The Travelling Fairy DancerGreek God
March 9th 2008 09:12
Pain seized my hand, ran up my arm and exploded through my brain. Within sight of Corfu, Greece, I, being a first time and completely useless sailor, was asked to drop anchor.
So I did. Right onto my middle finger.
Flotilla sailing with nine yachts, I had spent most of my time on the deck, under what meagre shade I could find, fighting sea sickness and sunburn.
However, stopping to swim in the velvety, royal blue Adriatic Sea, exploring rocky islands and experiencing the warmth of the locals more than made up for this. Plus, I was looking forward to our return to Corfu and water-skiing in the pristine conditions.
Corfu is the most northern of the Ionian Islands. Blessed with styllish beaches, an active night scene and architecture that is a glorious mix of Venetian, English and French settlers, it radiates 'fun in the sun' holidays.
So, upon being asked, I cheerfully bent to pick up the anchor, twice the size of my upper body as it was. Realising too late how heavy it would be, I let it fall out of my arms and a corner of the sinister object landed on my middle finger.
The water seemed like my only salvation. I dropped into its clear depths, on the verge of fainting but relishing the cool relief. Silly mistake, you are surely thinking.
As I struggled to stay afloat, I saw a man standing on the bow of a local fishing boat. Like Tarzan of the ocean blended with a mythical Greek God, he dived with precision into the water and swam with great speed to my aid. Shirt off, bronzed arms bulging and white teeth shining, he hauled me back onto my boat before my friends noticed anything was amiss.
That night, while everyone enjoyed Greek dancing, balancing tables in their teeth and smashing plates, I sat with my hand up, staring at my finger that was three times the size and regreting my lost skiing opportunity.
But, l smiled anyway. In Greece you can hardly help but smile. A Greek God (who was German), donkeys in back yards and diverse scenery and culture to relish in; it's an adventure dipped in magic all the same.
So I did. Right onto my middle finger.
Flotilla sailing with nine yachts, I had spent most of my time on the deck, under what meagre shade I could find, fighting sea sickness and sunburn.
However, stopping to swim in the velvety, royal blue Adriatic Sea, exploring rocky islands and experiencing the warmth of the locals more than made up for this. Plus, I was looking forward to our return to Corfu and water-skiing in the pristine conditions.
Corfu is the most northern of the Ionian Islands. Blessed with styllish beaches, an active night scene and architecture that is a glorious mix of Venetian, English and French settlers, it radiates 'fun in the sun' holidays.
So, upon being asked, I cheerfully bent to pick up the anchor, twice the size of my upper body as it was. Realising too late how heavy it would be, I let it fall out of my arms and a corner of the sinister object landed on my middle finger.
The water seemed like my only salvation. I dropped into its clear depths, on the verge of fainting but relishing the cool relief. Silly mistake, you are surely thinking.
As I struggled to stay afloat, I saw a man standing on the bow of a local fishing boat. Like Tarzan of the ocean blended with a mythical Greek God, he dived with precision into the water and swam with great speed to my aid. Shirt off, bronzed arms bulging and white teeth shining, he hauled me back onto my boat before my friends noticed anything was amiss.
But, l smiled anyway. In Greece you can hardly help but smile. A Greek God (who was German), donkeys in back yards and diverse scenery and culture to relish in; it's an adventure dipped in magic all the same.
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