Two packers arrived about 7:45 - Giorgo and Sergei - apparently they left the attitude guy in the hotel! They got right to work and started packing up what was left. Ellie arrived and she and Glen set off to town to do the utilities and the banking. First delay - our meter for electricity is locked up in the garage downstairs which is owned by the furniture store - this explains why our bills have been so nutty cause they could never READ the meter. Took over an hour to get the key (the store belongs to a family who own 6-7 furniture stores in town and someone is off on maternity leave so this one has a note on the door saying to phone if a person wants in to see something)!
Glen had gone to special care (after the shoe incident) to label drawers in his dressing room OXI (Greek "no") and the same on a shelf where he had his hanging things and toiletries for the hotel duration. We showed Giorgo - the lead - but apparently Sergei didn't get the memo. Sure enough, I walked back in the bedroom to check something and ALL the clothes had been packed! When I explained, we quickly opened a wardrobe box and I took out all the long sleeved shirts I could find. Now Glen says he has "way too many" long sleeved shirts - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Ellie and Glen came back about 2 and she gave me Glen's passport and things to copy - I put them in his briefcase. He left to return keys. When he got ready to do another errand, he stuck his head in the door and said "where's my passport?" I got it for him but when he left, I panicked! SURE ENOUGH when I got to our bedroom, my chest had already been packed - including the travel wallet where I store our foreign currency, assorted SIM cards and MY passport! We had to unload a box or two before we found it. I'm sure Sergei and Giorgo had quite a discussion on the way back to Athens about the ditzy woman they had just dealt with!
While Glen was gone with his errands, the team arrived from Athens to get Pastor Rick's furniture -- in an extended mini-van. Here's what they were to take:
2 china cabinets approximately 7 'tall
2 Ikea bookshelves 3'wide and 7'tall
1 Ikea bookshelf approx 6'x6'
queen sized hide-a-bed sofa
recliner
round table with glass top
desk chair
long white table used as a desk
queen bed, foundation and 2 extra bed frames plus headboard
queen and double mattress
double wooden bed with headboard, footboard and 6 drawer foundation
chest of drawers with mirror
dresser with mirror
wardrobe
microwave, small refrigerator/freezer, floor fan, 2 space heaters
The expression on these faces was priceless! They took all 3 bookshelves apart into dozens of pieces, loaded the sofa, recliner, fridge and a wall mirror into the van. Anybody with money to invest should put a U-Haul in Greece!
About 3 o'clock, the guys finished packing. Then the fun began. They used a common contraption in this country - strapped it onto our balcony, plugged it in and away they went. I watched in awe as Giorgo tossed boxes up on this platform and then pushed a button to lower them directly into Sergei's arms where he put them on the truck. Nearly all the first boxes marked "fragile" had been packed by the "other guy." WHEW!
They drove away about 4 - Glen had a conference call with his bosses and the guys at the base - which he had to take in our bedroom. When it finished, he set off to get us some lunch! We sat down to eat our gyros at 4 p.m. sharp!
Around 5, our Greek "kid" Nikos arrived with his team to take the washer, dryer and oven. When they finished, we started trying to get things ready for the hotel. Bless my husband's heart, he made countless trips up and down those stairs, hauling all the loot that we need for however long we'll stay here. We finally got the car loaded and I swept and mopped lots of rooms - then took off for the hotel.
Our room is ample though it looked very small when we first began! We put the suitcases out on the huge covered balcony and tried to push and shove our belongings into the tiny drawer and shelves. They just don't make Greek hotels for long term living - but we're pleased with the hotel and the quality of people at the reservation desk.
We were tired from all the physical activity - much too tired to drive somewhere for dinner. So we went to the hotel restaurant. Glen's grilled veggies in balsamic sauce with rice was so yummy that we asked if it were available every day - it IS!
We staggered up to our room close to 10 p.m. - a LOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooong day! But we're almost out - and we ARE settled here.
Don't quit praying - now the fun begins!
Much love - M
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