Sunday, September 18, 2022

Roaming Around Rhodes

If I were to return to one of the Greek Isles, I think I would choose to return to Rhodes. We experienced just a small part of the island, and it offered so much to enjoy. On Saturday, September 3, 2022, we spent the day in Rhodes, where the iconic Colossus once stood. We took a hop-on hop-off bus around the city and then had fun winding around the cobblestone roads and alleys of the walled medieval Old Town.

The bus ride took us up a hill to the upper city of ancient Rhodes which provided beautiful windblown views of the west side of the island and it's lovely beaches. The ancient acropolis contained the ruins of  the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus and the Temple of Apollo, below which are a stadium, an odeon and a gymnasium. This part of the city was built in the 5th century BC.


We road the rest of the circuit, just looking at places from the bus. There were definitely some nice beach areas where we could have soaked in some sun and admired the blended blue tones of the water. But we continued on to the medieval city.


We entered the medieval city at the castle gates. The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes was originally built in the late 7th century. The dry moat now serves as a park for locals and tourists. The castle is impressive from every angle.


The most famous street in Rhodes is the Street of Knights, with its original cobblestone road, was built in the 1400's, leading up to the Palace of the Knights. The Knights of seven nations ruled over Rhodes, and this street was the residential area comprised of seven inns for each of those "tongues" of leadership. These are now turned into shops, museums and restaurants, and is an impressive site to see with the unique architecture, archways, and the Medieval Clock Tower. This architectural relic once served as a watchtower and timekeeping device for the inhabitants of Rhodes.



Argyrokastro Square and Art Museum, or Square of the Hebrew Martyrs, is one of the most picturesque places in the Old Town. Bob and I arrived at the scene with only a few others, with whom we took turns photographing each other.


Rhodes fell in 1522 after a six-month siege carried out by Suleyman II. The Mosque of Suleiman was built to commemorate Suleyman’s conquest of Rhodes. It was the first mosque in the town of Rhodes.


The bustling town center of Medieval Rhodes catered to the tourists, with restaurants, shops, and people watching. It was a fun place to be. My favorite stop was at a gelato shop where I savored the very best flavor combinations I've ever seen offered. I loved it so much, that before returning to the ship at the end of the day, I made Bob retrace our steps back to a hidden corner of the walled city to the shop for another bowl of gelato! My favorite flavors . . . Manourz Cheese with Pear together with Indian Fig and Orange! If I could have brought home anything consumable from Rhodes, it would have been this gelato.



I really enjoyed just walking around the winding cobblestone streets of medieval Rhodes. Everywhere I turned, there was another photo to capture of the quaint city. From the arched alleyways to the lovely door frames, it was an enchanting place to explore.


We walked out of the walls of Old Town and explored the areas around the harbor. I was delighted to see windmills which were reminiscent of those we had seen in Mykonos on a different cruise. 


Mandraki is the main harbour of Rhodes where once stood the Colossus of Rhodes.  The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, standing in the harbor, 108 feet tall, or 2/3 the height of the Statue of Liberty. It was constructed to celebrate the successful defense of Rhodes city against an attack by Demetrius I of Macedon, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy.  It stood for 54 years until an earthquake caused it's demise, but it's fallen remains laid near the harbor for 800 years.

Today, the statues of two deers named ‘’Elefos’’ and ‘’Elafina’’ stand where once stood the feet of the colossus. By the city walls facing seawards, there is the castle of Saint Nicholaos which received its title from the patron saint of the seaman.  This castle operates as a lighthouse.  I purchased a Colossus charm from Rhodes and unsuccessfully tried to pose as if I were the statue with my feet planted in correct position in the harbor.


That evening, back onboard the ship, we enjoyed dinner with Jim and Shauna, watched the egg drop challenge, and retired to bed in anticipation of our day in Athens.












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