So, I'm standing with a large crowd of tourists on the edge of Oia, this village on a cliff. Like standing in a natural stadium, people are staring off into the direction of the sunset with cameras, embracing their lovers, talking excitedly, waiting for the sun to drop over the horizon. I'd heard about this nightly ritual at Oia, where people gathered every evening to celebrate the sunset and once it goes, they all clap and cheer the sun.
It was a spectacular sunset, clouds to diffuse the colors, a 3-mast pirate-style ship sailing into the horizon in front of us. We all stood together for an hour and at the moment the sun descended, sure enough, everyone clapped and some stood in reverence. I was glad to witness this ritual and then threaded my way through the masses of people through streets that were wide enough for 3 people to stand side by side.
It's a chic little village and if I had lots of spending money, I'm sure the shopping is wonderful. But I haven't bought a thing other than a little tiny bracelet so far. I left the village thinking I'd better get back before it's dark on that dangerous road back to my room.
I haven't eaten for a long time and was quite thirsty but thought I could make it to Fira. So I drive on the road, which seems to have less traffic now-- there is no one in front of me. I have my lights on and it's hard to see.. not good. After a few miles, I feel a bit confident now though concerned by how dark it is even with lights. My mind wanders for a split second as I am going around a bend. Aiee, there goes my tire, slipping and like rollerblades (I've only fallen once), I could feel the gravity winning-- I was crashing. Amazing how in a split second one has time to reflect, I was aware that I had lost my concentration- that maybe I should have had more water or food before I set out, or maybe the road was just too oily- as I had noticed on the drive there. Regardless, I wondered on the way down in my crash, how bad it would hurt and how badly I would be injured. Morbid thoughts. Then, I felt the impact, my leg, elbow and head-- flashing lights from hitting my head, but not too much pain, just burning pain from sliding on the asphalt. I slid like a baseball player into second base. Familiar but painful. I got up, worried about oncoming cars and was lucky to have a few minutes to move the bike off the road and assess myself. I knew I was OK, no broken bones. Thank God, but I didn't know how bad the injuries were-- I bloody from head to toe, literally. I looked like a perfect person for a halloween film. My ankle was the worst. Anyway, after a few minutes of waving at cars, a nice couple from Spain stopped and picked me up. They had been in a scooter accident 3 weeks ago and his wife had recently been to the emergecy room here for a fall and she showed me her purple elbow and grimaced.
They were so kind to take me to Emergency and get me some water.
Emergency was quite different from USA. I haven't picked up as much Greek as I hoped, and wish I had known more, but there were a few people who spoke English there. It was a scruffy little clinic that must have had a lot of these kinds of accidents... the first thing they said was how lucky I was. (I was just there again after 6 days now of recovery and there was a man with a broken leg who just arrived from a motorbike accident..)
gotta post this before my time is up.... to be continued...
Annie Thoe is an Assistant Feldenkrais Trainer and Practitioner in the Feldenkrais Method with 22 years of experience in bodywork. She has taught numerous modalities of massage therapy, supervised students and practitioners, and teaches locally and nationally. She is on the Board of Directors for the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, Washington. In addition to her outdoor naturalist study, Annie has an extensive background in martial arts, sports, and music.
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Comments for "Santorini, Part II"
April, 2007
