“You lied!” was the first think each kid said to me as they emerged from the water.
Apparently my experiences swimming back from the small island off of Livadi Geranou beach didn’t match today’s conditions. I found it harder to swim to the island and easier to return. For Ailyn, Ethan and Sennen, the opposite was true today – with special complaints about spray going into their eyes on the return.
“I feel bad about it, honestly,” Sennen said of the fact that Ethan didn’t have goggles on the way back. Since Ailyn brought two pairs of goggles – and Sennen left his set of two at home – Ailyn graciously lent her second pair to “the boys” collectively and retained rights to her own. Ethan wore googles going and Sennen on the return – which means Ethan drew the short straw.
This might be the reason why Ethan – who was most enthusiastic to make the crossing in the first place – was the only one to say he plans never to return to the island. Certainly, his eyes were red and needed time to refresh. The Aegean is extra salinic and water can sting the eyes – hence the importance of goggles.
Ethan was also thwarted from exploring the little church on the island because Sennen misinterpreted my missive to go only to the one visible beach of the island to mean the church above it was off-limits. I had meant not to go to any other cove because they are rocky and not safe. While I was pleased Sennen took me seriously, Ethan felt he was robbed of half the reason to swim across.
Sennen, on the other hand, couldn’t have been happier about the entire experience and looked forward to going again. Ailyn who made it back to shore last could have had a V8. It wasn’t until an hour or so later – after she had shaken off the hard work of the return – she considered a second swim to the island.
One dry and fed, Ethan came around, “Mr. Eric, can we come back to this beach?” Of course we can – and will.
While the kids initially focused on the challenge of the little island – as kids will do – the thing about Livadi Geranou is that it’s gorgeous. The shades of the water are breathtaking. It’s clean, clear, both shallow and deep and very swimmable. Because it’s not “organized” – meaning no beach chair/sunbed concessions – it gets fewer beachgoers – though its one taverna is good and has a delightful view. We chose to bring our lunch in the new cooler backpack I schlepped over from Costco. We might as well have a portable refrigerator it works so well.
Armed with fresh fruit, ThermoFlasks of water and Sennen-made sandwiches (turkey and gouda with pesto for me and Ailyn, prosciutto and gouda with fig balsamic for Ethan and Sennen), we ate well while taking in a less-visited treasure of the island.
All to say, Ethan has good taste.
“I like the way people live here,” Ethan told me. “This is a really good place. I could live here!”
He gets a few more weeks of it, at least.
Our day had other success. The new canopy-laden beach chairs worked easily and without a hitch. Emmanoula came to clean. I’m not sure we’ve ever needed her more. Sennen found a couple of the little cheese pastries I like when he went to the bread bakery this morning. Perhaps most importantly, Ethan got a clean bill of health from the doctors at the Patmos Health Centre who told him to keep using the antibiotic cream for just one day more, but that everything looked good on his arms – no more Weeping Eczema (aka staph infection). And of course, continue moisturizing, always.
Naturally, no visit anywhere – including and particularly the Health Centre – goes without running into people we know. Our longtime family friend Nicholas – at whose studio apartment hotel Emily and I originally stayed in 2010 and to which we brought Sennen for his first Patmos visit at 15-months – was there for a checkup on his heart (he had a bad heart attack a couple of years ago, written about in a previous post). We got in a quick visit in the hallway. “You have two kids…. these two…. I no see this one before….” Nicholas said, looking at me like I might have had a secret illegitimate child. I explained.
Given the GP, pediatrician and dermatologist (I had no idea they had one!) all felt good about Ethan, we got to all feel good about him swimming today.
“This is the best I’ve felt in awhile. I feel really good again.”
That made me feel good again.
I think the same is true for us all. Sennen and Ethan have been bike riding around town and going to the gym. Ailyn has been out shopping and spending time with the cats in the evening. We’re eating a lot of fresh, local fruits and veggies. The boys ate giant cucumbers on the beach today. We’re outside a lot. We’re making breakfasts and most dinners at home. Things are feeling healthy.
Now comes the pressure for a “Boat Day” where we go to nearby islands and coves to drive off the boat and swim. This is Sennen and my favorite day each summer. Ailyn has opted-out the past couple of years, but given her new anti-motion-sickness device, she’s feeling confident she can go and enjoy. I want to be sure Ethan is well and stays well, and my work calendar has to align, but perhaps we’ll have a Boat Day before the week is up.
It feels like we’re finding our Patmos groove this year.
And maybe, if provided goggles, Ethan will be persuaded to make a return to the Livadi Geranou island….
