Rhodes (Island) Off The Beaten Path

The Colossus of Rhodes is one of the famous Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built between the years 292 and 280 BC, to commemorate the successful outcome of the war against the troops of Demetrios Poliorcetes (The Besieger), one of the epigones (epigoni) of Alexander the Great. It was built by Charis the Lyndian, a student of Lyssipos a renown sculptor of the Hellenistic times that amongst others built the bronze statue of Zeus (22m high) of Taras (Taranto).

The statue was depicting the protector of the city of Rhodes, the God Helios (Sun), naked with a crown of rays around the head. On the right hand of the statue there was a lamp with fire, or a torch. It was standing at over 30 meters of height.

Today, deer statues on pillars stand where Colossus' was standing at the enterance of Mandraki.

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The Kiss is a beautiful statue placed in the Central Square in Faliraki.

The statue makes part from a wonderful fountain, situated in front of the hotel Blue Waves, and not far from the beach of the station.

This is an important point in the station, a meet point for many young people.

This is a wonderful art creation in the village.

If you leave Afandou on the main road to the beach you will cross the main lindos rd and about 300yd further on (on the left) is an old army base whith has been made into a large restaraunt, next to it is the Church of Our Lady Katholiki, The church is decorated with wall paintings originating from the 17th Century. In August a big religious festival is held.

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The Byzantine church of Ayious Nikolaos (St. Nikolas), on the road between Eleousa and Archipoli, is a stone church of the 13th Century, and contains some unique Byzantine paintings from the 14th Century. Opposite the church is a fresh water spring where you can quench your thirst. When we first found this church (in the early 80's) it certainly was off the beaten path, now however it is plagued by coach trips which stop here as part of excursions.

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Lindos is small, beautiful, historical village in Rhodes islands. Down in village locate donkey station, where are donkeys ready to serve tourists. Donkeys duty is carry tourist up to old castle and Acropolis near Lindos .
When we visited in Lindos 2007 in July was really hot. In the evening we saw after donkeys work day, when they went to rest to their home. Two donkeys came up from donkey station together without control to hill and from there they continued to street and down to their stable and home.
In street was by bike one person leading their street run and gallop to down cooler place.

This was amazing to see when two donkeys galloped happy on the asphalt road ( hope so) down to home.

Most responsible drivers will recognise that you cannot see and properly appreciate a country when you are driving, add to that the "wrong" side of the road and you can see the problem get worse. It is possible to see the real Rhodes by bus, you will need some determination to decipher bus timetables (which are basically a list of starting times from the first departure point, and that's all), and to appreciate that the Rhodians find it hard to understand that their fellow Europeans might simply wish to see the country, villages etc. from a bus or coach window rather than spend our cash in souvenir shops! You may get some help from the main tourist info office situated on one of the corners up the hill on Papagou which is the street running inland from the taxi station at Mandraki. Unhelpfully this office only opens Monday to Friday office hours!

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Ah....sun, sea, sand, serenity and sudoku! If this sounds like your idea of paradise then you need to hit the road and seek out Plimiri beach on the southwest coast.

There is a taverna, chapel and about five sun loungers on this long stretch of beautiful sand. We pitched up around a brollie and paid only 5 euro for our three loungers. There is also a shower for cleaning up after plus a toilet adjacent to the taverna.

We brought a picnic lunch in our coolbag. The taverna looked good, though I wasn't sure about the octopus drying in the sun.

You'll see a sign on the main east coast road about four miles east of Kattavia/seven miles south of Gennadi. Turn here onto a narrow but paved road which goes through the reeds of a dry river bed before opening up at the parking spot.

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Between Siana and kamiros are the ruins of another castle - Kritinia, overlooking olive groves and pine woods with far reaching views over the coast. Yet another stronghold for the Knights of St John. Lying in ruins know so pick your way up carefully up th rubble-strewn staircase, rises over several levels but well worth it for the views over the coastline here - please see all the pics!