I’m a city girl, having grown up in Delhi, an Armed Forces brat, and I appreciated nature in manicured lawns edged by kyaris of huge dahlias, gladioli, roses and the occasional bougainvillea. In childhood I had enjoyed mucking around in the mud, I was inordinately fond of climbing trees, and creating elaborate canal systems in the backyard with comrades in arms. From time to time we went on family picnics to the nearby well tended “parks” (Buddha Jayanti anyone?) where the “streams” joyfully skipped over concrete “waterfalls” and under whimsical bridges.

Vacations to Alaska, Grand Canyon and other national parks are very directed. Drive or be driven, walk a scant half mile, vista point CLEARLY marked, take the picture taken by a billion people at least, stare at an underwhelming hole in the ground or a wall of dirty ice similar to the un-defrosted fridges of yore, express appropriate noises of awe and run back to the familiar car where the exact same view could be seen in google images. Opportunities to climb up or down more difficult paths and sweat honest perspiration in communion with nature were never my favorite thing to do, and I have passed on that trait to both my kids.

But I was introduced to lazy beach afternoons in Santorini and since I can write, paint and facebook from most California beaches, I am getting to know Nature better. I now have a dedicated beach/park blanket, a sturdy double layer shower curtain, and towels solely for the purpose of beating ants, beetles and sundry crawlers to death. I also have an umbrella to hide from the sun, a wind break tent to escape the wind, reserve jackets when the clouds come through as they often do. I am ready to face nature this summer.

And so an afternoon by the bay, under this gorgeous tree with branches that dip into picturesque waters, dappled sunlight, acrylic paints and litchi raspberry martinis. Nature is so soothing.
©alka