My Uncle Pavel

The first time I met my uncle Pavel I was about 13 and lived in Macedonia.  My uncle Pavel was one of those mysterious relatives that we all knew existed, but no one has seen him for ages.  He lived in the USA and at that time when I first met him, he hasn't been to his homeland in over 20 years.
Now if you ask my uncle Pavel about his homeland, he won't say it's Macedonia.  He'd say it's Czech Republic.  That's where he was born.  But if you ask him if he is Czech, he'd tell you that he is Greek.  I told you he was mysterious.  With a last name of Lavdakopulos, he can pass for a Greek, although he can hardly speak Greek.  He has been mistaken for being a Cuban, yeah...a Cuban.

Whenever I visit my uncle Pavel, there isn't a dull moment.  At age 60, he has a 7 year old daughter, still does Iron Man races and always has a funny story to tell you that makes you laugh so hard, your stomach hurts and your eyes are in tears.  All the while he is serious telling you his crazy story.  He is a mad, mad Greek.
I haven't seen my uncle Pavel in almost 2 years, even though he lives in southern California, only about 6 hour drive from me.
Here is a picture of him and I from about 5 years ago.