Reality sets in

It has hit me: I am in the Mediterranean! It is amazing! The first week was a blur, I had my heart set on Alaska and the Med was second choice. Now that I am here I can’t believe how silly I was to not be insanely over excited!
We barely spent any time in Spain, just Mallorca and Menorca Islands then to France. Villafranche is adorable! It is a fairy tale setting. History says they built the village with meandering zig zaggy streets to confuse pirates. Cool. Just few days in Italy, towns I have never heard of, Iperia, Oneglia, Menton (that might be France- the borders are fuzzy). the chef Venetia and I took a day trip to Monaco, soooo cool! Just days before the Monaco Grande Prix, so the country was hopping! Three countries in one day, via train.
Now we are on the Island of Corsica, France- more pirate stories! And lots of history about how all the Med countries wanted Corsica. A few days in beach resort Calvi, and now 5 days in Bonifacio, the southern tip of the Island. Every stop is better than the last; so far my favorite is Bonifacio! Today I hiked following the coastal cliffs, to see how far I could get: I got very far and sunburned and windblown. I passed two light houses, lots of historical ruins, and found a desert beach, weather sculpted and wild. I climbed all over and got good and sandy! I had sand in the corners of my eyes and my molars. It was an ideal day.
And I am working, but the great owners know I need time off to see and play.
My usual work day:
· up to serve breakfast by 7:30 am and tidy salon/ day use area
· service to rooms as guests rise, aka: beds and heads
· lunch for me @ 12:00
· laundry /ironing
· set up for dinner
· usually a nice break between 3pm-6pm, and clean myself up for dinner service
· dinner served around 7pm/8:30
· off by 10pm

The guests and owners are usually away most of the day sightseeing, which is great for me to have them out of my way. Often the Mrs. has fun errands for me to do in my work day if we are in a marina, like look for new table center pieces/flowers, find out the village’s culinary specialties, and see which restaurant has the cutest waiters (true). Bad days are when the owners/guests lack the energy to go out and look to me for entertaining. So far everyone on the boat has been lovely, making my worst day at work better than most. In Menorca the Mrs. wanted me to go shopping with her, all day walking around the charming island village buying pastries and flowers- life is cruel.
If we are “underway”, cruising from place to place in the boat, we have light snacks and I watch movies, take a nap, or stand at the helm if the Captain wants to watch a movie or take a nap. And I get run around the deck securing lines when we dock or anchor.
In two days we go to Sardinia, Italy. About 6 weeks spent in Italy. Then, almost 2 months in Greece. I landed in a great situation; this is going to be an incredible summer.