Rhodes - Day 1

Wowzers, what an early start to today. We were up at 1.30AM and out of the door by 2AM so that we could make it to Gatwick for 4AM to catch our flight out to Rhodes for 7AM.

The trip down to the airport was fine. We had decided to go in the Yaris as we'd arranged the parking through a "man who knows about a dog" if you catch my drift and so being unaware of what situation we might end up in I thought it prudent to leave the less valuable car to the mercies of an unknown parking service. Phil was kind enough to drive and when we rolled up outside the drop off point we were met by a lovely chap who took our money, gave us a receipt and wished us a fabulous holiday. If the service is as good as this on the way back they'll we'll be using them again for sure.

We check in with no problems, in fact I think we are one of the first to do so and then amble into the departure lounge to waste a couple of hours. We manage that just fine by getting some breakfast and browsing each of the shops as they eventually opened up, not that we bought much now that Duty Free doesn't really have that much financial gain.

It's not long before our gate is announced as we walk for what feels like an eternity to get to the plane and as we load up I realise it's not going to be a comfy trip. The seats are tiny, the plane is dirty and the list of just pure crap customer service is as long as my arm (and easily as long as the seatbelts which it appears were cut to length to service only the most normal of people).

Bah humbug for 4 hours and cut to the landing which was a bit bumpy to say the least. The other thing of note about the flight was that we flew over Lesbos, which was a bit weird knowing my Mum was about 36,000 feet directly below me.

When the doors of the plane open we both quickly realise our estimates of the temperature being around 26 were vastly incorrect and we a greeted by a waft of warm air closer to 35 degrees, which whilst nice is probably verging on too close to hot for both of our liking, but we just get on with it. Not a lot you can do to change the weather really! After some waiting around we get our bags and then get herded (yes, quite literally like a load of cows) onto a bus with no air-conditioning and wait for what must of been a hour for the dwindlers to get on the bus. We are then heading down the Rhodes coast line towards Lindos which is where we are staying for the week.

The trip was hot and uncomfortable but interesting in the same light. It has been some 20 years since I last went to Rhodes and notably stayed at Falaraki when it was nothing more than 2 tavernas and a donkey, so it was a horrid shock to see that it's now been turned into a bastardised version of Blackpool. I knew enough to know that it'd had been "turned" to accommodate the tourist trade, but honestly, if Falaraki is now seen as the epitome of what particular tourist genre's want then there is no hope for civilization. What's more is that I'm ashamed that the Greeks would let such an obscenity exist, of for that matter allow sex shops adorn the main arterial route that leads to the south of the island where the clutches of undeniably lewd commerce has yet to take grip.

45 minutes later and we arrive at our hotel, the Lindos Blu. Even from the road I have a good feeling about where we have chosen to stay and we were note disappointed when we walked into reception where a glass of fresh orange juice and sparkling wine was waiting for us to relax with whilst our cases were squirreled off to our room.

After a while we ourselves join our luggage and we are escorted to our home for the next week and when the door is opened we are confronted with the most glorious view over Lindos bay leading to the mountains behind. The room is spectacular, with a massive superking bed, balcony and an ensuite bathroom with a glass wall allowing you to enjoy the view whilst soaking away in a Jacuzzi bath. Fantastic! There is little wonder this place was in the small luxury hotels of the world guide, my new bible!

We are both so tired now we have a kip and arrange to meet phil's sister Jen and her husband to be Mark (they are getting married, which is why we're in Rhodes in the first place!) later on that evening for dinner and some drinks after we've recovered from the journey. Ahh, the sweet drone of air conditioning whilst you lounge in egyptian cotton sheets. It doesn't get much better than this :)

When we finally got up from our post travel snooze we head over to Jen and Marks hotel (which is right next door to ours) and we have some food and get started on the cocktails, mavro, retsina and beer. Strangely, 3AM came around really quickly and Phil and I sauntered rather randomly back to our hotel after having a good time chatting and catching up with the couple to be.

What a great way to start a holiday :-)

Posted by Abi on the October 7, 2009 10:43 PM