Friday September 21st 2012 It is 0841 and Aviva and I are sitting at Gio’s Café enjoying a little coffee. And for this reason alone, we’ve had to order two in a row. I am sure we both will be buzzing out of here by the time we leave. It is early morning, the heat is increasing but the lifesaving factor working for us here is this breeze. A warm full flush of wind, it gathers around in your hair, around your arms, under your legs, and it feels like heaven. I’ve turned my chair parallel to our table so I can get that breeze head on while I type away. This is heaven too. At Gio’s the coffee ritual here is quite delightful. A silver tray is brought out to you with an array of things on it, two small cups of coffee, two mini shooter style glasses shaped like ‘ice cream Sunday-cups’ (alas I have no better words to describe these little vase-like devices) each sporting a little ball of hazelnut gelato (this is intended to be used as your coffee cream---genius no?), two glass condiment containers filled with whipped cream, sugar, and creamers, oh, and two shooters full of ice cold water. And then, it’s up to the coffee drinker as to how one prepares ones drink. Aviva pours the sugar in (1 packet), puts the ball of gelato in (for the first coffee and eats it on the second round) and refrains from adding the whipped cream. The shooter glass of water is to be used to freshen your palate after your coffee. But she makes fresh her palate as she prepares her coffee. I do the same thing except I do add the whip cream in (my diet perpetually starts on Monday so I am free to eat what I like, how I like, guilt free) and I do not lick my gelato on the second round, it goes in the mix. And the bonus here is, the coffee is offered with a slice of pie. For breakfast, we have enjoyed a coffee and a slice of apricot pie, followed by a second cup of coffee to do our writing. Yesterday was my last day of my scuba course. We had skills and one dive to complete in order to fulfill the requirements for the Open Water Diver Certificate. And yes I am capitalizing each letter because it is a Big Deal to me and soon enough all of this scuba diving will be ‘normal’ and familiar… to fly in the water, to breathe comfortably under the sea, to soar like fish…or better yet, to swim like a mermaid… and for right now, it’s very Special. As it takes me a small eternity to equalize my ears underwater and for the fact that there are two couples in my group, I was very happy to be paired with Andres, a Dive Master. Once again, diving reminds me that I very much have to be aware of my body’s ability to equalize, my breath, and my ability to be buoyant while we descend to the requested depth of our instructor Linda. As I do all of this, I cannot help but notice how quickly the foursome is already paired off and swimming along in behind the teacher. Meanwhile I am hovering meters above them all. My mind, like a small caged lion, is bouncing ideas in every direction, trying to figure out how I can fit in as quickly as possible. I try repeatedly to descend and my ear passages remind me that I am NOT listening. So, put my money where my mouth is, and do what is suggested to me by the instructor…to go at my own pace, embrace my progress, and descend at my own speed. In a short while I was right there with the group and I was able to fully appreciate the view, the boat wreck on the sea floor at 14 meters, and hover a foot above the corals and see an array of fish and sea creatures. The joy in my chest was overwhelming. What an incredible feeling to be able to just ‘do it’. Our instructor supervising our dive in the lead was pleased with all of us, signaling a large applause and raising a hand to her heart followed with a small bow of the head towards us all. Our group has bonded well together and we made plans to go out for dinner last night to celebrate our new successful adventure. I asked Linda to join us and we had a great night. Aviva has kite boarding every other day, so she has been able to meet everyone, hang out with us, and dive/tan/snorkel at Wanna Dive. Aviva is part of our group and it’s really neat to able to share this experience with her. Aviva showed up to pick me yesterday after my last scuba lesson. Her walk was slow, methodical, and she appeared tired. I inquired about her kite boarding as I knew she was nervous about going back. The last lesson left her sore, bruised, and exhausted. This lesson was a full on three hours in the sun, in the wind, in the waves and she states she gave it her all. Here are the pros and cons of Aviva’s lesson: Three hours of starring up at the sky without sunglasses on, landing on her face over and over, gulping tons of sea water, repeatedly trying to control the kite, and punching her instructor in the family jewels by accident. On the other hand, Aviva states better control of the kite, ridding the board for 10 Meters and able to feel what kite boarding is suppose to be like, and after a long day, enjoying her first beer ordered by her own will and thoroughly loving it. I must post and go. Dinner is being served by my friend Aviva. We must eat. We have plans with my Scuba group this evening.