Rhodes

[Deleted User]

Hi all - just back - really enjoyed Rhodes!

Stayed in Ialyssos for week and Rhodes town for a few days before an overnight stay in Athens before flying home. 7 days in Ialyssos were quite lazy - by pool during the day, out for walks and meals at night - we found eating out remarkably cheap.

Rhodes town was great - the old town/Grand Master's residence were fabby and we had a boat trip to Simi - for a moment we thought the ship had sped off to Mull for an episode of Balamory due to the multicoloured houses. If asked, I would recommend going on the trip that visits the Panormitis Monastery first before going to the picture postcard town. It breaks the journey up nicely, the ship we were on was quite comfortable with a bar and snacks available, and the open top deck had plenty of shade. All day in the town would, I think, be too long (8 hours or so) and once you have walked along the prom a few times and had a meal and a few refreshments, the sun can be a bit overwhelming. I'd recommend the "two stage trip" without hesitation and we even bought a couple of souvenirs.

I found the monastery interesting (despite my lack of religious belief!) but I did find the interior of the chapel a bit "creepy" - folk kissing a glass covered icon in a tearful state was a bit much for me and there was a fair bit of "tutting" going on at the (in my view:D) quite conservatively dressed female tourists. Apart from the monastery there is nothing to see apart from a couple of cafes - it seems to me that without the tourist ships the place would be a ghost town so a bit less tutting and a few more "thank you"s would not go amiss! (All IMO of course!)

We were a bit surprised at the under development in tourism terms of the Rhodes town Acropolis and stadium - we were on an open top tour bus and found it - very little publicity about it.

All in all a lovely place and we will hopefully return in the next year or so.

Happy holidays all!

WR