Rhodes
November 1, 1996
Early Morning
Another early breakfast: I had a tour going to Rhodes when we arrive (around 8:00 am).
I'm looking forward to this, though. Castles, ruins, and history await in
Rhodes: can't wait!
Rhodes
I joined our tour group as we arrived at the island of Rhodes. We took a bus up
to the ancient city of Lindos. The city contains an Acropolis (not THE
Acropolis, which most people have heard of: acropolis just means "the city at the
top") dating from the 6th century B.C.. The site has been used extensively up to near
modern times, and contains many structures from different time periods, including a
Medieval fortress built by the Order of Knights: a quasi-religious, quasi-military group.
At the top of the promontory is a Doric Stoa, which includes a temple to Athena, goddess
of wisdom.
The Stone Ship, carved into the cliffside of the Acropolis at Lindos.
One thing that I found interesting: despite being on a cliff next to a
shear drop, there were no fences anywhere. If you fell, you fell: goodbye! One
clear difference between Greece and America: I supposed it was because people don't
reflexively reach for their lawyers out here!
On our way back to the ship, we stopped at a ceramics factory. All
sorts beautiful works were made and painted (so they said) in the same way as it had been
done for hundreds of years. They've probably been catering to tourists for that long
as well. :-) I did pick up one small item (that I hoped wouldn't get smashed in my
suitcase!). It decorates my wall to this day.
Searching for the Collossus
Back in Rhodes, I wandered the city looking at the ancient buildings.
Two statues across the bay marked the former location of the Collossus of Rhodes,
another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The statue was destroyed long ago
in an earthquake: no traces of it remain today. It must have been an impressive
sight!
