Backpacking through Europe in 1994
Day 85 • November 30, 1994
Getting tattoos with my Best Friend jeff in rota, Spain
After the chaos of missed trains, cold nights in strange stations, and the constant uncertainty of the road, Rota felt like stepping into another world. Here, the air smelled like salt and diesel, the sun was warm on my face, and for the first time in weeks, I wasn’t carrying everything I owned on my back while trying to figure out where I was supposed to sleep that night.
Jeff’s apartment was small but full of familiar things — American things. A fridge stocked with real beer, a couch that didn’t smell like strangers, and a television that pulled in American Tv and Armed Forces Radio had familiar songs and DJ’s. After months of moving from one country to the next, sleeping in hostels and on trains, I finally had a place where I could just sit. No schedule. No next connection to catch. I felt like it was a place where time had no name.
We spent the day at the beach, the Mediterranean stretching out blue and endless in front of us. Later, we wandered the base, Jeff showing me around like he was giving a tour of his new life. It was strange and comforting at the same time — my best friend from Kearney, now a Marine, living on the southern tip of Spain with a wife and a rank and responsibilities I couldn’t quite picture him having back home.
That night, after the sun went down and the base grew quiet, I got something I’d been thinking about for a while. A tattoo. Nothing flashy, just a small mark I chose for myself, something that would stay with me long after the trip ended. Even now, more than thirty years later, I still see it every morning when I look in the mirror — a permanent reminder of the version of me who was brave enough, or maybe foolish enough, to keep going when everything felt uncertain.
For the first time since I left Nebraska, I wasn’t just passing through somewhere. I was here. With my best friend. And for a little while, that was enough.
A kick-ass moment with my best friend Jeff, right after getting back to his place with our new tattoos.
My Photographs from getting tattoos with jeff today in rota, Spain
DAY 85 / 11-30-94
Getting tattoos with my Best Friend jeff in rota, Spain
Woke up at 11:30 today and after cleaning up & stuff, I watched “Jurassic Park.” Eric invited me over to play a game of SEGA golf.
Jeff & Vicky got home at 5, and we were just sitting around talking about nothing in particular when Vic said “Let’s go get tattoos.”
Jeff looked at me & looked at him, and at the same time we both said “OK!”
They had each got one when they got married (the Chinese symbol for married). I had been thinking about another one for a while now, something to represent this trip.
I’ve grown up so much these last 3 months, I believe in myself, I’m happy, I’m proud of myself, & I really wanted another tattoo, but I didn’t know what could symbolize all of this.
Since it was a nice night (actually the weather has been fantastic here) we walked to the tattoo parlor. None of us knew what we wanted, but we each found something that fit us.
Vic found a Chinese symbol for “Never Give Up.” Jeff found the face of a lion. They each put theirs on their back. But I wanted to see mine, so I put it on my chest. It’s the Chinese symbol for (Successful) Voyage. A perfect symbol for what I had in mind.
This one hurt more than the one on my ankle, but it wasn’t that bad. I really like the way it turned out. Sergio did a good job, and it’s the best souvenir of this experience I could ever have.
It took about an hour & a half for all 3 of us, and it was about 9:30-10 [pm] when we got home.
Before Jeff went to bed we played a game of Madden, then I went next door & played golf with Eric.
When I came back I watched “Leap of Faith” before falling asleep.
