Wednesday 6th April



Wednesday 6th April.

Rhodes. Fourth largest Greek island and very special. An important city in the 5th to 3rd century BC. Not that long ago based on some of the old cities around here. It was Roman then Byzantine before being conquered by the Knights of St John who occupied Rhodes from 1306 to 1522 and the medieval walled city they build still dominates the town.

So on the bus early and off to Lindos a little town of white stone houses with pebbles decorated floors, all the rage here, many of these houses date back to the 15th century and above this town is the walled city with an impressive Acropolis.

On return to the city of Rhodes we continue with a walking tour of the old town and Palace.

Our guide told us not to give money to the kids begging. He said they were gypsies and you won't find a beggar who was Greek. I had to point out that I just took a photo of a Greek beggar; it was the National Bank of Greece. Don't think he understood fortunately. However, Rhodes was a highlight.

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Rhodes

Us at the Acropolis

How did they build this stuff in those days?

Lindos

Pool of St John

I am still here

Nice view

Ger in the little streets of Lindos

The Acropolis above Lindos

Grand Masters Palace built just before world war 2 by the Italians.

It's been a tiring trip and this is how I feel

The said it was the Street of Knights, I said were are the ladies of the ?

This where I found a Greek beggar, the National Bank of Greece

Tuesday 5th April

Tuesday 5th April
Overnight sail to the town of Kas a most beautiful little sea side village.  I would
love to sail into this port for few days. Here we drove for an hour to visit Xanthos a UNESCO world
Heritage Site and to Letoon. Both interesting but not as spectacular as previous sites.
Back to boat for lunch then a restful afternoon in the beautiful town having a few drinks and
catching up on emails.

Kas

Another Amphitheatre

Just holding on



I am always putting Ger on a pedestal      



Beautiful town of Kas



Caught window shopping

Town square

Catching up on emails. Note the name of the cocktails.

Just to show I am on the trip

Monday 4th April

Monday 4^th April  Land in Antalya and on buses for a long drive to Side, we were here in 1972 but we must not have been paying attention as we do not recall the amphitheatre or the Apollo Temple but I guess they are not new since we were here. Apollo was depicted as a young athletic figure without any trace of facial hair.  He is the god of light and sun, symbolizing truth and prophecy, having the power of cure and healing, god of music, poetry and arts, protective against plague and cureless sorrows, son of the “ god of gods” Zeus and Leto.  Man after my own heart.

After Lunch of to Aspendos where there is a spectacular Amphitheatre build by none other than the well know Marcus Aurelius (ad 161-180), I do not remember him but some do, which has been  restored and is in use today for Opera and Ballet.  It was well worth seeing.

Then on to Perge to see another city inhabited by Greeks after the Trojan war, who displaced previous lot, then came Alex the Great and also the Byzantines.   Everything this day has been very special.  I cannot get over cities that were build in one year and modified 800 years later.  Hard to imagine a city existing that long but some did for up to 4000 years.

One of the friends we meet  on the trip was taken to Hospital in Antalya with gallstones but sounds like he will survive.

I don't remember this when we were here in Side in 1972, maybe build for the tourist

Apollo's Temple

Don't remember this in 1972 or was not big tea drinker then

Turkish delight

Pretty special Amphitheater



This is still used for concerts, opera and other entertainment

THE WONDERFUL OLD RUINS OF PERGE

The hot underwater system for the bath house

Main street with the remains of the waste feature in the middle of street

Just us again

Sunday 3rd April

Sunday 3^rd April.  Dock in Tasucu in Turkey and after more ineffective custom checks we took the buses to Uzuncaburc. This was an impressive pile of rocks and in particular the Temple of Zeus Olbius and the Temple of Tyche.  This was worth a visit.  After Lunch somewhere we visited the underground church of Aya Tecla and a museum a Silike. Then on to Tombs of Corycos and a stop for a photo of Kiz Kalsi Castle.   Nothing else to do so took some photos but starting to get over 5000 year old stuff unless it is particularly spectacular.

Ger pushing the boundaries again.

Temple of Zeus

This doorway looks pretty safe

Because it was there.

Great for singing " good old Collingwood forever|"

Not bad amphitheater for something over 3000 years old

More of temple of Zeus

Our ship

1st, 2nd April

Friday 1^st April.  Another sleep in and an all day sail from Alexandria to Cyprus. Not one April fool’s joke, I had a few lined up but Ger suggested I should avoid being thrown of the ship.

Saturday 2^nd April  Dock in the port of Limassol in Cyprus  and into the buses to visit some more piles of rocks. Ancient Greek and Roman theatre and other sites, not that impressive to see as they are not well restored but still very interesting.  Town of Limassol very nice.

Old fashion wine press

Little town on Cyprus

Street of Limassol

Nice marina

Ger back in to smoking on a hubbly bubbly.