No time in Rhodes
Back from Rhodes, again, after missing the boat and staying overnight at the Lydia Hotel (where we were given a very good deal on two single rooms for my nephew and I).
Wednesday consisted of the Blue Star Diagoras boat over to Rhodes, and then getting in a taxi. This where the first piece of excitement happened. We knew we were pushed for time as the boat had left late after already being on a later than usual schedule. We made sure we were among the first off a very busy boat and headed to the taxi rank. It was its usual organised chaos, slightly reminiscent of an Egyptian bazaar, but a helpful driver called us over and popped us in his taxi. He then disappeared for no apparent reason. Meanwhile, everyone else found their taxis and set off, leaving us to be the last to go. I eventually got out of the car and did that very Greek thing of raising my arms in the air in a gesture which was a mix of confusion and annoyance. He came back and brought another passenger with him.
It’s common in Greece for other passengers to join you on the ride and, as our driver knew where we were heading, I assumed we were dropping this chap off en route. Finally, we set off and had a wonderful tour of some of the most obscure backstreets of that part of Rhodes between the Old Town and Sgoupou (I just had to look it up on a map; It’s a rather appropriate name as you will read in a moment). After a couple of double-backs we dropped off the passenger and set off for where we were going. After a little while it was clear that this was not a good day to be out and about on the roads of Rhodes: every traffic light was red, seemingly in all directions at once, and every driver was out stopping to chat to every pedestrian. A little while longer and the main hospital came into sight. I checked that we were going to the private hospital and yes, he knew that but there was [something unrepeatable] about the roads and roadworks on the usual route. Well, it gave us plenty of opportunity to admire some varied industrial estates, warehouses and even more obscure parts of this wonderful island.
We did arrive, in the end, and found the reception area to go to. When you go for X-rays and microbiological tests (as Nephew has to do for his work papers), or any other treatment, you have to pay in advance. This payment station is, rather alarmingly, housed in A&E, but there were no emergencies taking place that day. Well, there may have been as there was something of a slow moving queue, various people waiting for various things and so another delay for us. What was impressive though (apart from the service and the place itself) was the way the receptionists seemed to be able to turn their tongue to any language. I heard Greek, of course, English, German, French and something that sounded like a terminal throat complaint; I assume Flemish. Anyway, after doing all that, we headed to drop off the, er, sample at microbiology. That took all of five seconds and I started to relax a little more as time was now in very short supply.
A quick aside here (as we wait for the X-ray to be done) to explain to those who don’t know what this is all about. Actually, I haven’t met anyone yet who knows what this is all about, though I have had some very helpful friends in Rhodes messaging me and offering help and advice over the last week. Basically, to get your ‘health book’ approved for work in a taverna you need a chest X-ray and some test done on your poo. There. It’s been said. This had to be produced by my Nephew on the day of the trip. (He will hate me for this.) Of course, this can produce anxiety in anyone and not only because you have to do your number two to order. You can do it before you leave home, or on the way. Had he not made use of the excellent, though rather communal, facilities on the Blue Star Diagoras, George might well have been able to produce during the taxi ride. There were plenty of near misses and almost head-ons, and Lord knows, plenty of time. But he had it all in hand before then, so that was fine. And when I say ‘in hand’ I mean… Well, details are not needed but it apparently involves paper towels, latex gloves, a special pot from the pharmacy, some peace and quiet, a little privacy and a lot of skill. Oh, and a tea spoon, or Sgoupou, as we shall now call it. As we left home that morning, I did look in the cat’s litter tray and wondered if we would get away with borrowing something, but thought better of it.
Anyway; the upshot of the late arrival, magical mystery tour, roadworks, queues, blah, blah, and then the trip back (repeat part one above), was that we were too late for the last sailing to Symi of the day. More about the rest of the day another time perhaps, it wasn’t that spectacular except I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what stage two would entail: IKA doctors, collecting results after Friday, another day in Rhodes, maybe private doctors to sign the papers, where to go, etc. But it can all wait as I’ve gone on enough and shared too much detail already.
By the way: no, there are no photos of the trip for obvious and decorous reasons. Today’s are from my general ‘to post’ file.
