Under the Grecian Sun, Part 3 (and last)

Before I wrap up my (long winded) story about my adventures in Greece, I want to give you a quick reminder about the "Storytellers Blog Hop" happening this Friday and Saturday (Feb 25th & 26th). 

I've been wanting to host a unique blog hop for some time now, one that caters to blogs that tell stories, and have real content. It doesn't matter whether those stories are fact or fiction, told with words or pictures, consist of ramblings or thought out chapters, are lighthearted or serious. The hop is specialized for these kinds of blogs, and those sites only. No advertising, give away, review or coupon sites. Just real blogs from real people.

There are no rules, no 'follow' musts, just a chance to read some new and interesting blogs. I hope to see you all tomorrow for the hop!

Under the Grecian Sun, Part 3 

(Part 1 and Part 2, if you are so inclined:))

I can't come down on all the guests and say that every single one of them were difficult. Some of them were really pleasant and wonderful to be around. They made my job enjoyable. I was lucky to have an easy-going group the first trip and the last trip I directed. It bookended the job in a positive light. But those middle few trips were, well, interesting.

And it doesn't take much time for the one or two bad apples to start spoiling the bunch. Without going into too much detail, because I definitely could, I'll give you a couple of these 'interesting' situations. One group that sailed the high seas were in their 80s. I have nothing against that, but they were definitely not fit to be doing what we were doing. Plus, they liked to talk about their bowel movements, or rather, lack there of. Oh, and the one witch of a lady told me that I cut bananas too loud in the mornings (???) and that maybe one day I would learn to do it correctly. What a sweet woman...

Another larger group (there were actually about 50 from the same group in this one flotilla) were just strange. They thought it was soooo funny to snap their fingers at me. Something that was a joke, but got old real fast. I also had to deal with drunk marital fighting between one of the couples. The husband would just leave, go off for hours alone, and I found the wife crying in restaurant bathrooms a number of times. Didn't know marriage counselor was on my job duties as well. Not judging though, I know fights happen. Just awkward.

Another group, spurred by the bad apple on board, riled themselves up and waited for one of the crew members to come back to the boat that evening. Lucky me, I was first to return. They jumped all over me, furious about something as little as what time we were leaving the next day (a few hours later because of a storm). Like I had anything to do with that! Weirdos.

Another small group, who was chartering their own bare bottom boat, complained about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING the moment they got to the Athens harbor. One of the ladies, while trying to board their boat, fell into the water at the Athens harbor. I cannot even describe how disgusting and filthy the water in a big port like that is. I don't want to be as evil as to say it served her right, but.... :) Somehow or another, they ended up being charmed over by the end of the trip.

Nahhh, but even with these groups, they couldn't ruin the beauty of the islands. Here is a quick run down of the all the islands in the two week trip. 

 
Athens - the start and finish of the trip. Nothing to behold at the harbor, but anyone who has visited Athens will know what an impression the city can make.

Aegina - the first of the islands, and closest to Athens. Aegina is known for its pistachios (so good!) and for the Temple of Aphaia, one of the few temples left with a second story of columns still intact.

Poros - breathtaking harbor to sail into, the hillside of Poros is dotted with colorful houses that shine in the sunset. We would wind our way up hundreds of steps to the clock tower for a view of the whole island and port.

Hydra - my favorite and the most beautiful island in the chain. No cars are allowed on hydra, only donkeys! The scenery looks like its straight from a Disney movie.  I would get 'lost' for hours wandering the island.

Milos/Kleftiko - ever heard of the Venus de Milo?! It was found in the early 1800 by a farmer. The statue was hidden for centuries in a buried cave. And Kleftiko is Greece scenery at its finest. Tall pillars of withered stone raise from shallow, crystal waters, which make for a memorable snorkeling afternoon.

Ios - known for its wild nightlife, with over 100 bars in a single, narrow street, Ios never failed to disappoint the partyers in the group. It is also the alleged birthplace of Homer, the ancient mythological bard. Us crew would get a much needed day off in Ios, and I even found a group of people to regularly play beach volleyball with every week. 

Santorini - from Ios, guests would take a ferry to the absolutely beautiful and iconic island of Santorini. The famous caldera is a sight to behold; it is rumored to be the lost city of Atlantis, ya know! If you just go for the sunsets, you will be impressed. The sun melts into the most beautiful colors, and sinks into the glowing horizon and makes you feel as if you are standing at the edge of the earth. It took my breath away every time.

Paros - sun drenched, hot and known for world class wind surfing. The island of Paros also has the beautiful "Church of 99 Doors" a quiet respite from the other hustle and bustle islands.

Mykonos - I can't tell you how much I love Mykonos. Great beaches, world class shopping and fashion, wild nightlife as well as a hopping gay scene, this island has it all. We rented a 4-Wheeler and scooted around the island easily that way. And be sure to watch out for the gargantuan pink Pelicans and iconic windmills.

Kea - the last stop of the trip and by far the quietest island. We would hike for about an hour up into these ancient farming fields. Every single piece of land here is terraced, some of it new work and some of it thousands of years old. A Petrified Lion awaits you at the end of the hike, and I don't think anyone is still sure why it is there in the middle of no where. 

I guess that just about sums up everything. Greece will always be in my heart (and the thought of the delicious food making my stomach rumble). Thanks to that awesome opportunity, I will never forget the beauty of the Aegean islands.

If you are interested in learning more about this fabulous trip, visit Poseidon Charters for further details! You won't be disappointed.

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!

Under the Grecian Sun, Part 1

I'm going to be honest with ya'll, there is nothing new to report here. It's still snowing, it's laundry day, I had class this morning, blah, blah, blah.

So, in honor of the upcoming "Storytellers Blog Hop" I thought I would share with you a memory that is close to my heart. A trip of a lifetime, if you will. It is about my two summers spent basking in the Grecian sun. That, and I am hoping a story about hot summers will jump start warm weather here. Hey, it's worth a shot!

Here is part one of a three (maybe two, can I fit it all?) part story. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into the past (cue eerie music and Wayne and Garth frantically waving their hands into a dream sequence "dilttilido, dilttilido, dilttilido")

Grecian Adventure, Part 1:

Looking back 5 years ago, it is hard to imagine how my life turned out the way it has. That was back in the days when I knew nothing about hockey, Canada, or even how to pronounce Saskatchewan. Still kinda don't :)

There were only a few months left in my last semester as a college student. And they lazily drifted by. I had just enough credits to keep my scholarship, but all the work was already behind me. Needless to say, I had a great time really making the most out of my last year at that university. 

Talk about 'bright' futures :)

It was about this time of the year when most of the seniors started planning their trip-of-a-lifetime-before-a-lifetime-of-work extravaganza. Some planned to visit South America, others wanted something more local, maybe a summer in New York, but the majority of us kids (like it was soooo long ago, lol) wanted to see Europe. Whether we had planned to backpack and hostel or proper hotel it up, we were determined to have one last fling before the big girl world took this open opportunity and freedom away.

While others thought about how many countries they could see in a month's time, I had only one place in mind: Greece. 

 

Since my first semester at that liberal arts university, I had fallen in love with Classical Studies. I am sure my parents weren't too thrilled when I told them I had switched my major from Biology to Classics.  But hey, that is what they get for sending me to a hippie dippie liberal arts school :) There was something that I found so mesmerizing about Ancient Greece and Rome. Between the mythology lectures, ancient life courses, and intensive classes in Greek religion, I was engulfed by the past. And I just knew I had to see the ancient ruins in the birthplace of civilization. 

My boyfriend at the time was also planning a trip to Europe. He wanted to start his way down in Greece or Italy and work up to northern Europe; a six week trip to see it all. Perfect, I thought, I will see if we can maybe backpack together in Greece and go our separate ways from there. He shot that down as fast as I could get the idea out. Great guy or what? Blech.

So, I called my mom, obviously a little upset that this guy I had been dating for a while now would not 'let me' tag along with him. Like I was a puppy dog or something. But little did I know, that he did me a huge favor. Because of how he reacted, my mom basically told me to screw him - of course in nicer words than that - and take my own trip to Greece as a graduation present. I couldn't believe that she had suggested that! I mean, I realized that I was technically an adult at this point, but still, me, the only child, going to a foreign country...by myself! If that guy hadn't been such a douche, I would have never gotten that chance.

The planning and booking happened all so quickly. I narrowed my trip down to one week in Athens and surrounding area, and two weeks aboard a 80 foot sail boat around the Greek islands. It was a crewed trip, and had other guests on board, that way, I wouldn't be alone the entire time. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made. 

I was completely awestruck at the Acropolis, could not believe that I could actually touch the Parthenon. I spent a day out in Mycenea, wandering the ancient ruins. I knew it all, like I had been there before. I discovered the modern day quality of the acoustics at the Epidaurus Theater. I walked the Agora and the Stoa, wandering about what conversations took place here 3000 years ago. I was in heaven just wandering around the old stones.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I boarded the sail boat for a trip of a lifetime. The other passengers, just 10 of us on a boat, and the crew were amazing. They made the trip great as much as the islands did. We hopped to 12 islands in two weeks time. They were big and small, loud and quiet, and all spectacular.

I could go on for days about how amazing the Cyclades are. I will never forget those islands. 

By the end of the trip, I felt that I had had enough sight seeing time before I had to start looking for jobs and working my life away. I took my experiences with me back to San Antonio and started 'normal' life up there again. I had such a great time with the the Aussie girls working the boat and the travel company director, who was Canadian, that we all stayed in touch over email that fall and winter.

Then in the spring, I received some of the best and most exciting news ever. The director wanted to know if I would like to come back to Greece and be a program director on the sail boats for May, June and July! How could I say no to such a wonderful opportunity like that?! Not everyone gets to live the island life and get paid doing so. I took the offer almost immediately and was thrilled.....except for one little thing.

Did I mention I got the job offer the same week I met the future hubs?? Talk about timing :)

Second part of my Grecian Adventure coming tomorrow. Have a great Tuesday!