Rhodes, Greece - Monday, 21 October, 2013

This morning we docked just outside the old city of Rhodes or Rodos in Greek. the island of Rodos is about 100 miles long by about 55 miles wide and is only 12 miles from the TurIkish mainland. The island has been under control of the Greeks, then the Turks, then the Italains until 1943, then the Germans until 1945, then the British after the war until I think 1947, then back to the Greeks.

Below is a view from the ship of the Old City with its medieval walls.

Our first stop this morning was a pottery shop... I confess I was a bit wary of this.... Just another opportunity to buy something.... But, it was very interesting and the pottery was beautiful.

Then on to the town of Lindos, about 40 miles south of the port of Rhodes. Very quaint little town with narrow winding streets, more shopping opportunities for tourists and the focal point, the acropolis ( which means basically top of the city. That involved a lot of stair climbing up and back, so I wimped out as did a lady from Minnesota, named Cheryl Anderson? Susan and Cheryl's husband Bob went all the way to the top. Cheryl and I sat on a residential doorstep and got to know each other and chatted with folks going up and folks coming back down.

Susan said that the view from the top and the Greek temple within the medieval fort! and the ruins of an early church was well worth the effort.

Oh, you could rent a donkey and ride up for 5 euros.

This a beautiful Orthodox Church in the center of Lindos.

Susan took the next few photos on the walk, climb, hike, trek up and down from the acropolis.

Back down in the town, we started the trek back to the buses.

This is one of the entrance gates to the Old Town of Rhodes. There was a gate, then a dry moat, then another gate, then another moat, then another gate... Then you were inside the town, We had a walking tour of this old town of ancient buildings. 

But this building below is not ancient.... It dates from the 1930 s and was used by the Italian king during Mussolinis days.... But it does LOOK old.

After we got back to the ship and finished lunch, I went out taking photos and got this one of the Queen Elizabeth from the pier.

Our 2nd formal night tonight, so out came the tuxedo again. We are now saling for Kusadasi, Turkey and will be touring Ephesus tomorrow.

We had to turn in out passports tonight so that the Greek authorities can examine and stamp them before we get off in Athens on Wednesday.