The King of Jesolo and Other Short Stories

By Conrad Pichler

Dive into The King of Jesolo and Other Short Stories as the author navigates a vivid mosaic of adventures across the globe. From unexpected friendships formed in distant lands to seemingly harmless escapades that take unforeseen turns, each tale offers a unique glimpse into the world’s diverse tapestry. Sail the tempestuous Italian and Greek seas, where in one thrilling episode, a boat’s mast teeters dangerously close to the water. Embark on a spiritual sojourn to Greece’s revered Mount Athos. Whether it’s the vibrant streets of South America or the historic trails of Europe and Asia, these stories capture the essence of travel, the surprises it holds, and the connections that bind us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781035813117

Conrad Pichler

Born in Austria in 1942 during World War 2, Conrad Pichler, at the age of seven, along with the family returned to Italy where they had come from 10 years earlier. He had his early schooling and two years of commercial schooling in Italy. Moreover, Conrad joined the Italian army for 15 months. Then, he went to a computer programming school in Dusseldorf, Germany and got a job in a German engineering company. He stayed there for one and a half years. After that, he secured a job in a Swiss Multinational company where he stayed for 30 years – a good job to see the world. At the age of 55, he left the Swiss company and went to Peru (has a Peruvian wife) where he created a Real Estate company. After seven years, the Peruvian Government cancelled his residence permit. After inquiries, the government said, “We didn’t cancel it, the computer did.” So I just left, having seen the place. Peru is a poor but interesting country.

Book preview

The King of Jesolo and

Other Short Stories

Conrad Pichler

Austin Macauley Publishers

The King of Jesolo and Other Short Stories

About the Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

The King of Jesolo

A Skiing Trip in Norway, Easter Week 1970

A Visit to Colombia, May 1972

A Weekend in Jamaica (1973)

An Evening at the Aalbroock Officer’s Club in Panama (1974)

A Trip to the Titicaca Lake, Then to La Paz, Then to Chile and Brasil, November 1974

An Evening in Madrid…

The Report of a Sailing Trip to San Blas in the Easter Week 1978 with Cecilia and Friend Ed Brady with Family

In a Foreign Country

A Visit to Istanbul!

Trip to Agios Oros (Holy Mount Athos in Greece)

Around the World in 90 Days…

Trip with the Camper Van

Summary of New Zealand

Trip to Taman Negara (Malaysia)

A Trip to Thailand

A Trip to Kenya, Nov. 1983

French Polynesia

A Trip to the Orient

A Trip to Perú

A Sailing Trip from Hyeres (Southern France) to Cagliari (Italy) 24.4.88–8.5.88

Mr Sousa the IBM representative in LISBOA / Portugal

Sailing to Turkey

About the Author

Born in Austria in 1942 during World War 2, Conrad Pichler, at the age of seven, along with the family returned to Italy where they had come from 10 years earlier.

He had his early schooling and two years of commercial schooling in Italy.

Moreover, Conrad joined the Italian army for 15 months. Then, he went to a computer programming school in Dusseldorf, Germany and got a job in a German engineering company. He stayed there for one and a half years.

After that, he secured a job in a Swiss Multinational company where he stayed for 30 years – a good job to see the world.

At the age of 55, he left the Swiss company and went to Peru (has a Peruvian wife) where he created a Real Estate company. After seven years, the Peruvian Government cancelled his residence permit. After inquiries, the government said, We didn’t cancel it, the computer did.

So I just left, having seen the place. Peru is a poor but interesting country.

Dedication

Dedicated to all my friends.

Copyright Information ©

Conrad Pichler 2023

The right of Conrad Pichler to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035813100 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035813117 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

The following short stories are real stories experienced during his life.

The King of Jesolo

This is the story of my friend Mario, the King of Jesolo. We are at the beginning of the 60s. I spent some 2–3 months each year in Jesolo, doing nothing much. The small hotel I lived in costs 1000 Lire per day (1.5 USD), that included breakfast and lunch. I was then 20 years old; it was just after my military service of 15 months. Mario was the best looking fellow at the beach. All girls would turn their head when he passed. He came from poor folks; his mother had a souvenir shop behind some buildings. One day, I asked her how business was; yesterday she said, ‘I sold only for 60 Lire (1 USD 650 Lire these days).’

Mario made his money by occasionally helping in a barber shop, or taking half of the money of purchases his mother sent him to. To buy one kg of something, he bought ½ kg ad pocketed the difference.

In the evenings, we played football on the beach, Mario was a gifted player. During the day, we contacted girls on the beach, there were plenty. In some hotel, there were 40 English girls, all single.

One day, I met a Swedish girl called Ingwor, she said, ‘I have two friends, could we go out in the evening, you bring two friends of yours.’

She was a very pretty girl end I asked Mario and another fellow called il Pittore to come along. We went to a nearby dancing. The girls asked for a bottle of champagne, and we danced. A second bottle of champagne came and then a third. The girls kept talking between them, in Swedish. While dancing, I tried to kiss the lovely Ingwor but she did not want to. Back on the table, my two friends said the same, the girls did not want to kiss. I had money for one bottle of champagne and Mario and the Pittore probably had nothing.

After a while, my friends said they will go to the bathroom which was downstairs, I thought I will go too, we left the dancing and the bill for three bottles of champagne.

Teach those smart girls a lesson.

A few days later, I met a nice English girl, she was a doctor she said, then I had the great idea to present her to my friend Mario. Once she saw him, she had only eyes for him. I was forgotten. About a week later, I saw her on the street. I’m going to London she said and get the papers, I’m going to marry Mario. Marry Mario, I thought, don’t be a fool. But I said nothing. Mario I saw several times but he said nothing about marrying. A week or two later, I saw the English girl again – all in tears. ‘I cannot find Mario,’ she said, ‘do you know where he lives?’

‘Not really,’ I said, ‘somewhere around here in Jesolo.’ Of course, I knew where he lived. I didn’t see her again, poor fool.

Mario, because of his good looks had a habit of trying to snatch