Daniels Down The Isle

June 21,2016

Wedding Day!!!

Who would know the hair had to withstand a donkey

The morning begins early, as the ship is due to dock at 1:00. Debbie has secured #1 tender tickets through the Diamond Club so everyone will get to the event as soon as possible. The Brides Crew all is dressing in Debbie’s Junior Suite. Lilly is busy doing everyone’s hair and Sarah everyone’s makeup. The place is a buzz for the next 4 hours. We arrive early into Santorini and they tenders are an hour early!!! We barely make our assigned tender only to find ourselves at the top of the mountain 1.5 hours before our transportation. It is 100 degrees outside! Some how we manage to all be on the same tender and keep the Bride and Groom apart. The bride waits the next 1.5 hours in a Jewelry shop and the groom under a covered awning near the cable cars. Everyone take the opportunity to shop and explore a bit in our Bridal attire!

Ready to go!

Here comes the Bride

The bride arrives and the bridal party, Lilly and Debbie are taken to the wedding planners office to dress the bride in 20 minutes. She was otherwise ready so we manage to get this done in a nick of time. The others are taken to the wedding location where everything is set up. It is very hot on white marble with a mild breeze. The bride arrives separately. The spectacular setting is perfect. Everyone is in their place and the fun begins. Becky’s Uncle walks her down the aisle to her smiling groom and his crew- all in sunglasses. The vows are in Greek and English and it is perfect. Tears a bound and its time for Greek music and photos. Champagne and cheers are plentiful during pictures.

While the bride and groom head out for island photos the guests go to Pyrogos winery for fantastic never ending foot and cocktails. Cheese pies, meatballs, sausage, chicken pies, and more. Everyone is dehydrated and begins to try to compensate with every imaginable beverage. The bride and groom arrive and dinner is now served- chicken, lamb or risotto and everyone approves. Speeches by the parents, Brian, and a reading by Sarah again bring tears. Michelle and Megan sing “A Whole New World” and everyone claps. Dancing and cake and back to the boat. The last tender is 9pm. They pick us up at 7:55 assuring us we can catch the cable car in time.

When we arrive at the cable cars the line is longer than would ever allow us to make the ship!! There is NO way! That gives us only two other choices. Donkeys, or walking down the pooped 500 stairs!! The group’s splits and those who can go ahead and warn them we are coming move ahead. I was at the back of the pack so my story occurs there.

Oh Yeah!!!

Justin negotiates Donkeys for 11 people- 55 Euros. They were pretty much done for the day and the Greek men were not too happy about our business but agree. My group included Nana, Debbie, Justin, Brenda, and Becky. In our formal wedding attire we climb aboard our Donkeys. The man was very kind to help poor Nana who is sliding around and asking him to please slow down and saying, “I don’t think I can do this!” Debbie is trying to reassure everyone and remind them to relax and lean back. Justin is taking it all in and Brenda is laughing the entire way down saying she was wanting to do it all along. Becky is quieter than the first time as a child she rode up but she is still telling that donkey to stay away from the side. We were quite a site. People were congratulating and cheering the whole way.

Dance!!

We arrive at the tender and were the final 5 on the vessel to get back to the ship- it was 9:10. Exhausted, dirty, and full of stories we have a laugh. A very beautiful and special day topped off with a special memory despite the smell of donkeys on everyones formal clothes! What a day!

Excuse all typos- this author is tired!