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Published: September 5th 2014
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There were 27 of us on the bus this morning to go to the wedding. Or was it 25? People were counting but no one seemed to know for sure how many were meant to be there. And so started Laura and Paz' wedding day. We'd turned up not knowing what to expect and after being told by Paz what the day entailed, went back to our hotel to get swimming stuff and towels.
The bus of guests and the groom pulled up on a beach outside Kardemena where an makeshift arch and aisle were already prepared, all in the full sun. There were a few sunbathers nearby including a topless elderly German woman who all got up to watch, but the wedding photographer was able to keep them all out of shot.
Laura turned up on a horse called Christine that her Dad was tentatively leading. She (Laura) looked wonderful in a lovely ivory wedding dress and Christine brushed pretty good too. The arrival on a horse was an idea she only had a day ago after checking out the local stables and being assured that the horses were in good condition, there are plans to go riding
in the sea tomorrow, so some good photos ops!
The ceremony was part English part Greek and the guy who did the marrying had a microphone and small speaker. Paz was addressed as so and not his real name, although they did have to use real names at the boring paper signing bit back in the UK before they left. After the ceremony, the couple quickly doused each other in sunscreen as both were beginning to burn.
Afterwards, the bus dropped us off by a Carrefour and so the entire wedding ensemble had to walk through the main part of town to the seafront. Laura in her wedding dress was the only clue that it was a wedding party, the rest of us, including the groom were in summer holiday gear, although some of us did attempt to wear make up in the sweltering heat. After carrying it all around Turkey I was determined to put some on but in that heat it's not easy - it baffles me to see women in full make up when in hot countries, with me it generally melts down my face.
Of all the boats in Kos, the one that
Laura and Paz were upgraded to was a pirate ship. Of course - the lady who organised the wedding had come to know them very quickly. It was a good sized boat and we trundled along the coastline to the south of the island where the boat weighed anchor. This is where many of the guests and an inflatable flying unicorn called Nigel all got into the sea; some climbed down the ladder, some jumped and many belly flopped in. A few of the guests and family members tried to mount Nigel but he wasn't having any of it and bucked off those who managed to sit on him. It provided a lot of entertainment for all those watching - Nigel isn't meant to carry passengers more than 40kg.
There was a barbecue onboard after which we set sail again and eventually turned back, arriving in Kardemena at around 4.20 after what must have been around 3.5 to 4 hours out to sea. The bus took us back to the Norida Hotel when the bride, groom and majority of guests were staying. We all quickly got showered and were back on the bus for 5.30 ish.
The plan
was to go to a restaurant the Laura and Paz had stumbled upon when they were in Kos a few years ago. But we drove past that.... ooops... and ended up in a village called Zia where we were booked in the wrong restaurant. But what a great place it was, on a terrace with an amazing view down the mountain, across the land and out to sea. After the sunset we were served a really amazing Greek meal.
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