Big and Small, part 3

A group of us went and had a fantastic late night Italian meal, and returned just in time to catch the last of the official Ukulele jam session. After security kicked us out, we made our way back to the dorms where people began to gather in the common room. First beer arrived, then a big bottle of Tequila and a bowl of limes. The atmosphere was electric, charged with the release of all the tensions of travel and anticipation. We drank big and played Ukulele into the small hours of the night. inhibitions were lost and beginners and pros strummed side by side. Solos were taken, lyrics butchered, songs made up, and by the time I stumbled back to my room at 3:30 a new percussion instrument had been created using pistachio shells in the body of a Uke. This was my kind of party.

I caught a couple hours of sleep, and then headed over to the main hall for breakfast. The room was buzzing with activity, and dominated by an actual working 20 foot tall Ukulele. People were having a great time posing in front of it, dwarfed by it size. Saturday was spent showing my Ukuleles, selling stickers and CD's, and again meeting old friends for the first time. It was also a chance to see, and better yet play, some of the finest Ukes available. Not only was it a treat to see them in person, but even more so to meet the amazing Luthiers who had built them. The day was over too fast, and after the Saturday night dinner banquet it was time for the concert.
Ahh the concert.
What do you get when it is about 90 degrees, 90 percent humidity, and you put a couple hundred people in a room with no air conditioning? In this case you got a treat. A top notch group of performers that kept your toes tapping and seemed to be over too soon. Then it was back to the dorms for more beer, more playing, more singing, screaming and mayhem and moonshine.
And it was evening, and it was morning, on the second day.

I woke up still slightly buzzed and looked at my watch
7:00
Outside was a dull gray. it could be 7:00 am or PM, I really could not tell.
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