Old RhodesTown

The following morning we deciced to revisit the Old quarter of Rhodes town. We entered via the Gate d' Ambrose, an impressive entry point into the complex.

We past through the gate with its huge, thick stone wall and impressive moat.

 Nearby, we stopped to admire the Medieval Clock Tower when an elderly local gentleman sauntered over and shared a little of its history with us.

The sheer size of the old town is remarkable, with countless narrow alleyways waiting to be explored. Among the many souvenir and tat shops, there are also some lovely stores selling genuine artistic wares and handmade items.

We wandered over to the magnificent Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, an impressive building that, at that early hour, was accompanied only by a few local cats basking in the quiet streets.

                               

Next we walked the famousThe Street of Knights , a superbly preserved cobblestone street from the 14th Century. Lined with Gothic style inns, also known as "Inns of Tongues"

Later, we stopped at a small taverna for a cooling drink beneath a huge tree in a picturesque square. It was one of those peaceful moments that perfectly captures the charm of the old town.

You could easily spend hours wandering through the narrow streets and admiring the ancient buildings, with something interesting waiting around almost every corner.

                             

  Continuing into the main square  which was very busy by now. Our final stop was at The ruins of Church of the Virgin Mary of the Burgh. 

We the exited the old town at the Panayia Gate (Virgin Mary) which has lovely views over the harbour towards the De Naillac Tower.

A Coastal walk

We decided to slow things down today after a few busy days of travelling, so we planned a leisurely walk along the eastern coastline of Rhodes Town.

The walk begins at Elli Beach which, on this particular day, looked a little scruffy with various bits of debris washed up along the shoreline. 

Despite this, the sea itself was stunning — a brilliant mix of deep blue and turquoise, sparkling brightly in the sunshine as we passed the small fishing pier.

                      

Continuing along the promenade, we came to the statue of Diagoras, the famous ancient Greek Olympic boxer from Rhodes. The statue depicts him being carried around the stadium by his sons, Damagetos and Akousilaos, after their victories in the 5th century BC.

From there we reached Akti Kanari Beach, where sun worshippers gathered to swim and soak up the warm Mediterranean sunshine. The beach is easy to spot thanks to its colourful WC building and small snack bar sitting just behind the sand.

At the far end of the beach, the path climbs onto a small rocky promontory with superb views stretching back along the coastline. The walkway is in good condition as it meanders along the cliff face, with waves crashing dramatically against the rocks below.

There was very little vegetation along the route, although a few hardy spring flowers had managed to force their way through the rocky ground. 

Along the path we also discovered a couple of shallow caves and several small religious icons tucked into the rocks.

The walk eventually ends at a tiny beach bar with just a handful of chairs perfectly positioned to look out across the sea — a peaceful spot to sit, relax, and enjoy the view.

                                 

Lindos

On another bright and breezy day, we once again made our way down to Mandraki Harbour to board the Aphrodite Queen for our trip to the village of Lindos.

The Aphrodite Queen was clearly built for speed, and she soon proved it as we zipped across the sea at an impressive pace. At times the spray swept over the sides of the boat, leaving some passengers with a refreshing soaking.

After a journey of just over an hour, we slowed as we approached a beautiful bay guarded by the ruins of an ancient Acropolis, standing high on a promontory overlooking the village of Lindos.

After disembarking via a rather rickety pier, we made our way up to the village along a footpath offering striking views across the bay below.

Lindos itself is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with whitewashed buildings, while shops and restaurants compete to tempt the many visitors exploring the village.

We spent some time wandering through the charming streets before stopping for lunch at a restaurant with an outdoor terrace, where the Acropolis provided a spectacular backdrop.

All too soon, it was time to head back down to the harbour and reboard the boat for the lively and somewhat bumpy ride back to Rhodes Town.

The Island of Symi

Our day began with the sight of the Virgin cruise ship Scarlet Lady gliding gracefully past our bedroom window.

After breakfast, we strolled down to the harbour and boarded the Doll boat for our trip to the island of Symi. We sailed out of the harbour at 10:00am and were soon out at sea, enjoying wonderful views of the east coast of Rhodes along the way.

Our first stop was St George’s Bay, famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and towering 300-metre cliffs. The dramatic scenery made for a truly unforgettable sight.

From there, we sailed around to the town of Symi, where breathtaking views of colourful hillside buildings greeted us as we entered the harbour. The pastel-coloured houses cascading down the slopes against the deep blue sea created a striking and picture-perfect scene.

We wandered along the harbour front, browsing the many taverns and shops, until we came across a restaurant that had been recommended to us. ΤΟ ΟΥΖΕΡΊ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΡΕΑΣ FISH & CHIPS turned out to be a real hidden gem. 

The new owners had taken over only 50 days earlier and could not have been more welcoming.

Set slightly away from the busy harbour area, the small restaurant served delicious food. Rob enjoyed fresh sardines, while Mandy chose the breaded salmon, accompanied by quince potatoes along with several dishes of salads and dips.

After lunch, we continued strolling along the quay, browsing the many shops and admiring the beautiful architecture of the village and the stunning harbour. All too soon, it was time to reboard our vessel for the journey back to the main island of Rhodes.