Chile

The spider

I was traveling in the north Chilean desert where I spent the night in a small fishing village. The village, if it can be called that, was made up of some shacks made of wood and sheet metal, there were straw mattresses where you could lie down. About twenty seasonal fishermen live there.

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The fisherman Chilean village

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My face when I realise I will survive…

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This is the guy… Mr. Atrax

During the night I felt particularly cold, there is a strong temperature difference between day and night in the desert (just typed dessert then corrected to desert, it’s evident I am hungry…), so I got up to put on the motorcycle jacket; bad news, there was an Atrax spider inside the left sleeve. I didn’t noticed it.
Bad, very bad.
After a few minutes, I began to sweat, chills throughout the body, symptoms of being sick and vomiting. I was immediately rescued by some fishermen who immediately understood what the problem was, the spider had bitten me on the left elbow which was rapidly swelling. Once again, I was in trouble.
The fishermen were so kind and they insist to take me to the hospital, it was essential to take me immediately to the military hospital in Antofagasta where I could receive the necessary treatment. The old fishermen's pick-up was a wreck and did not seem suitable to take me to the 100 miles desert road to get to the hospital.
No hesitation, I decided.  Jumped on the bike and hit the road, God is with me.
Have ridden full throttle praying not to faint and not to fall. I was cold and sweating a lot as I felt the fever rising.

Thanks to some saint in heaven I arrived unharmed at the military hospital where I literally passed out at the concierge. I was carried by arms by some paramedics to a room where they injected me with substances whose characteristics I prefer to ignore.
The doctors once again called me crazy for riding in those conditions and a very lucky guy for arriving at the hospital on time.

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Ready for injection

I spent 2 days at the hospital, the first was terrible, some infinities hours wore on vomiting most of the time. The third day I finally left the hospital, went to a fancy hotel and enjoyed few more days at the spa, deserved.

You all know how positive I am and always try to face any situation with optimism, but sometimes is very hard.

Anyway, as from now you can call me Spiderman.