“All the memories, filling the cupboards of the mind, of so much travel time, during holidays, now gone by” Gun Roswell
Reflections of a holiday gone by
The warm weather on a sunny day Under the parasol the traveler lay Wondering about nothing at all As this time, was reserved, for a ball
A long lasting party on the beach Food and drinks just, at reach Laughter and rhythmic music The one and only constant
As running in a movie like slow motion On the sandy beach without commotion Life simple and totally carefree Blue seas and skies forever to see
Nothing coming close to perfection As looking back at the reflection Of a holiday well spent in the past But alas, it was never meant, to last
Oh well, maybe will come, some other time There will be an opportunity for something so fine When the option of just trying to unwind Under the perfect palm tree, with a wide smile
“When the working days get to be too much, it is time for some travel, well, at least virtual travel” Gun Roswell
Travel Time (virtually so)
The old snap shots of the days spent in the sun When time stalled and we all had so much fun The memories might be bigger and much brighter Than the actual time spent days poolside none the wiser Of things yet to follow in our near future Where not only the body but also the mind, needed a few sutures Despite the four walls us having confined Deep down in the minds, travelling far behind this daily grind Taking the moments to lift the torments And dwelling in those fun times where all was till fine Might seem frivolous to some, but pardon the pun There so much the imagination can do If you only believe and then choose yourself in the memory to loose And to set aside all the bad feelings in this times and try to find That this type of travel the virtual kind, can be almost as much fun As the real thing, almost, as it is only there, in your own mind
Greeks that are really drunk aren’t “wasted”…they are “pie” (πἰτα)
The Sunset
Time to calm down and watch the sunset beyond the horizon.
The sun is finally setting It is the time of forgetting Settling in for the night No time for fright or flight Gently lulling to sleep Into the thoughts deep Before waking to a new day Ready for come what ever may
“And if you make it on a bleak day, a freak day, a week day While you can be her guest But never, never on a Sunday, a Sunday The one day she’s got to get her rest”
Sunday
Never ever on a Sunday That is my fun day After all, I am on a holiday This is my day of rest Which suits me the best
Don’t know about the rest of you But I totally feel like a chosen few Spending my time, pools side Without a care and worry of the world Like into another dimension I am hurled
A Greek isn’t just “very busy”…she’s “running without arriving” (τρἐχει και δεν φτἀνει)
The Arrival
Airport:
The flight was right on time and we landed on the Diagoras aeroport. The bus whisked us to the terminal, where the bags soon arrived without any hassle. The aeroport itself is very small, but comfortable. Not too much traffic, but just enough. Thinking ahead and wanting the brief vacation to run as smoothly as possible, we had spent the extra cost and reserved a private ride to the hotel.
Hotel:
Since we arrived at the hotel earlier than check out time (2 PM local time by default) we had to wait a few hours before settling in. The hotel itself, Amathus Elite Suites, Rhodes, was the option for us, simply because of the facilities and services offered: private pool and spa and of course the location: the north side of the island due to it’s cooling breeze.
At the hotel, the welcome was excellent and warm. And during our lengthened wait for our room to be ready (some three hours in the end) we were well taken care of: with coffee, fruits, juice and pastries and sweets and most importantly, free WI-FI!
After a quick tour around the complimentary services, we finally arrived in our suite. And of course, the pièce de résistance, the private swimming pool! Awaiting on ice: Sparkly wine and fruits. Now it was time to shed off the travel clothes and dip into the turquoise pool!
“in Greece, a place isn’t “really far away”…it’s “by the devil’s mother” (στου διαὀλου την μἀνα)“
Lift Off
Flying through the air On the wings of Finnair Keeping on smiling As the beautiful island Of the Goddesses and Gods Hoping to beat the odds And have a great vacation
The day was Saturday and the first day of this year’s short vacation time (a full week for this year ;P). So as you can imagine, the time was precious and not a second of it could be wasted.
Wake up call at four am and arrival scheduled for 06.00 at the aeroport. No later than that to avoid having to run through the baggage drop (yes we were too lazy to drive there the night before and drop them off, which by the way, is an great option to do to avoid the morning hassle).
So after three hours of “sleep”, it was time to get up, shower, shoes and shove off. But, as Mr Murphy would have it, things never go as planned.
The taxi driver got lost and was delayed. He also was new at his job and apparently did not know the gas pedal was supposed to be used for faster speed of the vehicle. Luckily we arrived non too delayed for the original planned time and thanks to Finnair <finnair.com> they have a very organized and smoothly running operation at the airport. Therefore the baggage check, security check and the loading of the aeroplane ran as clockwork.
Although, a few minutes were lost on what we now call the “lighter incident”. Due to a simple error of carrying not one, but two lighters in the carry on bag, and thanks to a very anal security officer, one of the carry on bags was tossed over. After a few words and getting rid of the offensive lighter, we finally got through to the other side.
The gate was not far away, but unfortunately even if you are organized and briskly walking trying to get to your goal, some of the other passengers are not. They tend to stop abruptly without any visible reason in the middle of the passage way and if you are lucky, you won’t collide. After a few swear words later and quick maneuvering, the gate was reached with a few minutes to spare before boarding.
The plane ride was nice and easy, despite the scheduled four hour flight. The Finnair crew was generally in good spirits and customer orientated. Of course there are always a few rotten apples, who are waiting for retirement and just counting the days until when it all ends… Luckily we had reserved seats beforehand and had a nice comfy setup and the flight attendant checked up on us every now and again. After eating a small breakfast and some onboard shopping, there was also time to record a few memories on the smart phone.
“A Greek doesn’t say “I have no idea what’s going on”…she says “I’ve lost my eggs and baskets” (ἐχω χἀσει τα αυγἀ και τα καλἀθια)“
Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island
Rhodes, the largest of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, is known for its beach resorts, ancient ruins and structural remnants of its crusades-era occupation by the Knights of St. John. Rhodes City features the medieval Street of the Knights and the castle like Palace of the Grand Masters, once a Turkish prison and now a museum. The city’s bars, clubs and cafes bustle during high season.
Come and join me on this journey in a five part post session and reminisce the trip together to the gorgeous island of Rhodes, Greece, where the nature is lush and the sun shines all year around. Where you can do both “touristy” stuff or simply relax by the pool or the ocean. Or then, if you are like me, take photographs and write a blog 😉
Rantings Of A Third Kind 