water at a party for recovering alcoholics. Additionally, a subtle animostity has started to rear its ugly head. Our outward words and actions remained polite, but underneath we started to get on each other's nerves. (Honestly, this perceived hostility might've been 100% in my head, a result of the competitive lobe in my brain searching for motivation like how Michael Jordan might use a 7-year-old cheering for the opposing team as inspiration to enter kill mode).
In the video below you can watch as I slowly mount my comeback. Towards the end of the third set, the score stood at 4-4. Whoa. Ultimately I lost the last set, 6-4. Despite the crushing blow of defeat, getting to play a competitive sport was easily some of the most fun I'd had during the trip so far.
To celebrate, I devoured two hot-dogs, one for each set I lost. Then a few of us headed to the beach where Fabien layed down on a large rock in the water. His long, shimmering locks and statuesque physique made him look like Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
At night, we all went out to a Harley Davidson-themed dive bar to drown our sorrows from the day's tennis loss.
The spot had vaguely American decorations, like vanity plates from US states customized with a popular city from that state. For example, Los Angeles in California, or Brooklyn in New York, or BDC45 in Arizona. All the classics!
