Hey from the gorgeous Odyssey of the Seas; it is Day 9 of our cruise, which implies we solely have 3 days left. The time has been flying by with our busy days exploring new ports (and international locations!).
I’m joyful to report that I’ve a brand new favourite Greek island – Rhodes! After our busy days in Israel, we didn’t have an tour deliberate for at this time so we might have freedom and adaptability to do what we needed.
We woke as much as a shocking view of Rhodes exterior of our balcony!
Since we weren’t on a good timeline, we loved a gradual morning with breakfast at Cafe 270. This was one in all our favourite locations after we cruised on Spectrum of the Seas again in 2019, and I’m stunned we’ve but to eat there on this cruise.
They’ve a beautiful number of grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches and burritos, together with a bagel bar. There’s additionally a espresso cart positioned in 270, making it a straightforward place to seize breakfast.
Afternoon Buying in Rhodes
With some fast analysis on Rhodes, every part on-line mentioned the cruise port is positioned very conveniently within the outdated city.
Getting off the ship, we might instantly see the outdated city that was surrounded by a stone wall.
I discovered a couple of completely different areas inside strolling distance that I needed us to take a look at beginning with the Citadel of the Previous City.
We walked by an outdated city entrance and located ourselves surrounded by beautiful streets with tons of buying and eating places. Sadly, following the map on my telephone to the Citadel of the Previous City led us to a useless finish on a facet avenue. We seemed round and noticed nothing resembling a citadel.
Happily, there was a lot to nonetheless see and plenty of buying that was shut by so we went again to the primary pedestrian
Mother and I had been in heaven with all the retailers, particularly the jewellery retailers. We discovered a stunning store owned by a Greek household who made distinctive bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces. I feel mother and I spent practically an hour buying inside this single store with the proprietor serving to us discovering the right items.
The store house owners had been so heat and welcoming! They mentioned mother was their finest buyer of the day.
Dad roamed the streets by his lonesome self till we completed our buying; after all, he wasn’t solely happy with how a lot money and time we spent.
Wandering Round Previous City
Again to our self-guided stroll of the outdated city, we selected the Palace of the Grand Grasp of the Knights of Rhodes. Say that 10 occasions quick!
We weaved by the streets, usually getting distracted by what number of photograph alternatives offered themselves on this charming metropolis!
On the Palace, we loved taking some photographs and bumped into some pals from the ship that we spoke with for a short time. It was $10 to enter the Palace, so we opted simply to benefit from the exterior of what we might see from the citadel.
We additionally met a pleasant household from Austria that informed us how beautiful the marina stroll in Rhodes is, so we set that as our subsequent vacation spot.
After exiting the Palace, we walked by a extremely great courtyard with greenery, flowers and views of the palace.
As we made our solution to the ocean, we walked out of the outdated metropolis and into the newer space. We discovered an H&M and stopped in Starbucks for a fast resident and toilet cease.
Marina and Rhode Windmills
We discovered ourselves strolling alongside the ocean with unimaginable views of the ocean, Fort St. Nicholas and the Three Windmills of Rhodes. We might additionally see Odyssey of the Seas, together with 3 different small ships, within the port.
Fort St. Nicholas is positioned on the finish of a brief walkway-like pier that expands from the marina. It seemed like an incredible spot to stroll with sweeping views of the ocean.
This additionally gave us an up-close have a look at the Three Windmills of Rhodes. One of many windmills was lacking its precise windmill, which was attention-grabbing.
I loved taking some actually enjoyable photos with the windmills and ocean views whereas dad climbed on the rocks with Angie and mother discovered some locals to strike up a dialog with. She enjoys speaking to pleasant locals and asking all about their metropolis and financial system.
The locals defined that Rhodes is among the largest Greek Islands and depends nearly solely on tourism for its financial system. He additionally talked to us in regards to the island’s drawback with gypsies begging for cash within the metropolis, which have turn out to be extra of an issue lately.
We didn’t stroll to the top of the jetty however admired Fort St. Nicholas from afar and a show of European flags that lined the walkway.
Scammers at Saint Paul’s Gate
After mother completed conversing with the locals, we set our websites for the Temple of Aphrodite however stumbled upon the very charming St. Paul’s Gate!
Getting into the gate, we discovered a staircase that allowed us to climb the ramparts and see sweeping views of the harbor. Angie, dad and I climbed the steps to stroll round whereas mother admired from the protection of the bottom stage.
At one level, two gypsies began screaming at one another, disrupting our peaceable second taking within the ocean views.
We continued to discover the world, by which we bumped into extra cruise pals who provided to take our household image. We discovered cute little nooks to take photos and loved admiring the views.
Apparently, Saint Paul’s Gate is among the most intricate gates in Rhodes and connects the outdated city to the harbor.
Whereas I used to be snapping some photos of Angie and Mother off within the distance, I circled to see a gypsy yelling in my face. I used to be bowled over since I had not engaged in any form of dialog or eye contact with the ladies. From years of touring (and getting scammed earlier than), I do know it’s finest to be persistent in not partaking with them.
She began to scream to NOT take her photograph. I checked out her confused and confirmed her the image of mother and Angie, I mentioned to her that she wasn’t even within the photograph and I wasn’t fascinated with photographing her.
She screamed even louder, “YOU LIE – YOU’RE A PSYCHO! I see you utilize your telephone to take my image!!!!” And I walked away insisting that I didn’t take her image nor was I fascinated with taking her photograph.
I used to be nervous she was utilizing this as a possibility to pickpocket by making a scene, however she didn’t take something from me.
As we left the world, we noticed the gypsies method two males and place bracelets on their wrists – by which they proceeded to yell and count on the lads to pay them for the bracelets. They prey on anybody who exhibits them compassion or makes eye contact!
As I used to be penning this weblog, I discovered a couple of individuals noting on-line having the identical experiences with these ladies. A few of the feedback are from ten years in the past – so these similar ladies have been scamming individuals for nearly a decade. It’s too unhealthy, because it does take away among the fantastic thing about the gate.
Souvlaki and Buying in Previous City
As soon as we might decompress after the gypsy debacle, mother and I made a decision we had labored up an urge for food for some gyros or souvlaki. When in Rome!
We walked by the Temple of Aphrodite as we seemed to seek out one thing to eat close to the port.
Again within the outdated city, we bumped into our pals from earlier who really helpful a spot that was proper down the street. There was a quaint seating space with flowers and cubicles coated with colourful pillows.
We ordered 2 pitas for mother and I to take pleasure in whereas Dad tried baklava for the primary time. Everybody loved the hen souvlakis and we appreciated a second to sit down down, refresh and relaxation after strolling about 3 miles.
There was even a musician who came visiting to play the guitar – bringing a smile to all of us on the restaurant.
Following our souvlaki indulgence, Mother and I had extra buying to do in one of many leather-based shops earlier than discovering much more cruise pals within the outdated city. We love assembly so many sort individuals from the cruise and our rowdiness should make it simple to determine us in a crowd!
We determined to make our method again to the port because it was round 4:30.
Lime and Coconut
As soon as again onboard the ship, we dropped off our buying luggage within the room and spoke to our great stateroom attendant, Waylan. We’ve been so impressed with the service we’ve acquired on this cruise. Your complete employees onboard has been wonderful and so attentive.
We determined to go as much as the Lime and Coconut Bar to see our favourite bartender, Dwayne. Mother has been referring to him as ‘Dwa’ throughout this cruise; she met him on the primary day and couldn’t see his whole identify tag when he requested her to guess his identify so she mentioned ‘It have to be DWA’!
‘Dwa’ whipped up 4 cocktails for us, together with a mudslide for me, Miami Vice for dad and Bailey’s Banana Colada, which is Angie’s newest drink obsession. The cool drinks tasted so good after all of the strolling we did at this time.
The solar was beginning to set over Rhodes as we loved joyful hour cocktails on the highest deck. We mirrored on one other nice day of our cruise and marveled on the excellent climate.
I concluded that Rhodes is perhaps my new favourite Greek Island of all of the islands I’ve visited (together with Santorini, Crete, Corfu and Rhodes). Town was so charming and really clear. I’d like to return and go to the acropolis and different areas of the island.
Night on Board
It was 6:00PM earlier than we knew it, so we went to dinner in the primary eating room. Tonight we tried a wide range of appetizers, entrees and desserts however most of us discovered that it wasn’t our favourite meal of the cruise.
Angie was the one one who totally loved her whole meal tonight; she ordered the hen wings, pork chop and berry crumble.
Dad and I discovered the Beef Trio to be a bit of robust whereas mother didn’t love her goat cheese tart or fisherman’s pie.
We talked about to the server that we discovered the meat to be a bit of robust and shortly after, the top waiter came visiting to speak to us. We actually aren’t choosy or ones to complain, so we weren’t anticipating to talk to the top waiter.
He was asking intently in regards to the entree’s points to make sure he understood the problem, though we emphasised that we’ve been proud of all of our meals up to now. We had been impressed by how involved and rapidly he got here to handle our remark.
After dinner, the remainder of the household went to look at a magician efficiency within the Royal Theatre. Since I stayed up late (like 1 am) to complete yesterday’s weblog after a busy night with leisure, I opted to come back again and get some work finished.
They tremendously loved the magician, so I must go watch his efficiency tomorrow evening!
I take pleasure in having the quiet time to myself to undergo photographs and write at this time’s reside weblog.
Tomorrow’s Plans
Tomorrow, we’re in Santorini, Greece! I’ve been to Santorini twice earlier than. The primary time I got here to Santorini was throughout faculty once I did Semester at Sea; I flew to the island from Athens and spent a couple of days exploring.
The second time I visited Santorini was with my husband after we did a cruise from Venice for our honeymoon. Throughout that go to, we did our personal factor and took the pace boat and bus to Oia and walked down from Fira.
For this go to, we’ve a shore tour by Royal Caribbean. I feel this can be extra enjoyable for mother and pa not having to fret about logistics on our personal.
I learn that there can be a couple of different ships in port, so it might be busy. We additionally might want to tender to the island, so having the shore tour ought to make that simple. Our tour contains visits to Oia (the place the traditional blue roofs are!!), a vineyard and Fira earlier than returning to the ship.
I’ve by no means visited the wineries in Santorini, so I’m excited to see what that’s all about!
The outline of the tour makes it sound like we can be pushed to Oia from the port and return to the port by bus; it doesn’t point out the cable automobile or donkey stroll down from Fira on the hilltop, so I hope meaning returning to the port is not going to be a problem.
I’m crossing my fingers that our good luck continues tomorrow! Mother, Dad and Angie have by no means visited Santorini and I do know they’re wanting ahead to it. That is an thrilling port for a lot of, as Santorini is an iconic Greek Island and a world-class vacation spot for a lot of.
Keep tuned for tomorrow’s adventures! Till then, goodnight everybody!
