Advertisement
Published: September 9th 2015
Edit Blog Post
I arrived in Rhodes after an overnight ferry spent in my own private cabin. My window was on the bow of the ship, which meant I saw the ship's approach into Rhodes perfectly and spectacularly. I was thinking how dramatic it would've been if the Colossus of Rhodes still stood at the entrance to the harbor. Apparently it was about the size the Statue of Liberty before it crumbled into the sea as a result of an earthquake. All I have to say is they need to build another one. That is all Rhodes needs to ascend to a must see stop on every world travelers itinerary.
My original plan was to stay in the walled old city for the entire week, but that is when I thought it was a legitimate lived in part of the city. What I found was a touristy maze full of shops and restaurants with aggressive touts. So what you had were these busy touristy sections and then these confusing winding deserted lanes where occasionally you would run across an equally lost tourist. To demonstrate how confusing it was, after I checked in to my hotel I decided to go out and locate this
taverna I was thinking of going to for dinner. So I set off with my trusty map and within 10 minutes I arrived back at my hotel apparently having gone in circles. Then later that day after a hot day's wander when I wanted to go back to my hotel it took me over an hour to find it. Also that combined with finding no non-touristy nightlife I had had enough. So I weaseled my way out of my final five nights reservation at my hotel and booked a room at a beachfront hotel in the new town.
The guidebook had said that New Town was nothing special, but to me it was perfect. You had great beaches with crystal-clear waters and off the tip of Rhodes you can clearly see the country of Turkey looming in the distance. Also here was where the sizable local community actually lived, ate, shopped, drank, went to school, and performed any other basic function of life that you can think of. So basically relocating myself there was the best decision of the trip so far. My days were filled up with eating olives and drinking ouzo on my seaview balcony, napping, going
to the beach, swimming, and once again watching sunsets. The weather was sunny and warm to hot throughout. Also my hotel did great breakfast and dinner buffets. In short I got a room that usually goes for €150 during a normal high season for €35. God bless low season and austerity measures.
On Saturday night I wandered the streets of the new town looking for a good bar to make my own during my stay, but most of what I was seeing were half empty summer season type bars. Then as I dejectedly was walking along the ocean shore road I heard a buzz and distinct britpop tunes. There it was, a small bar packed with young locals right there along the Agean. I plunged right in and ordered a Mythos and since it was standing room only at that point I stood and surveyed the scene from my usual high vantage point. Eventually, I found a seat at the bar. That is where I found Anna and Anna a couple of Rhodes girls with the same name sitting at a table behind me. I made my move and luckily they spoke English. One better than the other. So
after a fun conversation with the hot blonde Ana I decided it was time to go so that one the other friend didn't get bored and two because a days worth of drinking was fast catching up with me. So that was Saturday night.
After a days rest I was ready for Round 2 on Monday night. I got there early at 8 PM. There were a few people in there, but at that point it was quiet and chill. This allowed me to make friends with the bartender, always key when trying out a new bar. I began to throw down before after Mythos after Mythos. I was beginning to think it was going to be a quiet night, But at about 9:30 PM the place begin to fill up. I was all keyed in so I decided to make my move. I bought five shots, one for me, one for the bartender, and three for the people in my immediate vicinity. What happened after that is a bit of a mish mash. I remember getting free beer and free shots of Greek liquor. I was in it. Eventually I stumbled over to McDonald's for a Greek Pita
Mac, managed my way back to my room, and woke up with a head shattering hangover.
After spending Tuesday in my own self imposed decompression tank I decided to cancel my planned Round 3 Wednesday back at the bar. So there I was late Wednesday afternoon resolving to be good and taking a relaxing late afternoon dip in the Aegean. I was pleased with my decision, when I spied these two hot girls glancing at me from down the beach. I realized it was two girls who had been at the bar on Monday night. My adrenaline kicked in, and I decided it must be a sign. And that is how I came to find myself indeed going back to the bar for Round 3 on my last night in Rhodes.
I did however put in some checks and balances to make sure that there would not be a repeat of Tuesday's super hangover. I would only drink ouo. The reason being that ouzo always relaxes puts me into a nice sleepy coma. Also it requires slow sipping which would slow down my drinking speed. So at 9 PM with those instructions I walked back into the bar
to be met with a high-five from the bartender. Only this time the bar was already packed, but luckily I managed to find a seat at the bar. I set down to business with my ouzo. My plan was working like a charm. I felt relaxed, warm, and chilled out. In short I was becoming the most laid back dude at the bar. I was on my way to having the perfect night when I ordered ouzo number four thinking that it would be my last. Then these two hot girls who were sitting behind me got up and moved themselves into the two empty seats to my left. They were drinking kind of nervously and sort of glancing over at me. What was this? How did this fit into my chilled out ouzo plan? Well, I had to talk with them and because it was on Ouzo time I was completely laid back and relax. Nothing would get me nervous in my ouzo fog. Eventually, another ouzo was ordered. As we discussed various Greek Islands more and more locals kept pouring in. It was a young good looking crowd. I was there at the edge trying to decide whether
to call quits, order more ouzo, or whether to get back on the shots. In a shock of a decison I decided to retire for the night. The ouzo had chilled me out and calmed me down. I left to warm wishes and good luck on the next leg of my journey to Athens. Yes children even Tommy No Papers can mature.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.045s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0243s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb