Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 17

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“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know I shall be happily infected until the end of my life” Michael Palin

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece, Rhodes: Day Seven: Hanging by the Pool

Gun’s travel log, stardate: Greece, City of Rhodes EET (GMT +3)

Today was the last day of the holiday and sadly tomorrow morning we will take off.
Relaxing in the warmth of the sun and snapping a few memories in the near surroundings was all on the agenda.

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Basking in the sun
What could be more fun
I can think of none
Last day of holiday
Luckily on a sunny day
Tomorrow we’ll be on our way
On the plane back home we’ll fly
To our friends we’ll say goodbye
There will be no dry eye
The skies briefly turned gray
As if to sadly say
For a while more stay
But, in the end
The time spent
Was a holiday to recommend

breakfast

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sea-view

scenery

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poolside

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skies

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gray-skies

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salad

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coffee

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Back to Part Sixteen

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 16

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“Leave no stone unturned” Euripides

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece, Rhodes: Day Six: Down Town Rhodes

Gun’s travel log, stardate: Greece, City of Rhodes EET (GMT +3)

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The island of Rhodes is located at the crossroads of two major sea routes of the Mediterranean between the Aegean Sea and the coast of the Middle East, as well as Cyprus and Egypt. The meeting point of three continents, it has known many civilizations.

Throughout its long history the different people who settled on Rhodes left their mark in all aspects of the island’s culture: art, language, architecture. Its strategic position brought to the island great wealth and made the city of Rhodes one of the leading cities of the ancient Greek world.

Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese. Its capital city, located at its northern tip, is the capital of the Prefecture with the Medieval Town in its centre. In 1988 the Medieval Town was designated as a World Heritage City. The Medieval Town of Rhodes is the result of different architectures belonging to various historic eras, predominantly those of the Knights of St. John.

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On today’s agenda; a road trip to the City of Rhodes. Grabbing a taxi and off to the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of Rhodes city we went.

Strolling on the beach boulevard and on the shopping streets can be exhausting after a while, especially since the day seemed hotter than the previous days. Upon a small conversation about the weather – always a good subject where ever you go – we were informed the wind had changed, and the degree was therefore higher.

Walking down the street towards the museum in the harbour, admiring the view and trying to avoid the “bouncers” offering the various boat rides available there. Tempting, but not on today’s agenda. The main goal was to snap a few memories of the architecture and seashore.

After a hard day’s excursion, it was finally time for a break with some nourishment and cold drinks: Yes, you guessed the choice of food: Greek salad, what else is there when in Greece?

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Later, it was time to enjoy the beach life again…

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… Until the setting sun

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Back to Part Fifteen

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 15

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“Eureka! – I have found it!” Archimedes

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece, Rhodes: Umbrellas

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

For an island which says
They offer 300 sunny days
There sure are lots of umbrellas
In this little town of Hellas’

Better be prepared for the worst
Was the answer received at first
The local folk seemingly surprised
Of the Finn’s stupid question arised

Kindly explaining further
The picture was getting clearer
The monsune season filled with rain
Without the umbrellas it would be a pain

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Back to Part Fourteen

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 14

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“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

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece, Rhodes: Ancient Kamiros

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.

Culture & Heritage - ancient kamiros

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Back to Part Thirteen

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 13

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

Gun’s Travel Log, Day Five: An Homage to Greek Salad

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

An homage to Greek Salad

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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Back to Part Twelve

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 12

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“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

Gun’s Travel Log, Day Five: 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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Back to Part Eleven

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 11

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

Gun’s Travel Log, Day Five: 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.

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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Back to Part Ten

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 9

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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

Gun’s Travel Log, Day Three: Greece, Rhodes: 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

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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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Back to Part Eight

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 8

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

Gun’s Travel Log, Day Three: Greece, Rhodes: Ye Olde Town: Shopping

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

 

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.

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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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Jewellery Vergina 

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And some more…

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shopping
Back to Part Seven

Gun’s Travel Log: Greece – Rhodes Island 7

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

Gun’s Travel Log, Day Three: Greece, Rhodes: Ye Olde Town: History

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

history

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.

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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Back to Part Six