Day 12 (Fri, Sep 26): Cruising / Rhodes, Greece
Lindos is a very pretty town - all white washed cubical buildings. Many of the streets and walkways are paved in pebbles which are arranged in mosaic designs. Lining the way to the acropolis there are dozens of shops selling embroidered clothing and table clothes, hand-made crocheted table clothes and spreads, hand-knit sweaters. The merchandise is very pretty and clean looking. Women also spread their hand-made things on the ground next to the Acropolis path.
We had to wait half an hour for two ladies in the tour who lost track of the time while shopping.
When we returned from Lindos we took a tour of the "Old Town" of Rhodes, the oldest continuously inhabited medieval town of Europe. A massive wall that was built by the Knights of St. John (Hospitallers) in the 14th century encloses the old town. They captured and established their headquarters on Rhodes when they left Italy, following the persecution of the Knights Templar in 1307. Pope Clement V confirmed the Hospitallers possession of the Island in 1309. Ippoton Street (Avenue of the Knights running left to right near the top of the map) is about 600m long on a gentle incline towards what used to be the ancient acropolis of Rhodes. It is unusually straight for a medieval street. The tall walls that frame it on both sides - complete with stone-carved coats of arms - are majestic and forbidding at the same time The old Knights' inns are now replaced by government offices. At the upper (left) end of the street lies the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes The Old Town is a very nice place, full of trees and pretty gardens. The medieval section is very well preserved, and people still live there. We went back to the ship for lunch on the Lido deck. Ross and Robin joined us. After we ate we adjourned to deck chairs where we spent the rest of the afternoon. Random observations --
We had a drink in the piano bar before dinner. Were joined by Grace and Ray Rodriguez. Should mention that the waiter automatically brought Karen and me our martinis without our ordering. Good waiter. After dinner we went to the Solaris Lounge to meet Christina. She was playing bingo, so we played a game, too. Didn't win. They called bingo in three languages. We went to the Piano Bar and finished out the evening there. |