Thursday night, Kelly, Valerie, and I went off in search of authentic Greek cuisine. We were tired of eating at all the super touristy places. Kelly got a recommendation from our guide Yorgos, but when we arrived at the restaurant, it was empty and padlocked. We then wandered into a smoky billiards hall filled with old Greek men. We asked where was a good place to eat and the guys were unianimous: nearby restaurant Ouzaki (ouzo is a local liquor).
(above) Val and I, stuffed and happy.
(above) Our dinner table at Ouzaki. I got marinated mushrooms in addition to a shrimp dish, but we all shared so we'd get to taste everything.
(above left) Peppers stuffed with a spicy feta mixture (above right) a fava bean puree with diced onions
(above) my Shrimp saganaki: whole shrimp with feta in a tomato-y sauce.
Yorgos told us, "Curiousity is the only cure for boredom-There is no cure for curiousity." I think we satisfied our curiousity...for that night at least.
(above) From left: Kelly, Savannah, Laura, and Jenna with cocktails decked out with sparklers, neon straws and stirrers of naked people.
Rhodes is waaaay more touristy than I thought it would be. Part of that is because we're staying in a really touristy area, where bunches of hotels line the Aegean coastline. Tourism is the major industry of Rhodes. Thursday, we were scheduled to see another antiquity with our guide here, Yorgos. He couldn't do Thursday, though, because tour guides were going on strike. Apparently archeologists want to be able to lead tours too. The guides want the government to allow only them to guide since most aren't certified to do anything else-they feel like another group is encroaching on their livelihood.
Finally I washed clothes in the sink. It was hard to plug the sink, but the clothes seem adequantely washed. I hung them off the balcony overnight and they were dry in the morning. The shout wipes Mom insisted I pack have already been a valuable ally. I feel more like a traveler after this mini adventure. (as I write this, my classmates are discussing finding a laundry service)
We took a ferryboat to the small island of Symi. The boat stopped on one side of the island so everyone aboard could visit a small monastery. (Above) Here I am in front of the bell tower, with one of the shawls they passed out to us girls whose shoulder-baring and low-cut tops were too scandalous to enter a religious place.
Below is the other side of Symi, where sea sponges are a main draw. Most of us brought snorkels to see the underwater life. I failed at snorkeling. I don't think the mask was tight enough because I kept getting water up my nose.
I ate lunch by myself in a little cafe: a huge spanakopita with banana juice. I wanted to get it to go, to sit and eat on the beach, but the owner insisted I stay and eat. I talked for awhile to a Greek Austrailian world traveler, journeying mostly to places where he has relatives. I began to see how it would be possible to travel alone: you would strike up conversations with strangers and meet lots of people along the way. Still, I am probably too high maintainance to go backpacking. The lack of hairstyling tools in my arsenel is making me antsy.
Today we hiked among ruins, explored Rhodes' walled city (Old Town), and learned a lot of history through art and artifacts as explained by our tour guide, Yorgos.
(above) Rhodes is split into New Town (pictured above), Old Town (pictured below), and the touristy hotel area where we're staying.
(above) Rhodes' Old Town has quaint narrow streets, with many ivy-covered buildings.
(above) A lemon tree....which reminds me, lemonade is fizzy here--sooo not what I was expecting.
(above) Rhodes' Old Town is surrounded by large stone walls.
(above) Look at this fabulous piece of Greek art!
(above) One of many impressive mosaics we saw today.
On Wednesday, we hiked around the remains of the ancient city of Kamiros.
(Above) The giant cross at Filermos.
Thursday night, Kelly, Valerie, and I went off in search of authentic Greek cuisine. We were tired of eating at all the super touristy places. Kelly got a recommendation from our guide Yorgos, but when we arrived at the restaurant, it was empty and padlocked. We then wandered into a smoky billiards hall filled with old Greek men. We asked where was a good place to eat and the guys were unianimous: nearby restaurant Ouzaki (ouzo is a local liquor).
(above) From left: Kelly, Savannah, Laura, and Jenna with cocktails decked out with sparklers, neon straws and stirrers of naked people.
(above) A lemon tree....which reminds me, lemonade is fizzy here--sooo not what I was expecting.
(above) Rhodes' Old Town is surrounded by large stone walls.
(above) One of many impressive mosaics we saw today.
(above) Sun sets over one rocky beach of Rhodes.
