Day 40 - Mediterranean Sea

Sue and I find ourselves in the middle of the Mediterranean sea on a large ferry cruising towards Athens. I may be reading the most appropriate book imaginable, ‘Lord Jim’ by Joseph Conrad. If you don’t know the story, it’s about a young man who escapes from a sinking ship. A challenging read at the beginning turns into a manageable narrative that keeps you spellbound. I’m only reading the classics now, and loving every page.

Rhodes, Greece is easily one of the most romantic places on earth. I would say that we've been to a wide variety of places throughout Asia and none of them matches the splendor of Rhodes. Nevertheless, we were frightened at first that we had chosen a deserted island. We arrived at the pier of the old city and quickly moved onto an area of Rhodes knows as Faliraki. This area is known for its nightlife and beaches. Although the beach was nice (we’ve been to beaches in Malaysia that buckle your knees; tough critics we be), the town was nearly abandoned. Even the fast food places were closed. So we headed back to the old city.

It turned out to be a blessing. We met a man, Nasos and he invited us to stay at his guesthouse up on the hill of the old city. From there we visited the supermarket and bought nice deli meats, cheeses, vegetables and beer for a pleasant afternoon staring at ancient churches, mosques and castle walls. We didn’t even sit down at a restaurant for a meal our whole time there. We just made simple dishes from the groceries we bought and kicked back in gardens chatting with new friends.

We also rented a vehicle for the first time this trip. We rented a jeep for 50 Euros. It was a little expensive, but well worth the investment. Such a glorious time it was weaving through the hills of Greece overlooking beaches and staring out into the deep blue of the Mediterranean. A road trip through Rhodes under sunny skies is nothing less than epic.

Off to Athens now, we heard it might be chaotic there with the political and economic situation. We’ll have to see for ourselves.

chad