THESSALONIKI to RHODES – something fishy going on here 

Friday – today is the start of our adventure around the Greek Islands.  I am hoping that it will be the ‘relaxing’ part of my Odyssey, although I am sure that some days will be a bit touristy and hectic.  Hopefully I can keep that to a minimum.

A late check out – how wonderful. Plenty of time to enjoy my breakfast on the roof. It is such a wonderful day and there are not a lot of people up here so I can choose my table – outside of course and with that incredible harbour view.  Lovely light breakfast and as soon as it is time for my Vegemite toast I am joined by a rather plump pigeon hoping for a handout.  Not likely.

Below the rest of the dining area and the pool.

I am a bit disappointed that I did not get to swim here but where on earth could I find the time and anyway, I am looking forward to plunging into the Aegean in the coming days.

I have an 11.30am pick up so plenty of time to finish the packing and wait for my driver.  This is the reception area. Pretty grand eh?  I find myself a nice big chair, get out my ipod and wait.

I really don’t have that long to wait, my bags are put in the car, I bid farewell to the gracious staff and I am on my way again.  The day is heating up but the car is cool and it is a good drive to the airport.  A tragic place to say the least but it does the job.  Weigh the bag 22kgs – and then I go the check in where the bag is screened and on it’s way.  Now it’s my turn – belt and watch off – laptop out – through security and everything is OK – no beeping.

I am going from Gate 4 – so noisy and crowded but I find a seat and it is about 45 minutes before boarding.

We line up and proceed through a door, down the stairs and into a bus. Hang on – I paid to fly and anyway how is the bus going to cross the sea? A short journey around the airport and there is our plane.

It is an Airbus Industrie A200 and I am in seat 2A – up the front with a window of course.

Why are people so pushy to get off the bus?  Do they think that their seat is going to be tossed out if they are not there in 5 minutes?  Oh well, off the bus and walk up the stairs it is an easy job to find my seat – so time to get organised and ready for some ‘photos out the window’ shots which I know you all love.

We seem to taxi forever and soon it is our turn to climb into the skies.  There is no screen in front of my seat but there are screens hanging from the ceiling – I am lucky enough to be near one, but there are no details on distance, altitude etc.

Oh how are the mighty fallen!  Time for snacks – this is it.  A packet of crackers and orange juice served in a paper cup.  Yes, even for first class this is what I get.

Nevermind – after a short 1 hour flight we have now arrived in Rhodes and after finding my driver I am on my way to the hotel.  It is about a 20 minute drive but I am nice and comfortable and out of the hot sun.  Arriving at my destination – The Best Western Plaza Hotel – it looks nice so let’s hope the rooms look just as good.

Check in goes OK  I am here for 3 nights so I can unpack and organise. The bathroom is OK but the toilet system is one where you cannot flush the paper.  You have to put it in the bin – certainly hope they empty and clean that regularly.

Apparently if you flush the paper it stuffs up the sewerage system and as Rhodes is an island that could have dire consequences.

It is about 4pm when I get my room – so after a bit of a relax and unpack I venture forth to discover Rhodes – well a part of it anyway.  I head to the harbour.  It takes about 5 minutes to walk – there are not a lot of people and seeing that it is a lovely afternoon I find a seat and enjoy the water and the cool breeze. Obviously fish is on the menu tonight for some people – or you can even do a fishing charter –

any takers?

What’s this? It is the Beatles – you can even enjoy a jaunt with them.

There are a lot of wonderful buildings around here but I will leave them for another day.  I am content to just sit here near the waters of Mandraki Bay and imagine where the Colossus of Rhodes used to stand.

More about him on another post.

I am getting a bit peckish so time to find somewhere for dinner.  Walking back to the hotel – nothing takes my fancy so I head off in another direction and find this treasure – Napoleon.

While I am looking at the menu, one of the staff comes up and starts to talk to me.  What a hoot.  This place is owned by Greeks who migrated to Melbourne and then migrated back here.  Yep, this is definitely the place.

I am guided to my table where I am given a bottle of water and I order Grilled Sea Bass.  This it the view from my table, of course I order a nice white wine, delish – and this is my Garlic Bread – serving for 1.  It is humongous.  I feel a pig out coming on.

Excitement time – now’s the time for fish.  Bottom left is before (I can still taste the sea) and on the right after – that was one delicious meal – so fresh – nothing but bones left.

That was one major, major pig out.  They then offer dessert. Are they kidding? I am stuffed so I smile and say no thank you.  So, how about a shot of ouzo on the house? I have come back to life – yes please that will do fine.

After sitting for a while and just watching the world pass by – I am too afraid that I may not be able to get up.  I then realise that this place is only 5 minutes down the road from my hotel.  Yep, coming back here for sure.

Waddling back – I am looking forward to a nice sleep but when I arrive I am told that my sightseeing tour of Rhodes tomorrow has been cancelled.  Well, that’s a dirty gip for sure.  Still nothing I can do about it – although I better a refund.

I will just have to explore on my own – –