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| ...Atop
one especially shallow expanse of steep steps, the check
- in desk for our hotel, DANA - VILLAS, appeared as an oasis
of air - conditioned calm. We collapsed in the small office,
soaked in sweat. In the process of checking us into our
rooms, the desk clerk, Dimitri, let slip that the hotel
itself
has been the site of dozens of wedding ceremonies. |
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Snapshots
from several of these events stood in a loose pile at the
bar by the pool. Then we saw the view from the tile porch
attached to our room, and the seed of an idea began to take
shape: instead of us going to city hall to meet John, (the
major), would John come to us? Lisa lunged for the phone.
John, always agreeable, said yes without lusitation. Another
phone call to Dimitri at the front desk secured a bouquet
of yellow roses and matching lapel pin. Hotel employees
treat you kindly when you elope.
It's one of the perks...
...A rap on the door revealed John, briefcase in tow, now dressed
in a sharp suit and wraparound shades. We recruited
a hotel employee to serve the dual role of witness and photographer,
rearranged the chairs on our deck to maximize our backdrop,
and got married.
The ceremony was short and literally sweet - the prepared
vows were especially touching. John was a pro; though he'd
performed this ritual many times before, nothing felt perfunctory.
A small crowd of fellow hotel - drellers, who gathered by the
pool to view our ceremony from below, erupted in applause
when we kissed...more |
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