Ithaka Bound

The Return of Prada

On June 16th, I wrote a post about losing my sunglasses in a mini-market in Amorgos, but I never told you about how I got them back.

I went back to the mini-mart for the next two days, asking if they had found the glasses or if anyone had turned them in, to no avail.

My last day in Amorgos, I went into the mini-mart to buy a bottle of water. There was a different cashier working this time–a man wearing Gucci sunglasses. I took this as a sign (again with the signs!) that he was a kindred spirit in my quest for fine eyewear, so I thought I’d give it one more shot before leaving the island:

Me: I left my sunglasses here three days ago. I don’t suppose you found them?

Gucci Guy: What brand were they?

Me: Prada.

GG: You are so lucky! You are the luckiest woman!

Me: (Surprised look.)

GG: You did not leave them here! You left them on a stoop, near the port, behind a pole! And I found them!

Me: What??

GG: Yes, I have them in my car! It is so lucky that you asked me!

He returned Prada to me, amidst much hugging and kissing and thanks.

And that’s the story of how I was convinced I’d lost my sunglasses in a mini-mart, and how I kept going back to ask for them until I came upon the right person–a man wearing Gucci glasses who happened to work at the mini-mart and found them behind a flagpole, on a stoop, in the port.

It’s about the same time I became a little less jaded and some of my faith in mankind was restored,

When I left Greece, I decided to leave the Prada glasses behind because it seemed like the right thing to do. They’re under a tamarisk tree on Lagada Beach in Milos, if you should happen to need a pair.

I love the 9 Euro pair, pictured above, that I bought as a replacement.  These glasses give the world an excuse to smile at me.  They seem to brighten up people’s day, and I’ve never received so many compliments on my crazy eyewear.

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