The "A Tale of Two and Half Cities" Excursion - Part Two

Two things have really struck us about this holiday.

First is how friendly and welcoming the Greeks are.  Well, it wasn't a surprise really, as we may well have suspected that deep down, but it is very noticeable.

Second is, so much for keeping the Greek economy going by coming here.  While the cruise lines may employ generally Asian service staff, here it's workers from Eastern Europe.  There are some Greeks on the staff, but many are not and come from such as Romania and Bulgaria.

We enjoyed Lindos, but we could have enjoyed it even more if things had fallen into place better.  First, and we should have known this from Sarah and Chris's experience of getting into the Parthenon at Athens in 2010 (frighteningly expensive for mortals to get closer to the gods!) whereas it's free for students.

And so it was.  Free for students - and for those aged 65 and older - to get into the acropolis at Lindos, whereas Elizabeth had left her Student Union card in our room in the hotel and Graeme should have come next summer when he would have qualified on ancient grounds!

Paul was our guide for the day

After driving north we reached Rhodes Town.  This can be confusing for those who have visited the cruise port on the British Virgin Island of Tortola, where the ships dock at Road Town!

One of the first things we came across in Rhodes Town was the Emerald Princess, docked in the main harbour.

Emerald Princess was in town for the day

Rhodes Town is extremely well fortified

After a run round the sea/harbour front, the coach drove us towards Monte Smith.

This place, also known as The Acropolis of Rhodes, has what remains of the Temple of Apollo as well as a stadium and a small theatre.

The stadium is 600 feet long, as all Olympic stadia were, but their length varied depending on whose feet had been used to measure the 600 feet length!  The longest one is the one at Olympia where they used Hercules's feet to measure it out (and if you believe that you really are gullible!).  It also has no roof, like all Olympic stadia, as the Games are outdoor games.

Monte Smith is named after the English Napoleonic admiral, William Sidney Smith.

Emerald Princess seen from Monte Smith

Then we went to the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Rhodes Town. Three dry moats and the most impressive fortifications and yet, as always, vulnerable to a long siege as Suleiman the Magnificent found to his benefit when besieging the town in 1522. The Knights Hospitaller, whom the Pope relied on to control the town surrendered and were allowed to leave in peace and there was no further retribution.

Just one of the three dry moats ....

Unused ammunition left lying around - and I'm not joking - imagine one of those landing on/near you!

Second dry moat ....

Muslim influence inside after the fall of the town ....

One of our two refreshment stops during the day.  Here we got a free coffee or a free soft drink.

Bug-eyed boat!

It's a reminder that, when one of these is in town, how it dominates the skyline.

The most likely site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - the Colossus of Rhodes.  It stood 11 storeys high across the entrance to the old harbour (not where Emerald Princess is moored up!)

Elizabeth is doing her best to demonstrate - well I couldn't ask her to make the ultimate eye-watering sacrifice and straddle the harbour entrance, now could I?

Now she's disappeared!

We had to find a watering hole after much foot slogging in our free time round the town, searching for Starbucks and Pandora outlets!

Former HQ of the Knights Hospitaller - now a museum.

There will be more later -- please be patient.