Under the Grecian Sun, Part 2

(Continued from Part 1)

I knew that returning to Greece to work on the same sail boat I had vacationed on the year before was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. No matter who I had just met :)

I don't think the (then future) hubs was super thrilled about me accepting the summer-long job in Greece. Actually, I remember him being a bit pouty about it. But this was something that I knew that if I didn't do, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Plus, there was already something so special between us, that I was really confident we could get through a few months apart. He was going back to Edmonton at the end of the season, and from what I had heard about the place, I knew he wasn't going to get into too much trouble without me :)

So May rolled around, I quit my job in San Antonio, made a last minute trip to Canada to say bye to the pre-hubs, and was off to see what Greece held for me.

I can't lie, the first few days were miserable. I had an awful feeling in my stomach, that kind you get when you just know something is wrong. Unable to get the pay phones by the Althens harbor to connect to home, I was stuck without hearing the pre-hubs voice for some time. Or at least it felt like a long time. I had doubts about the job, wondering what I was doing there. But I manned, I mean womanned, up and told myself that this is what I signed up for and this is what I was going to do.

The guests arrived soon after, and that first group was great. They really made me feel at ease and I jumped right into my position as program director. Pretty fancy title for someone who cooks, cleans, guides guests around the islands and helps sail.

I sound like such a whimpie saying this, but this job in Greece was by far the most difficult and demanding job I have ever had. Some, not all, but a good amount of the guests felt entitled the moment they stepped on board. This wasn't some all inclusive trip, where you're catered to at every moment. It was clear from the get-go that everyone pitched in to help do a job or two each day. But nonetheless, some felt the need to boss me around, or even, one horrible lady, to yell at me. Don't worry, I gave it right back to her, ha! I was the first one up in the early morning and the last one to bed late at night. It was exhausting. But with the breathtaking island scenery I woke up to every morning, it was well worth it.

Amazing Hydra Port

No matter how busy I was, I still couldn't fully get my mind to stop terribly missing the pre-hubs. He had joked around about coming out to Greece for a week or two to see me (and get a discounted price on a wonderful trip). I  had mentioned something to the captain, to see if he was even down for the idea. He wasn't all that into it,  but at the same time was interested in having another Canadian, and a hockey player at that, along for the ride. I am sure the thought of an extra paying customer didn't hurt either!

I had called the pre-hubs one evening for a quick conversation. I didn't have anything too important to say, we just liked chatting almost everyday. Then, right as I am about to let him off the phone, he casually drops an "Oh, by the way, I am coming to Greece. See you in a week!" WTF!! I didn't think he was really going to do it. But a week later, we pull into the port at Ios and there is he was,  my pale Canadian man, standing on the docks. How amazing is that!! 

And don't ya know, he fit right in :)

 And boy oh boy did I need him. He stayed in Greece for 10 days and it was so perfect. The guests on board when he came were being ridiculously difficult to deal with. They were losers, for lack of better words. If he hadn't have come to the islands to see me, I have a feeling I would have gone back home to see him (I guess in some ways it back fired on him, haha). 

As we hopped around the beautiful sun-baked islands, and realized that our first vacation together was a honeymoon dream for most couples. We partied in Ios, known for its looong row of bars. Wine tasted and tooted around in a Smart Car along the cliffs of Santorini. Sunbathed his paleness away in Paros. Took a 4-Wheeler around in Mykonos....and somehow ended up on the nude/gay side of Paradise Beach. Ha. Saw the Lion in Kia and ended the trip on a lovely note in Athens. 

It still amazes me that he came all the way to see little ol' me. I guess he, too, realized that there was something special there. When he went back to Canada, he left me with the strength to deal with those 'characters' on board and confirmed my already sneaking suspicion that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

Part 3, the finale of my Grecian summer coming tomorrow. I'll talk about the crazy guests, my 'living' quarters (Umm, I slept outside), and a short guide to the islands the boat visited.

Happy Hump Day!