Warning sign at Haghia Sophia, Istanbul

I’m afraid that steps are always an accident waiting to happen when I’m around.  In fact most things are – I’m quite prone to falling over, even on the flat. And before you ask, it has nothing to do with alcohol!

I took the photo of the sign above because it reminded me of a particularly bad accident I had on my last trip to Moscow, in 2012.  I was dining at the White Rabbit restaurant, which is a swish and expensive restaurant in a sort of domed glass box on top of a shopping centre; the views are impressive and the food is excellent.

Having eaten, I made my way towards the lift, admiring the views as I went. Sadly, this meant I didn’t have a view of the steps in front of me and by the time I realised they were there I was hovering in mid-air somewhere above them!  Not wanting to crash land face-first on the steps themselves, I somehow managed to fly a little further and land face down on the floor at the bottom of the steps.

Those dining on the lower level seemed mildly surprised to see me!  But I don’t think anyone realised I had flown down from the top of the steps rather than just tripping off the bottom one.

A kind waiter gave me some ice, but so many places hurt I didn’t know where to put it.   I eventually manged to hobble back to my hotel and then sat in the bar drinking tea for a couple of hours to make sure I wasn’t concussed.

I was a bit battered and bruised and had what I thought might be a broken wrist, so I appeared at the conference the following day with a makeshift sling and bandage all-in-one fashioned out of a yellow flowery scarf. I survived with that until I got home a few days later, where x-rays revealed it was only a severe sprain.

I try to be more careful these days, but my friends know that I wouldn’t be me without a black eye, a broken tooth or a bandaged limb.

Linked to Daily Prompt: Accident.