Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 14 (TBT)

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Poetry, photography, tales and things that nature!

“You know, it is said that we Greeks are a fervent and warm blooded breed. Well, let me tell you something – it is true” Melina Mercouri

Ancient Kamiros

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Gun’s travel log, stardate: Greece, Kamiros EET (GMT +3)

Kamiros, City in Greece

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Kamiros (/kəˈmaɪərəs/; Greek: Κάμειρος) is an ancient city on the island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece. It lies on the northwest coast of the island, three kilometres west of the village of Kalavarda.

This archaeological site contains ruins of the Hellenistic and Roman city of Kameiros together with the neighboring necropolis, which although first discovered in 1859 was mainly excavated during the Italian occupation of the island (1912-1943). Of the classical city, only the façade of a late classical fountain and some walls from the agora (market) remain.

The settlement was constructed on three separate levels of the hill. At the bottom was the first terrace with public buildings, market and temples, then on the second terrace was the main settlement and finally in a dominant position at the top of the hill was the acropolis with the Temple of Athena Kameirados (6th century BC), a reminder of the former wealth and historic significance of this ancient city.

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Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 13 (TBT)

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Poetry, photography, tales and things that nature!

“A well-made salad must have a certain uniformity; it should make perfect sense for those ingredients to share a bowl” Yotam Ottolenghi

An Homage to Greek Salad

Gun’s travel log, stardate: August, Greece, Lunch Time (GMT +3)

An homage to Greek Salad

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Tomatoes, onions and cheese
Who could ever survive without these
A feast good enough for peasants
Maybe even some pheasants
But especially for the tourists
From a far away land
Sufficiently and well nourished
Everything going as planned
Enjoying the feast worthy of Gods
Who could ever beat these odds

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Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 12 (TBT)

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Poetry, photography, tales and things that nature!

“Don’t just eat McDonald’s, get something a bit better. Eat a salad. That’s what fashion is. It’s something that is a bit better” Vivienne Westwood

Greek Salad

Gun’s travel log, stardate: August, Greece, Lunch Time (GMT +3)

Greek salad 
(Greek: χωριάτικη σαλάτα [xorˈjatiki saˈlata] “rustic salad” or θερινή σαλάτα [θeriˈni saˈlata] “summer salad”) is a salad in Greek cuisine.

Greek salad is made with pieces of tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, onion, feta cheese, and olives (usually Kalamata olives), typically seasoned with salt and oregano, and dressed with olive oil. Common additions include green bell pepper slices or berries of capers (especially in the Dodecanese islands).

After returning to the hotel, it is time for lunch. Order placed to room service and soon enough, the salad, bread and drinks appear on the doorstep.

Enjoying the traditional Greek Salad, with actual Feta cheese made of goat milk, fresh and juicy tomatoes, onions and bell pepper and let’s not forget the olives! Spread on some virgin olive oil and voila, you are enjoying a feast good enough for the gods!

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Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 11 (TBT)

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Poetry, photography, tales and things that nature!

“Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued” Socrates

Afternoons by the Pool

Gun’s travel log, stardate: This week, in Greece, Afternoons (GMT +3)

After lunch time, it was time to enjoy the warmth of the sun and cool off in the pool.

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Swimming
All thoughts dimming
Relaxing
Nothing perplexing
Mind
Finally at rest
Unwind
Is the best
Turquoise
Filling the view
Disguise
All feelings of blue

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Gun’s Travel Diary: Greece – Rhodes Island (Nine)

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“He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy” Socrates

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Ye Olde Town: The Harbour

Gun’s travel log, stardate 10.08.2015, 03.00 PM (GMT +3)

Mandraki Harbour

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This, the largest of the islands in the Dodecanese, is a popular tourist destination. It is also a large charter base, so visiting mid-week provides a better chance of finding a berth. The main harbour for yachts is Mandraki on the north east tip of the island.

Position 36° 27.1’N, 28° 13.4’E. (Mandraki yacht harbour)

Rhodes town is very congested with crowds from cruise ships, ferries, holiday package groups, etc. and has thousands of shops and restaurants. Many cruisers prefer to moor in Lindos and take the bus up to Rhodes for the day

You can travel near or far from the Mandraki harbour. Pick up a ride for the day or join a cruiser and set sail for the distant lands. Or you may simply enjoy watching the very fine yahts docked at the piers and dream of a life of luxury…

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Gun’s Travel Diary: Greece – Rhodes Island (Eight)

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“He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature” Socrates

Shopping

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Gun’s travel log, stardate 10.08.2015, 02.00 PM (GMT +3)

Oh shop-keep, shop-keep?
Can you possibly assist me?
You see, I have all this money
Burning a hole in my pocket
No, I am not just being funny
Even though I ate a lot of chocolate
So pull out the inventory
And soon you will have a story
Of the crazy middle aged lady
Who bought your store empty

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It was time to hit the shops. Our first stop was a gallery specializing in leather painted goods such as sandals, wallets, handbags and jewellery. Luckily the shop carried the “slender size 42” (EU size) in stock and I managed to get a pair of sandals into my possession in exchange for a fair amount of Euros. And by the way, I managed to get out of the shop with just one purchase, which in itself, is a record 😉

PS. A woman can never have to many shoes!

Venturing onwards to the shopping streets of many. Browsing, drooling, pondering over the bling blings, shoes – but of course and oh yes, if possible to find one more handbag for my collection of plenty.

Here are a few shops to check out if you are in the vicinity:

Top Notch

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Stigma 

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And some more…

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Gun’s Travel Diary: Greece – Rhodes Island (Seven)

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“True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing” Socrates

Ye Olde Town: History

Gun’s travel log, stardate 10.08.2015, 12.00 PM (GMT +3)

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Welcome to Ye Olde Town
Throw away your frown
Enjoy the ancient history
From the turns of the centuries
Stroll around the ruins
In the footsteps of the druids
The lessons of ages past
Some things will last

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On today’s agenda of this week’s excursion, was to set sail to the City of Rhodes, namely the Old Town. This former fortress is the perfect combination for a busy tourist, offering history, shopping and food in the small area inside the walls of the Old Town. Lots of ruins and sites to visit. Then take a break in any of the many restaurants neatly placed all around, enjoying a traditional Greek Salad and a drink. When fed and refreshed, you may want to visit the various shops selling both hand made and imported goods. The palate varies from hand made original jewellery to gold and silver items. Also leather items such as bags or sandals are in abundance.

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The walkabout around the ruins in the scorching heat, with the temperature of 30 degrees Celsius in the shadow and even hotter in the sun, can be exhausting.

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After the history lessons and putting some of it on record, a short break sipping cold drinks and watching the tourists walking by like the natives do, was more than welcome.

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Gun’s Travel Diary: Greece – Rhodes Island (Six)

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“The unexamined life is not worth living” Socrates

Ye Olde Town

Gun’s travel log, stardate 10.08.2015, AM (GMT +3)

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Wikipedia 

Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος, Ródos, [ˈroðos]) is the principal city and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[2] It has a population of approximately 100,000. Rhodes has been famous since antiquity as the site of Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The citadel of Rhodes, built by the Hospitalliers, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, which in 1988 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of Rhodes is a popular international tourist destination.

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Unesco 

Medieval City of Rhodes
The Order of St John of Jerusalem occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and set about transforming the city into a stronghold. It subsequently came under Turkish and Italian rule. With the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Great Hospital and the Street of the Knights, the Upper Town is one of the most beautiful urban ensembles of the Gothic period. In the Lower Town, Gothic architecture coexists with mosques, public baths and other buildings dating from the Ottoman period.

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Gun’s Travel Diary: Greece – Rhodes Island (Five)

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“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”

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Sunday

Gun’s travel log, stardate 09.08.2015, late morning AM (GMT +3)

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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

See Y’all tomorrow!

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coffee

 

Gun’s Travel Diary: Greece – Rhodes Island (Four)

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Greeks that are really drunk aren’t “wasted”…they are “pie” (πἰτα)

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The Sunset

Gun’s travel log, stardate 08.08.2015, 20.00 EET (GMT +3)

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

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