Fingers and Thumbs. Rhodes part one.
Apologies for my absence yesterday, I hadn’t prepared anything for Tuesday, and tbf, but the time Tuesday morning came, I couldn’t be bothered. Later in the morning, like now, I prepared this, so we’re now back on track. (Btw, tbf = to be frank.)
So, the adventure that is a day out in Rhodes…
Begins at 3.15 with a stereo alarm from either side of the bed, just to make sure I don’t oversleep, something I rarely do anyway, but you have to be sure. That’s followed by an hour of pottering around, repeatedly checking the passports, tickets, money even though I’m not going on a flight, and meeting Jenine in the village square at 4.30.
A chatty walk down to the port, arriving just as the boat is rounding the corner and starting to back in, getting on, and sitting out the back with a cup of tea. Well, a cup of hot water to which you can add a teabag and accessories before watching the sun come up as you make the crossing. Arriving in Rhodes just after 6.00…
Walking around the bay where they have almost finished a new boardwalk, taking a stroll through the deserted Old Town (deserted because it’s so early, it was slightly busier later in the day), and coming out in the new town and heading for Gregory’s. Takeaway frappe x two, a pie and a bun, €6.00, which I thought was a good price. Then, breakfast on a bench in Mandraki, feeding the sparrows and watching the waking/jogging world go by. A wander about, waiting for an appointment with the police at 9.30. In the end, we got there at about 9.15, having gone to the immigration police first, where the charming officer we met had no idea where we supposed to go, even though it turned out we were supposed to go to the same building, only, around the other side. (I remembered your instructions, Lousie, and we were going to go straight there, but this entrance was in a rather nice garden, and we wanted to have a look…)
The fingerprinting officer was equally as lovely and had a good sense of humour. It didn’t matter that we were early, and we were seen to straight away. It was a simple affair: check this piece of paper, sign it, and stick your fingers onto two pads. Jenine went first, and there was some kind of issue, so fingers were recleaned, the scanner was given another wipe, and they tried again. Apparently, the officer said, women’s fingers are often more difficult to scan because they do more work than men. There was some debate about that and a few good laughs. Eventually, I mean after about five minutes of trying, she was able to scan her thumbs, and all was well. I took my turn and was done in five seconds. ‘That’s because I don’t do any work,’ I muttered. More laughter, here’s your paper, your card should be ready in about four weeks, have a nice day. And so, back out to the sunshine and time for shopping. More about that tomorrow.
