Up bright and early and walking the 5km to Agios Sostis Church and beach on the east side of the island. My plan had been to get there for sunrise but was a little slow moving this morning. I still haven’t been sleeping great although I don’t at home either, so it has nothing to do with jet lag at this point. The air is still cool and there’s enough of a breeze that I need to wear a long-sleeve shirt to keep the chill out. Crowing roosters, braying donkeys and barking dogs are the soundtrack for this morning. I can see the sky is already turning brilliant oranges and purples and I pick up my pace.
I see a church on a hillside and detour to take a photo. With the sunrise as the back drop and the church in shadow I’m super excited with the result. This may be going up on my wall at home. This just made my morning. Everything else is a bonus after this.
I continue to Agios Sostis and pick up my pace. An elderly gentleman drives past me on his scooter and I yell hello and wave. He acknowledges me and continues on. A few minutes later the same gentleman drives up behind me and stops. He points at me and at his scooter and says, “Where you go?” Agios Sostis, I say. Again, he points at me and then at his scooter. “You’ll give me a ride? Really? Thank you so much!” I hop up behind him and ask him his name. “I am George.” We exchange pleasantries and I’m oohing and ahhing over the amazing sunrise view as we speed along. “Do you live here?” I ask him. He nods and smiles. “You’re so lucky!” George yells over the buzzing of the scooter’s motor, “Agios Sostis” and points. The church is backlit in bright orange by the sunrise. We say our goodbyes and George heads off back the way he came. I’ve just realized that he backtracked to pick me up and now he’s turned around to go back towards where he was originally headed. The generosity of the Greek people is astounding me and gives me hope for humanity in general. A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Other than a woman talking on her cellphone and wearing what appears to be a hospital gown with her bare ass hanging out, I am the only person at the church. I try to make a bit of noise so that she knows another human is in the vicinity and perhaps she’d like to cover her ass. Doesn’t seem to make a difference so I ignore her and go about my business of shooting some photos.
I head to the beach and have it to myself. The waves are gently lapping the shore and the coarse sand feels good between my toes. I have a seat at the edge of the water eating my apple and think how lucky am I to be here, experiencing this perfect sunrise in Greece. I cool off in the clear water before the trek back to the hotel. Now that the sun has risen, the temperature has increased by a few degrees and I’m sweating freely. Breakfast awaits.
After breakfast I head to a local medical clinic as I have to get a rapid Antigen test in order to go on my upcoming sailing trip despite being fully vaccinated. The Greek Coast Guard recently changed the rules so I’m happy to oblige. I actually think it’s a great idea since the small group of us will be in tight quarters for the next week so being doubly sure there’s no Covid lurking is a bit of a relief. The clinic is empty and I’m done within minutes. Within the hour I have my negative results. Sail boat here I come!
Another lazy afternoon poolside. I’ve woken myself up with my snoring. So embarrassing. I sheepishly apologize to the couple next to me. I opt to listen to the Smartless podcast with hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes and their guest Stephen Colbert. I am laughing so hard at one point, I have tears running down my face and I again have to apologize to the couple next to me. They just nod politely and go back to reading their books. Their faces say “Don’t make eye contact with the raving lunatic next to us and perhaps she’ll go away.” Making friends wherever I go.
Later in the afternoon, I have the absolute good fortune of having two Russian families with their three kids in tow, check in to the rooms next to mine and my peaceful zen is destroyed. Arrgh! Isn’t this an adults only hotel? And if not, it bloody should be! I try to maintain my composure but the little boy thinks flicking his flip flop in the air as high as he can is an entertaining game and it ends up on my little patio. My composure has cracked and I’m saying expletives under my breath. I pick up the wayward sandal and ignore the boy’s outstretched hands and walk directly to his parents. I explain that I’m trying to enjoy some peace and quiet on my deck and I don’t appreciate the rainfall of sandals and can they do me a solid and control their child? I get a blank look in return (my Russian is rusty). I point at the shoe, then at my patio and mime the shoe sailing over the fence, and shake my head saying, “No good.” This seems to hit home and I get some nods of understanding. “Spasibo” I say and they break into big smiles. “You speak Russian?!” Um, no. I remember spasibo from some spy movie and I’m not even sure that it means thank you but I was desperate to communicate. We’re now the best of friends and I’m invited to their patio for shots of chilled vodka (I am not even joking). I do one shot and manage to escape with my sobriety still intact.
