 |
| Reminds me of a little island in Korea I used to know. |
Perhaps the most interesting part of Rhodes was the journey. Silly Poseidon lost his trident and was making a big fuss over it so there was a five hour delay before seas calmed down and the ferry actually started sailing. I recall it wasn't much of a bother since the ferry was quite pleasant. Blue Star Ferries will take you to Rhodes from Piraeus port, a 1 euro trip from Athens. Trusty Companion and I were eager so we arrived at the port some four hours before the departure time (anticipating a nearby cafe/shopping mall/Disneyland). Do not do this. There is only one building you can take shelter/hang out and it looks like this inside.
 |
| The only travellers. |
Perhaps we should have gone straight to the ship to board, because by the time we got there all the best couches were taken so we took the chairs instead. It is a 15 hour sail and there are lots of things to do, like DRINKING GREEK COFFEE. 1.50 euro per cup. You'll probably be distracted by what's going on in the ferry for a couple of hours (bars, shops etc) but it's up to you to amuse yourself with your own form of entertainment for the rest of the journey, so bring knitting or something.
 |
| We played Hide and Seek. |
Trusty Companion and I took a taxi from the port to a very quiet part of Rhodes - a small town called Kremasti, which, we found out later, was very far from the general tourist hubbub of the Island. Once again, we got the feeling we were the only two people there, but by this time the sensation was familiar and we decided to embrace it. There was a beach in front of the hotel so screw winter imma gonna wear shorts and swim.
 |
| It's like spring! |
 |
| Oohoohoo! |
 |
| Le foot on le beach! |
It was flipping freezing. I thought I left half my limbs in the sea, I couldn't feel them. It started raining later in the afternoon so by the time we were back at the hotel Trusty Companion and I were like two soaked rats clad in runny black mascara. I'd love to share a picture of this but I have an image to maintain. Isn't it strange how such disasters replay rather fondly in your mind?
Rhodes, like the rest of Greece, has its fair portion of rich ancient history. Had we had enough money to pay for taxis we would have had the grand tour and watched centuries of history move before us. (Oh yes, another reason to avoid Rhodes in the winter - no public transport.) We missed out on ancient castles, the Acropolis of Lindos, ruins, and temples... Rhodes is a place I have unfinished business with. I'll be back. Here is just a taste of what Old Town is like.
 |
| The entrance to Old Town. |
 |
| Greek-looking place with Greek-looking walls and... round rocks... in a pyramid... hmm why do I never read the information plaques? |
Old Town has an active nightlife so be sure to stick around until the sun sets for a real Greek ParTay.
Honourable mention: Canton Chinese Restaurant (1b Kremastis Avenue, Rhodes Town) - I don't remember the specifics on food but the staff there are super friendly, and the Vietnamese waitress was one of the prettiest waitresses I have ever seen. Dinner is dear but since money wasn't spent anywhere else we could enjoy ourselves for the night (then weep when we found out we couldn't afford the taxi to Lindos Castle the next day). I don't have a picture of the restaurant but maybe the Sherlock Holmes out there can figure out where it is with this one and only picture I have.
 |
| Customary fortune cookie. "Happiness is before you, not after you" :D |
However, once again, I beg of you, go in the summer, since winter is a period of deep hibernation for Greece. Most of our time was spent in the hotel being entertained by our own creativity, such as making hats out of hotel towels, filming videos of drunken blabber, cursing tempermental hotel Wifi, dancing to Danza Kuduro, and in-depth girl talks. Hopefully I'll be here again in the summer sometime, when shops are open, bars are open, restaurants are open, people on the street and neighbours at the hotel.
 |
| And water in the swimming pool. |
