Rhodes Rhodos Rodos - island of the Sun

I'm ashamed to admit it, but the first thought that comes to my mind when someone mentions Rhodos, is a big omelette with mushrooms I ate at the hotel "Blue Bay"on the day of our arrival in Rhodes. It was unforgettably tasty, or ..perhaps I was very hungry.

And then, I noticed the woven bed cover in the hotel room and liked it ,not knowing of course, that the next day , in one of the old city shops ,I'll find a poncho made of the same blue wool fabric as the bed cover, and I'll buy it on the spot. Another acquisition during the old city tour was that of a silver pendant representing the Colossos of Rhodes (statue considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), and a wooden matchbox with a metal deer on it - the Deer- the emblem of Rhodes guarding Mandraki harbour at the entrance to the city.

Bed cover that 'got' me a poncho

resting by the hotel's pool

Rhodos -the island's main town

My first real vacation trip abroad

Was to the greek island of Rhodes

I liked everything, including the flight

For me it was "love at first sight"

The city of Rhodos is divided in two

The old part and the modern, the new

Tourists are much attracted to the old

Which is medieval and walled

The entrance to the old city's made

Through the in-walls eleven gates

The busy narrow cobbled lanes

Are crossed by old archways

The modern city has broad streets

Lots of shops, beautiful things

Nice buildings ,hotels, green parks

Intensive nightlife with many bars

And in the area outside

Fine beaches, blue sea and sky

The famous 'valley of butterflies'

Archeological and historical sites

sculpture at the Archeological Museum

stone balls in the city park

in the old city

panoramic view of Rhodes - on a cloudy day
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Outside the city of Rhodes ,I recall two outstanding attractions: the valley of the butterflies and the acropolis of Lindos.

Lindos

Above the modern village of Lindos

On the east coast of the island of Rodos

Rises the Acropolis - citadel and ancient spot

Offering views of the coastline and Rhodin port

One can climb up to the Acropolis on foot

Or on a monkey's back , sturdy and cute

Either way it's a rewarding experience

Providing pleasure, in the first instance

The Acropolis of Lindos

view from the Acropolis

Valley of the Butterflies

Between June and September, thousands of butterflies flock to the valley which is about 12 Km distant from the city and has many wooden bridges, streams, and waterfalls. It's a fascinating sight attracting lots of tourists eager to watch the butterflies phenomenon

Valley of the Butterflies ( by oldboy96)

SYMI - island, town, harbour

Acording to greek mythology, Symi ( name of a nymph) is the birth place of the three Graces (goddesses): 'Beauty', 'Mirth', 'Good Cheer'.
In the 19th century Symi grew wealthy (one can judge by the mansions on the hill surrounding the town) from...sponge trade . It seems that tourists (attracted to the beauty of the place as well as to the open air festivals) , and pilgrims (coming to Panormitis monastery in hope for miracles) - are the main sources of Symi's economy of today.

The town of Symi is considered the most beautiful among the Greek island ports and is protected as national treasure.

The port of Symi

The island of Symi, small and hilly

Is reached easily by sea ferry

It's a real heaven for tourists

A proud host of summer festivals

Birthplace of the three Graces

Has neo-classical tiled-roof houses

And some sites worth visiting

Within the town and ouside it

The horse shoe shaped port
With bars and shops of every sort

A monastery bult for St. Michael

Panormitis ,the protective archangel
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The monastery of Panormitis is located on the south end of Symi, on the sea front of the tiny village of Panormitis. Inside it , in the church devoted to Archangel Michailis (considered the patron saint and the guardian of the sailors in the whole region) , there's a 2-meter high silver leafy wall icon of the Panormiti, believed to perform miracles.

The main entrance to the monastery


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The islet of Agia Marina

Some twenty minutes boat ride from Symi harbour is the islet of Agia Marina which houses the chapel of Holly Marina. The sea water here has shades of blue which ,according to some tourists , is hardly seen in other places .

A small port on a slight windy day

It's cold, wet, and yet, the bay

And the hilly pineclad village

Are worth the time and the voyage

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SYMI - VIDEO
( by olesw, background music - Zorba The Greek theme)