Hopeful Signs

The more I thought about Jacob's words the harder it became for me to try and get any rest for the remainder of the flight. Even when the medicine finally started taking affect I couldn't find much peace from the relief...

While I didn’t necessarily feel like I was going to barf out a lung I didn’t feel particularly well either. Something about that one glance into the darkening ocean and seeing the sun swallowed by the eerily still waves just screwed with my mind and therefore screwed with my body.

For once I really wished my medication induced drowsiness. But no, I had to think about my gaming hobby instead.

Really, it was most likely my own habit of over thinking things that was causing me to feel like this more than anything, I was sure of it. I couldn’t help it though, my brain always thinks of the worst case scenarios and tries to prepare for them, but in this particular case it was just making me feel phantom nausea.

God I feel like such a bitch sometimes, it kills me…

It was probably the longest nine hours I have ever experienced in my life – definitely worse than any shift I had as an overnight stocker at the retail joint I used to work at.

I couldn’t look out the window the entire night in fear that I would lose myself further to the delusions I was already subjecting to, forced to keeping the window cover shut to avoid any temptation to glance outside. It was pitch dark but still, I didn’t want to take any chances.

Aaron kept checking in on me now and then, while making sure I had one of those special regurgitation bags nearby at all times. I’m glad he had Jacob to help keep him entertained because I was basically useless.

Somehow I managed to squeeze in bits of sleep here and there, only to be awoken by the plane going through turbulence which disturbed my stomach all over again. The cycle would just rinse and repeat even long after I could see a peek of sunlight in the neighboring windows.

Thankfully, Larnaca was actually eight hours ahead of the time zone I’m used to. That just means I am that much closer to that (hopefully pleasant) hotel bed later when night fell there.

I was shaken awake for the final time when the Captain called for us to fasten our seat belts for our descent, blearily blinking awake.

Aaron placed a hand on my shoulder and shot me a questioning look, asking without words if I was okay. I slowly nodded, the knowledge that we were going to be landing in a few minutes helping greatly to help keep my body from experiencing any form of anxiety.

Land; we were going to be on good old land again soon. Everything will be fine. I just kept repeating that mantra to myself.

When I felt we had started the descent into the Cyprus airport I felt it safe enough to chance a look out the window again, lifting up the thick curved flap of plastic to face the blinding sunlight.

What I saw outside, though… was absolutely breathtaking. I immediately took out the camera to capture it as we flew over.

I really hate to sound cliché and state the obvious but… None of the photos you can see on the internet or through someone else’s lens can truly let you experience the sheer beauty that I was able to witness in this moment.

Unlike the haunting dark blues that spurred my body into a stupor before, the waters here was a more appealing transition of cyan and teal that meshed rhythmically together until it faded into the white of the sea foam that licked the shores.

There was a circular cut of land that curved out from the shore in a wobbly backwards ‘G’ shape, with several docks built within that held many boats tied to them. That was obviously the marina.

As we passed over the city, I had to say it was very lovely in and of itself with plenty of palm trees and grass that looked so vibrant in its green hue even from way up here. The architecture of the buildings was an interesting mix of old-fashioned Greek history and new modern tourism with all the hotels and high-rise condos.

The airport also had a pretty nice entrance that we passed over, with a roundabout road that was surrounded by many flourishing trees with a nice garden display at the center. Inside the words “Larnaka International Airport” reflected the noon sunlight back at us as if winking hello.

This city held so much history, over 4,000 years worth to be exact if the textbooks are correct. It was simply incredible to be able to take it in for myself. Even if this shot didn’t make it into the final cut I was going to save it in my personal collection forever.

I was already feeling much better as we made the landing into the runway, breathing a heavy sigh of relief when I felt the moment the wheels touched solid ground. Jacob, unfortunately, was remaining in the city and we said our goodbyes (him and Aaron exchanging contacts) before heading out on a shuttle to the marina.

While we landed in Larnaca, we actually had to take an extensive boat ride to Cyrenádos since it was only a 61.8 square mile island. It just wasn’t big enough to house its own airport.

That part didn’t worry me, until now.

I mean, Aaron’s uncle took us out on the lake for the 4th of July last year and that didn’t have any negative effect on me. So I had no reason to believe I couldn’t handle the boat ride to Cyrenádos… until I had that dizzy episode on the plane. I had no way of knowing if I’d be able to handle riding a boat across open water ocean.

For at least two hours…

I took a couple pills in advance as we waited for the boat to arrive on a shaded bench by the docks. At the same time I made a quick call to my mother letting her know we’d made it safe to our destination.

Without even knowing she proceeded to help further ground me back to normal as well as speed up the wait time with her habit of talking my ear off for what felt like hours. Honestly if I had to choose I wished we could have explored the city more but it would have been a huge pain to drag our entire luggage around trying to sight-see.

So I just settled for having a lecture on “traveling safely overseas” instead. This was probably just a bunch of stuff she picked up watching the show The Amazing Race.

“How you feeling, man?” Aaron asked me once I’d hung up, handing me a soda he just got from a stand.

“Surprisingly better… Maybe it was just looking down at the ocean from over a thousand feet in the air that made me feel like crap?”

“I read Thalassophobia can affect people differently depending on the way you look at the ocean. Like some people can handle riding in a boat no problem but the moment they go diving they freak out at seeing the depth. So with that in combination with your motion sickness, it’s no wonder you were so out of it.”

I glanced over at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Since when did you become an expert on this stuff?”

“Hey, Google is a very handy tool I’ll have you know.” Aaron retorted snidely while waving his phone towards my face for emphasis.

“Well thanks either way.” I said sincerely with a chuckle.

“No problem. I’m really glad you’re feeling okay, especially since we need that establishing shot of the island as we approach.”

“Don’t worry I’ll make sure we get it.”

Even if I wasn’t feeling better I still would have done my best to try and get some good footage of seeing the island for the first time. We were only going to get one chance at it and I hated the thought of being the reason we had to cut out a key part of the documentary. I had a part to play on this trip, and I was going to play it one way or another.

The plan was to take the first day on arrival to scout out the place and check out the hot spots; look for the most popular and scenic locations while we do research on things that could be included in the documentary. With any luck we’ll find some locals who can provide some factual information and are willing to talk about them in front of a camera.

Of course I won’t mind if they want to tell a few folk tales here and there as well, it would most likely help add to the fantasy of some viewers. Fortunately, technology has improved and language barriers will be less of an issue thanks to translation apps.

I was right in the middle of browsing my limited social media when I heard the loud horn of a boat before the other people around us started letting out hoots and hollers of excitement.

Looking up I was amazed to see deep blue sails stand out among the plain white yachts and cruisers. They were currently tied down but my eyes were naturally drawn to them, as well as the rest of the boat from its wooden deck to the small crow’s nest that had rope ladders tied to it from both sides.

The kid in me couldn’t help but think it looked like a miniature ship from the old sea classics, and I won’t be ashamed to admit that got me a bit excited.

The bottom of the boat (the hull, I believe it’s called?) was the same appealing azure color as the sails with a white trim just beneath the gunwale.

The name “Atargatis” was emblazoned in bright gold lettering along the white part of the bow, with a white dove symbol painted into the blue portion below.

It was absolutely gorgeous.

At the sight of it I couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit of hope fill me; the hope that this trip wouldn’t end in complete disaster.

After all, doves were supposed to be a symbol of good luck, right?