Travelogue Greece - Cos and Rhodos ( 2 / 2)
As I was curious to see the neighbouring island of Rhodos, too, which is the biggest of the Dodecanes, I booked a transfer by ferry to spend two days on Rhodos. Rhodos city has two faces: The medieval Old Town with its winding alleys, mosques and traditional pubs and taverns, and the New Town which was built by the Italians during the occupation of the Dodecanes with its hotels, restaurants and night clubs. The winding alleys of the Old Town make you feel like in a labyrinth. The core of the city is dominated by the bulky architecture of the Palace of the Grandmaster of the Order of the Knights of St. John. In 1523, the Ottoman Turks under Suleiman I conquered Rhodos after a 6-month siege. South of the ancient quarter of the Order of the Knights of St. John, the Turks built a quarter in Ottoman style. At the end of "Socrates Street", there is the Suleiman mosque, the biggest on the island; and at Arionos Square near a decayed mosque, there is a Turkish bath still in use today. It is open to women and men providing separate rooms, however. The Archaeological Museum at Ippoton Street at only few meters from the Knights Street is also worth seeing. In former times, the building was a hospital of the Order of the Knights of St. John which was famous for its cures. The museum is open daily, except Thursdays, from 8:45 to 18:00 hrs.
Socrates Street with its leather and fur shops, pubs, taverns and restaurants is the main shopping street. There you can find old buildings from Ottoman times.
At the northern tip of Rhodos City, you can have a refreshing bath with the customary tourist facilities. There are extended sand beaches, which are, however, largely over-crowded during the main season. There are, however more solitary beaches at about 2 km to the west, in the direction of the airport.
An excursion to the well-preserved Acropolis of Lindos is a trip that no visitor to Rhodos should miss. Rhodos is one of the few Mediterranean islands where you can still find extended forests; and the journey up to Lindos is very diversified. In ancient times, Lindos was the only natural harbour of Rhodos, and the city had 17,000 inhabitants. The village with its medieval buildings is one of the most beautiful villages of the Aegean and is closed to car traffic. Visitors, who do not like to walk, can make the climb by donkey. The Acropolis of Lindos is enclosed by a medieval battlement. At the highest point of the plateau there are remains of the temple of Athene. The visitor reaches the biggest building of the Acropolis, the Stoa, by passing through the Propylaea.
Where the natural harbour was located in former times, today, there are crowds of sun-seeking tourists. This is most probably the most heavily over-crowded part of beach on the island. The second natural harbour, the Sts. Peter and Paul Bay, which is located at a 10-minutes-walking distance south of Lindos, is a little calmer.
The Greek cuisine is quite simple and fairly low-priced. There is a whole range of takeways and restaurants that offer local specialties at low prices. Lamb and fish specialties from the coast are especially delicious. However, you need to get used to the fact, that the meals, even in first-class hotels, are often served lukewarm. Another specialty is that cinnamon is used in meals where you would not expect it, such as Spaghetti Bolognese.
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