Page 40 - SpontaneousSuccessFINAL6

NICHOLAS BOOTHMAN
sound of waves lapping and crashing below my window
and a chapel bell atop the nearby cliff ringing, signaling
that the fishermen had safely returned and it was time to
start selling their catch.
The main street, a lazy ribbon of cobblestones,
meandered down to the fishermen's beach, where the
Hole in the Wall, a ramshackle shop crammed with
everything from fresh figs to fishing tackle, doubled as
the village post office. Up the road, a sleepy café, its
tables shaded by brightly colored umbrellas, offered
respite from the sun, while two restaurants, one
doubling as a taxi service, promised culinary delights and
a ride home. Unassuming doorways concealed hidden
tavernas, their enticing aromas of wine, aguardente, and
espresso mingled on the cobblestone streets.
Three days into my adventure, I found myself at the
Hole in the Wall with a birthday card for my mum
tucked into my pocket. The wooden floorboards
groaned beneath my weight as I stepped inside. The
scent of old paper and olives filled my nostrils.
A tall, distinguished man stood at the counter, his
pen scratching a signature onto a package. The woman
behind the counter, her English halting but her smile
warm, beamed at him. "Finally!" she exclaimed. "Today
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