My little Greek holiday parable
Thank gods I am now five star
some accommodation in Athens ... and I can tell you it wasn’t on a traffic island!
It might have taken 40 years – but I’m going to be the dude sipping the orange juice at the poolside.
And there’s GOT to be a parable in there somewhere!
That same trip, we booked a ferry from Piraeus – the port of Athens – to the island of Mykonos.
The ticket office poster advised us there were first, second, and third- class tickets – and we jokingly asked if there was a ‘ fourth’ class.
“Yes” he said “There is a class for livestock – goats, cattle and sheep”.
Using my PHD in Greek agriculture, I deduced that animals only went from the islands to the mainland – and never the other way around.
So we booked three cattleclass tickets – and found ourselves on a shady deck with acres of room and even hoses – normally used to sluice out the animal pens – to give ourselves and our clothes a good wash.
The three passenger packed decks above us looked down in disgust.
Then a Greek ship’s officer appeared and asked what we were doing in the cattle pens. We got chatting – and told him our stories.
He disappeared, only to return minutes later with an invitation ... to join the captain ... on the bridge.
We smartened up as best we could – and were soon mingling with the white uniforms of the officers on board. Wine, bread and olives were served.
The captain explained that he learned his seamanship at the old Glasgow Nautical College.
He loved the city – and told how kind- hearted Scots looked after him in his student days.
He wanted to return the favour.
To sum up, we set sail in cattle class with the world looking down on us ... and arrived on the bridge ... with the world looking up at us!
There’s GOT to be a parable in there somewhere as well.
But hey, just make up any parable you wish.
And let me wish you the happy holiday YOU deserve!