02.03.2016 Rhodes-town and Lindos, the white village

Today Serap does not act as travel guide, because at Rhodes their Greek colleagues take over this job.
Before noon we go to Rhodes town. After a short bus trip we stand just before the Grandmaster's Palace. The origin palace from the 14th century serves mostly as ammunition depot and prison and gets largely destroyed by an explosion in 19th century. In 1912 the Italians occupy the island of Rhodes and start to rebuild the palace as accomodation for Mussolini.
Our Greek travel guide also leads us to some other buildings before she gives us time to explore Rhodes town by our own.  So we learn, that exploring Rhodes town doesn't come cheap (3,50€ for a small cup of coffee) and that at this time of the year only few  pubs and shops are opened.

Today we make a bus trip to Lindos, the white village, instead of lunch. During the bus ride (ca. 50km along the east coast) we find large hotels and vacation resorts, but all of them are closed at this time. We learn, that nearly two thirds of the islanders are living from tourism in summer and living off savings for the rest of the year. If they are lucky, the find a job in the agriculture for some months. Travels like ours are the trial to extend the tourism saison. But we won't imagine the crush of people, if all these vacation resorts and hotels are opened and fully booked.
After a good our we reach a car park above Lindos, from where a free shuttle takes the visitors to the village and back again. We however walk down to the village. First of all we notice that most of the houses are white and very similar. We learn, that these so called captain's houses, built in the 17th century by wealthy sailors, are decorated with reliefs. The village is under conservation and there are no cars. If you need a taxi, you have to rent a donkey. Those donkeys can be helpful if you are going to climb to the acropolis high above the village. St. Mary's church of Lindos is famous and our fist target. Unfortunately the church is closed for refurbishment.
Our Greek ravel guide tells us about the byzantine church built in the 15th century. The tower bell was added in the 19th century. She tells us, that the temple of Athena (4th century BC) is the only preserved building of the Akropolis of Lindos. Finally she says good bye.

From the village you can't see much of the Akropolis because it is mostly covered by a fortress rebuilded during the Italian occupation.
Though the track to the Akropolis is quiet steep, many of us climb up. And it's worth it - not only because of the ancient remains but because of the exceptional sight of the sea, the natural port and the village.

We spend this evening with some other couples at the hotel bar again - chatting and dancing. Finally we have to say good bye to „Schatzi“.