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Greece
The island of Rhodes has it all. I have recently returned from a wonderful holiday in Rhodes and stayed in the charming town of Lindos.
Firstly you have to visit Lindos, the people here are wonderfully friendly and welcoming, the beaches are stunning and although slightly overcrowded still very clean. The restaurants and Tavernas are top notch and my family and I spent most of our time eating in Nama and Acropolis.
If you want to do a bit of sightseeing, you have a few places to visit. Me and my wife went up to the Acropolis of Lindos; she got to ride a donkey up to the top, where as I was not allowed and had to walk or drag myself up there.
Once up to the Acropolis you can explore the ancient fortress and look through the excavations, but the views from the top of the hill are stunning.
We also went to Rodini Park, which is a strange nature reserve, typically Greek I suppose, and we also visited the valley of the butterflies which is a sight you can't miss.
The best time to visit Rhodes in my opinion would have to be in early Summer when the weather isn't too hot, or in early September. Also stick to the east side of the island, its much windier on the west side.
www.holidays2rhodes.com/rhodes-guide.html
www.rhodesguide.com/rhodes/rhodes_greece_about.php
Mandraki is a must. The old town has its own charm but Mandraki represents the cosmopolitan Rhodes. There you will find everything. The Italian Art Deco buildings, the Agora with many shops and restaurants. Just at the entrance of the market there are kiosks with foreign books and newspapers.
On the promenade, visit the Zaharoplasteion Dimitriadis, one of the oldest pastry shops. Enjoy the view of the windmills and the two pillars with the deer at the port entrance.
Just behind the Taxi terminal inside the arcade there are some good old restaurants with very cheap prices.
This incredible castle is perched on a rock high on the west coast of the island. Half the fun is the drive there, which takes you along a winding coastline with stunning views of Turkey, Halki and other small islands.
The landscape on the west is not commercial or developed, and you can stop in small villages like Embonas (famous for their wine) and Sianna (great for carpets) on the way.
Keep a look out for a caravan parked on the side of the road (before you get to Sianna) which looks as if its going to slide down the mountain. Stop here and have a coffee (or a suma) sit and contemplate the breathtaking view.
Just follow the road east from the airport - you dont have to turn off anywhere. It's about 2 hours from Rhodes Town.
If you are going on a day out, head for the hills and the stunning Hotel Elafos on Profitis Ilias Mountain. The drive there is beautiful through little villages and olive groves. The hotel is completely unique, set deep in the woods and a great location for walkers.
Orginially built as a HQ for Mussolini it has been restored by local craftsmen and offers a complete change from the beach.
You can have lunch (food is excellent), stay the night or even get married here - there's even a childrens play area. It's relaxing, peaceful and well worth the visit.
The drive is about an hour from Rhodes Town or Lindos.
My top tip is to head to Rhodes Town early in the morning before the tourist rush. Make your way around the Old Town in peace - visiting the Grand Master's Palace and Archealogical Museum.
The old town of Rhodes is a beautiful walled town with narrow cobbled streets and some wonderful looking restaurants nestled in the walls of a palace. I also saw an old man feeding a group of cats down at Mandrake Harbour, which is also gorgeous. There is a bizarre aquarium down there with a selection of embalmed and living sea animals - most notably a rather large shark which haunted me when I went scuba diving later on in the holiday.
The whole island is lovely and only about 50 miles wide, so you can get around easily - and all the taxi drivers seem to drive Mercedes and are about 105 years old.
Is this your business?Search Been there
