(guest. post by Latoicha Givens)
As long as your heart is open, there is always the possibility of love. And a beautiful love is what I found on a yacht sailing the Mediterranean four years ago with Sun Fun You Mediterranean Voyages.
I have had the immense privilege of sailing with Sun Fun You on two occasions. The first time I took a voyage with the company was in 2015 with a close friend. The next year I was able to sail again with Sun Fun You with my boyfriend. After being single for 7 years, I was finally in a serious relationship with someone I loved dearly. We had been dating seriously for 6 months and I thought taking a luxury vacation with him would be amazing. My boyfriend was also a single parent like me and owned his own business. He never got a chance to just travel and relax without kids. I invited him so we could truly disconnect, enjoy each other and of course the Sun Fun You experience.
The Sun Fun You experience is truly a 5 star experience. More importantly, Sun Fun You is all about giving their guests the ultimate health, wellness and adventure vacation. The experience is good for your mental health (relaxation and fun), physical health (hikes and exercise) and wellness (organic meals, rest and relaxation). Your voyage includes a personal chef that provides all organic and delicious Mediterranean meals and libations. The Voyage also includes a personal fitness coach offering yoga, strength and various cardio exercises outside on the deck overlooking the clear blue Mediterranean Sea. Dips in the ocean, sightseeing excursions and hikes on the various Greek Islands are also included. Guests get to learn the history of each island, taste the local cuisine and enjoy various bars, lounges and clubs.
As you can imagine, sailing the Mediterranean Sea with someone you love is a once in a lifetime experience. We were able to really get to know each other on the trip. While sailing and lounging on the deck, we talked about our childhood and our hopes and dreams. We fell asleep taking luxurious naps in each other's arms. My favorite part of the day was enjoying an evening cocktail on the deck watching the sun set with my boyfriend. Those sunset moments made me fall more in love with him each day. At the time, I didn't know it, but apparently my boyfriend had been feeling the same way and he planned a little surprise for me.
The day before our last day sailing with Sun Fun You, we visited the island of Kalimnos to hike the infamous Italian Road to Vathis Cove. This hike was going to be a challenge but we were up for the adventure. Imagine hiking 7 miles up and across a mountain and the path is paved with hard stone from the days of Jesus! LOL! I struggled on this hike! When we reached the peak, I nearly passed out. But the views from this peak are stunning.
It was worth all the fatigue.
Before I made it back down the mountain to Vathis Cove, I slipped and fell on a hard stone. Needless to say, the day had been a real challenge for me. So when we made it back to the yacht, I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was sleep, but there was going to be a party to celebrate the end of the Voyage that night. So I dressed as cute as I could for dinner, cocktails and a party. And I'm glad I did. As we were having an amazing dinner on the deck with the light of the full moon, we were all going around the table sharing a significant moment in our life that changed our lives forever. My boyfriend was next to share his story. He began the story talking about the challenges he faced in his life and how all of those challenges led to me. He said meeting me changed his life and he found a true life partnership with me. As he was giving his speech he dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him in front of the other guests and crew.
The moment is captured in this video, right around the 50 second mark.
I was completely surprised and stunned. I didn't see it coming but it was absolutely one of the best moments of my life. Little did I know that he had planned to propose to me at the mountain's peak earlier that day, but as I was hallucinating from heat fatigue, he didn't think it was a good idea. LOL!
Of course I said yes! The crew then celebrated our engagement with champagne, shots of Turkish liquor and dessert! We had music, dancing and loads of fun! A beautiful proposal on a beautiful night and then a celebration....while on the Mediterranean Sea. Priceless.
I truly believe our vacation sailing the Mediterranean Sea with Sun Fun You solidified our love for each other. As a result, we got engaged and now have been married for 4 years. I found love with Sun Fun You. I encourage anyone to take a Sun Fun You vacation...you are likely to find love too!
Toodles!