<strong>50-year romance: </strong>American tourist Sura Crutch spent a whirlwind five days with Greek local Haris Sevastopoulos in Athens in the summer of 1971. Fast forward to today, and they've been together for five decades.
50-year romance: American tourist Sura Crutch spent a whirlwind five days with Greek local Haris Sevastopoulos in Athens in the summer of 1971. Fast forward to today, and they've been together for five decades.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos/Getty/Leah Abucayan
<strong>Having fun:</strong> Sura was traveling around Europe post college when she met Haris in Greece. "We were just having fun together," says Sura. "We had the same sense of humor, so we could play in the water and crack jokes and have fun."
Having fun: Sura was traveling around Europe post college when she met Haris in Greece. "We were just having fun together," says Sura. "We had the same sense of humor, so we could play in the water and crack jokes and have fun."
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Perfect holiday: </strong>Sura also fell in love with Greece. "It was a whole different world for me, which had changed everything in me," she says.
Perfect holiday: Sura also fell in love with Greece. "It was a whole different world for me, which had changed everything in me," she says.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Holiday fling: </strong>Neither Haris or Sura saw their relationship as serious. They parted ways at the end of the summer and Sura went back to the US.
Holiday fling: Neither Haris or Sura saw their relationship as serious. They parted ways at the end of the summer and Sura went back to the US.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Pen pals: </strong>But the two ended up writing letters to one another. For the next three years, they were pen pals. The result, say Haris, was they became "true friends."
Pen pals: But the two ended up writing letters to one another. For the next three years, they were pen pals. The result, say Haris, was they became "true friends."
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Moving across the world: </strong>They were reunited in Greece in 1974, and decided to get married. Haris moved to the US to be with Sura that September. Here's a photo of the moment they were reunited at the airport.
Moving across the world: They were reunited in Greece in 1974, and decided to get married. Haris moved to the US to be with Sura that September. Here's a photo of the moment they were reunited at the airport.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Wedding day:</strong> Sura and Haris got married that November in Sura's home city of Cleveland, Ohio.
Wedding day: Sura and Haris got married that November in Sura's home city of Cleveland, Ohio.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Wedding celebrations:</strong> Sura and Haris had an interfaith wedding, incorporating English, Hebrew, and Greek.
Wedding celebrations: Sura and Haris had an interfaith wedding, incorporating English, Hebrew, and Greek.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>New chapter:</strong> The couple were delighted to be together, but it took them some time to settle into married life.
New chapter: The couple were delighted to be together, but it took them some time to settle into married life.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>Continuing the festivities: </strong>They had a second wedding ceremony in Greece a few years later, and also welcomed two children.
Continuing the festivities: They had a second wedding ceremony in Greece a few years later, and also welcomed two children.
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos
<strong>50 years later:</strong> It's been over 50 years since Sura and Haris first met in Greece. The key to happiness, says Sura, is "not giving up," and continuing to "believe that your love is worth something."
50 years later: It's been over 50 years since Sura and Haris first met in Greece. The key to happiness, says Sura, is "not giving up," and continuing to "believe that your love is worth something."
Courtesy Sura Sevastopoulos