Fifteen minutes into my signing at a big downtown bookstore at noon on Friday I knew we had a Spinal Tap on our hands.  The store is empty and stays that way until an older woman asks me to help her find a book on philosophy. A strange feeling of embarrassment washed over all of us. That’s when I knew. I thought it would be a good idea to set the timer on my camera and take a picture for the blog. 

I'm not sure Lefteris understood why I would want to take a picture of such a horrible moment – - he's really gritting his teeth here. Everyone feels bad. I feel bad because I wasn’t able to attract any customers, Lefteris feels bad  for putting me in this position, and the young woman from the bookstore apologizes a thousand times, which makes everyone feel just terrible.  The manager however is dismissive and rude. Turns out he arranged this signing just three days earlier and wouldn’t listen to Lida’s suggestions that the signing be after work or at a more favorable time.  We're not clear if he told anybody about the signing. It doesn’t really matter now, though, so we pack up and leave early.

We go to a little café to meet a journalist named Kostas from the country’s biggest music magazine Pop & Rock. Pop & Rock is planning to make a Bone soundtrack CD and shrink wrap it to the front of the magazine. The soundtrack will be made up of tracks from popular albums that Kostas and the editor have personally picked out while reading the comic. He is meeting us today to interview me for the issue. This is some pretty big exposure (and one of Lida's ideas, of course!).

I order the pork with sides of salad, hummus, and sardines with olives. It’s crazy good.

After lunch, Lida and I, along with her friend Kostas, a Greek artist from the exhibit, walk up the long sloping road to the Acropolis.

It’s a beautiful day and we wander around the antiquities talking about comics.

Not a bad way to spend a day. Back at the festival that night, the crowds are growing strong and generous.

The signings are slammed. I don't get a break for two hours. Leferis tells me they have sold hundreds of books, and the book stalls want more to make it through the weekend.  We’re back on top!

We all go out to celebrate with lamb chops.

This is Lefteris’ son Stavros. He wanted to stay up late with us. He and Kostas draw pictures together. Stavros presents me with this drawing he made of The Hooded One leaning in the window asking Phoney Bone for his soul.  Pretty cool. 

With our bellies full, and a sleeping Stavros in the back seat, Lefteris heads his car out onto the sea side road to drop me off at my hotel. It turned out to be a better day than it started out. Maybe the best news of all is that the airline found my luggage and delivered it while I was out.