Just reporting in on my trip to Rhodes, Monday night, Tuesday, Wednesday. Back now safe and sound and had a good time. Mother here in her rental house for a month, nephew looking forward to his visit in three weeks.
The more I visit Rhodes the more I like it; not that I would particularly want to live in the main town unless I had to. I got there on Monday night and checked into the Lydia Hotel – was handed my key while others were checking in ahead of me, no need to show my passport, and they gave me a good room, one with a large bathroom and the bedroom facing the precinct so quiet. (Loyalty bonuses.) Room number 206 if you are interested. Then I headed out and thought I’d try somewhere new to eat so went to a place called Belmo Palace which was trad Greek. Starter, main, wine, water €19.00 – fine enough but nothing grand or particularly palatial.
On Tuesday I went out for a walk and, while heading around the headland, past the Aquarium and up to the roundabout at the bottom of the hill leading to the airport, I thought it would be a good idea to go back, get a notebook and find a shady spot to do some writing. So, I went back, bought a notebook from my favourite stationers and then walked around the headland, past the Aquarium to the roundabout by the hill, looking for a shady spot. There aren’t any. Well, you can hire a sunbed and brolly, or sit at one of the decomposing old beach bars, but I didn’t fancy either of those so walked around to Mandraki.
Severely sweating, I sat for a juice and wrote a few pages at one of the cafes by the old market, then went back to the room, had a second shower of the day and a change of clothes, bought a new shirt at HMV (I mean H&M) and went for lunch. This took place at Indigo in the old fish market – opposite the public loo but you don’t have to face that way. Here it was a case of homemade big beans, a foot long tuna salad (the plate measured 12” x 6” and was full of salad, including tuna, rocket, spring onions, sweetcorn and a dressing), plus one glass and some water, €16.00 – which I thought was pretty reasonable. They also do things like Iranian chicken (no idea, will try it next time) and each chair has a Greek island name painted on it. I discovered, after the meal, that I had been sitting on Tilos.
I went to Symi next, the Symi café next door, to see Maria and have a quick after lunch glass of ouzo (€2.00) and then wandered back to the hotel to rest up for the afternoon. After a G&T at the Plaza in the name of price research (€4.50) I took the airport bus in the evening. It only took 30 minutes (€2.20) as no one got off and it was pretty packed with tourists heading home from the beaches, but it is one tenth the cost of a taxi. A wander around at the airport, a read of my book, met Mother’s flight, which was on time, and then a taxi back to the Lydia (€23.00). And then (you’ll think all I do in Rhodes is eat, and you’d be right) a quick bite at Napoleon’s. Mother was after lamb chops, which she got and I had a tomato soup, we shared a Greek salad and some wine, and more water of course, and it came to around €30.00 (just under), in case you are keeping track of these things.
Next day: breakfast at the Lydia, taxi to the harbour, Kolona (€7.00 if you get the hotel to phone, saves getting there all sweaty), and onto the Express. Symi in 45 minutes, walk around the harbour, taxi to Horio (€3.50 I think, we always give €5.00 for some reason) and a hello at the Olive Tree, plus a second breakfast for mother (she’s already taking after the Alarm Cat) before moving into her new house. Today, Thursday, she’s still there feeling the effects of the change in climate, the travel and, I dare say, the feeding (welcome dinner at the Windmill including pudding – outrageously wonderful food as always and a very good price, can’t remember exactly but around €28.00 per head for five dishes, two half litres wine, a large water and three deserts), but she hopes to be up and about later, recovered and ready for Neil’s vegetarian surprise dinner tonight. The surprise being that it involves chicken.
That’s me caught up, the photos today are random ones from the trip and there are more to come as and when. Hope the sharing of prices was useful and have a good day!
