Rafting down the river. ..not on a Sunday afternoon.

Goodbye to Stromowce Nizne, a small but attractive town on the Polish - Slovakia border,popular as a holiday destination and the home of rafting it seems. Across the river is the township of Cerveny Klastor where a monastery museum is famous but we gave that a miss and decided to stick to the river.

The Pieniny National Park is part of both countries,one you pay to go in to  in the other is free entry.

Stromowce is also close to the Pieniny Mountains and the Dunajec Gorge which  the Dunajec River runs through on its way to the  spa town of Szczawnica where we will stay tonight.

The limestone gorge is a World Natural  Heritage site and marks the boundary between Slovakia and Poland known as the Pieniny Way.The choice is to walk it or take a raft down the river for two hours.

Not a difficult decision really.We hiked across the river and headed up the road to the ticket office on the Slovakia side as our tour manager said they spoke English and were reputable.We arrived in time for the first run of the day so sat and watched them get the rafts ready.

The rafts are like four wooden  open burial caskets lashed together by rope and a couple of cross bars.They bail out the water manually and attack some greenery to the front of the raft, then they put three rows of seating in and we are ready to sail. No life jackets or safety instructions in this part of the world.Just in and off down the river.

Our boaties were wearing traditional hats and patterned jerkins with white shirts and on the bank a collection of other men stand around and offer advice perhaps,gossip and fill in their day.

On our raft we had a young boy called Sebastian at the back of the raft fishing,maybe his dad was the paddler but he gave us great entertainment by feeding the ducks and getting very excited when we went down rapids.

When you have no idea what is being said during the commentary you tend to try and second guess the content.There was a young Slovakian woman on board who struck up a conversation with us she said it was not very illuminating.She was with her parents and her mother gave Brad a shirt to wear as it had got cooler.

The trip was well worth while, two hours through a beautiful gorge, the autumn colors showing amongst the firs and leaves drifting down into the river. We saw some bird life, notably ducks as we passed by the small stony beaches.
Above us towered the limestone cliffs covered in firs,larch,rowan and beech trees.
The pace was leisurely and the flow varied from calm to small rapids.This is when the paddlers sprang into action pushing the paddles into the current or off the rocks.That was fun and there was a bit of competition between the rafts on the river as to who would get there first.We were the slower one but we still made good time and pulled into the landing bay two hours after setting off.

Brad and I then hiked on to the town of Szczawnica along the Pieniny Way for another fifteen minutes before turning along another river to look for our hotel.It took another half hour to find it but a lovely place set amongst trees quite high above the river.There is a big chairlift coming right down to the street so if fine tomorrow we might take a ride to the ski fields.xxx but not planning to walk far in the rain.

We have since had an exploration of the town and an ice cream.Very good ice creams here.We had a look in some of the shops until driven back by the approaching thunder storms and now we are relaxing in our very comfortable room with a balcony and a sitting room.Very spoilt we are.

Day five and the hottest day yet.

Today was another day in Paradise. Thirty four degrees and not a cloud in the sky.We have been so lucky with the weather.It could be raining.In fact thunderstorms were forecast for tomorrow and rain until we leave Poland but we will see.It could change as weather in the mountains is unpredictable. Poland has been experiencing drought conditions this summer.
We packed up our bags ready for our transfer to Vel'ky Lipnik, a small village in Slovakia where our walk for the day begins in the Pieniny National Park and takes us to Stromowce.
We were told we would be visiting a castle but our driver did not speak English and looked confused so we went with the flow,hoping we would end up in the right place.It is tricky when you cannot recognize names-as we were told it would take forty minutes but we were two hours driving and no idea where we were until I spotted the village name on a sign post and started to relax.
We were dropped in the village and found the start of the track easily but the instructions then we're  a little terse so we were backwards and forwards until we found the stile across the fence with the right colors. Every trail is well marked with colors and once you get underway you are fine.Maps are good here.
The day was sizzling and the climb up to the pass above the village brutal.It reminded me of day one on the Akaroa walk!!!Straight up.
Lesnicke Pass was 420 meters above the village and exposed to the sun all the way.A welcome wind blew up as we climbed which was a relief.
This  part of the day was the tough bit but once we got to the top there was a little shop and some seating so we could catch a breath and admire the scenery.Autumn has arrived here and leaves are drifting down in the breeze as we pass trees near the village.
Up on the top we found a little farm with cows grazing and a bus stop!
After catching our breath we headed along the top of the ridge which undulated along a nice grassy track until we entered the bush and shade.
This was a lovely part of the walkway,several wooden shelters at look outs and just gentle ups and downs such a change from the past few days.We walked across meadows where hay was baled in big bales and great views to the Tatras.Really enjoyed this stretch of the walk.
We did not do the optional hill climb-read mountain.We have done enough of that.
We met very few people on this walk,two couples in total which is a great contrast to our other walks.We did get passed by a tractor and crew though.

The descent was not as pleasant because of a long stretch of dusty old road,  steep and slippery in placed which required some concentration but we made it without mishap.It took an hour and a half to get down to the village of Cerveny Kiastor, home of the Red Monastery Museum.It was suggested we stop for a visit but all our minds wanted was a place to stop and take off our boots and rehydrate.It must have been 35 degrees and we had walked for four hours so we headed across the footbridge and tracked down our hotel.

What a nice place it turned out to be.Very welcoming and a comfortable room with a deck.Perfect for the rest and recover phase of our day.A good shower and a nice meal restores the body and mind very quickly.
My blister is enormous and painful so a bit of Dr Selbie treatment needed before going out again.
Dinner was early here so we had a stroll along the river after tea and explored the local attractions.It is a small town but a busy one as rafting is big here.The climate is milder and the gardens well kept and colorful.
Anyway bed is calling,another day to  give thanks for.Ka kite ano....

West Tatra Mountains are not to be trifled with...

Today is a beauty.30 degrees forecast so we will need to be well prepared for our walk today.Sunhats and sunscreen are foreign to me but get used to it.It is hot here in the mountains.

We were picked up by taxi and driven to a small town called Siwa Polana where we paid our park fees and caught a converted tractor known as Witow- built to ferry passengers as a train.It is a tourist ride but it takes you up the logging road into the National Park and cuts off a big trek along pretty routine tracks.

Cycling is popular here too with lots of bikes to hire.They have bike stands at each end.Not quite the gear of the international set but a fit and active lot the Poles.

The train dropped us off fairly close to the beginning of our walking track.The trails are really well marked here so once you find the track you follow the colors with confidence as they are frequent.

Our trail led us up to the Iwaniacka Pass,1459 meters to climb.We did not have many walking with us today from this side but we had a jovial group at the top of the pass.
We climbed steadily up the valley on a rather rock strewn path to begin with - it got worse but nobody told us that.It was very hot and the track was exposed,very little shade to take shelter in.A gutsy effort was needed and after a couple of hours we finally  came out onto a nice pathway which lead to the top of the pass where a grassy meadow offered a place to rest and recover before descending.We had quite a bit of company on the top as other trails joined at the pass.

 to negotiate and it took about an hour of negotiating the track downhill.My knees will not forgive me for awhile.
It was my first day using two sticks and how much better that was.I could keep my balance much better.A mountain goat is my new moniker.
Lots of berries along the way and some wildflowers but the main display is over and rowan berries are plentiful.Spruce are the native tree and lots of evidence of storm damage.The foresters are out cutting it up for firewood or milling it.Wooden buildings are popular and the houses are very big so a lot of wood is needed.
We have encounter a few nuns on our trips,a fit bunch it seems.
The end of the descent bought us into a lovely meadow which is a popular film backdrop so we sat and enjoyed the views up to the high Tatras .What a tricky path down.No wonder the people coming up looked exhausted.There were lots of rock steps
Our next stop was the very impressive chalet which was over run by bodies sunning themselves,some sleeping, others were probably recovering.One man was snoring on the bench beside us.By the time walked back to the end of the road we knew why!!!!It took an hour an a half and again no shelter so the bus was a welcome sight when we arrived into Viry.
We should have taken a horse and cart,they were plying the road backwards and forwards along the road as we soldiered on but we did not know that was an option.
Sounds like we did not enjoy it but the reverse,beautiful views and just because we can....I am amazed that we can climb to these heights.We get a few looks,they probably wonder why these old ducks are on the trail.

Sunday stroll

What a glorious day today. Thirty degrees in the town of Zakopane  where we are based but a bit cooler up on the mountain.
The sun shone as we left our pension for a walk to Kalatowki Meadows  in the nearby town of Kuznice.
We caught a little local bus at the end of our street and headed away.We discovered this village was where the oldest and biggest chairlift operates from.It goes up to 1800 meters and takes three hours for the return trip.It costs 61 Z lot per person so we hope to take the trip before we leave as the views would be spectacular.We did not have enough money on us to buy tickets for today but the queues were daunting and patience would be required.
Today is a Sunday and the last day of their summer holidays so big day out for families.It does seem a very family orientated place with hordes of groups climbing the trails,picnicking and just enjoying themselves.We s were surprised at the numbers of walkers and the great variety of ages who were taking part.

The trail leads out of the township up a road of river stones for a long distance.Big stones are used to edge the route but a variety make up the road itself.My feet did not enjoy the walking here.
The concentration needed is intense,one slip and your ankle could be shot or worse scenarios of course.

We bought our tickets to enter the park a little way up the road and found we were old people who got a discount.
We climbed for about an hour up this rock passage,hoping from large rock to small and taking care not to lose sight of our blue route symbols.After yesterday's debacle we did not want a repeat.

The distance for today was eight hours walking but we modified our route as forgot our walking sticks and the going was rough.
It improved once we got to the meadows where a large chalet catered for skiers and tampers. There was a chairlift and a ski run lead down across the meadows.
Brad and I decided to climb up to the next hut on the way to Kopa Kondracka peak and enjoy the wild flowers and mountain scenes.It was pleasant up there with the mountains towering over us.We were only slightly tempted to continue!!!!
On our way back the heat intensified as the wind dropped so Kuznice was a welcome sight.
We walked back to the hotel rather than bus so we could see some of the local sights.There was a large Catholic retreat with lovely gardens dedicated to Pope John Paul 11.He was a local priest and honored for his life in the town.
We had been walking for five hours so time for a siesta and a cuppa.
Later we wandered down town and explored the shopping and ambience of the place.Reminded us of Queenstown but not so diverse a group of tourists.Local tourists rather that international ones but a big town with lots of music, and street stalls.Ice cream is very popular here too.Every corner has ice cream stalls.
Later we returned to our hotel for dinner.The Polish musicians were plain while we dined and bear skins hung on the walls amongst lots of memorabilia from family and cultural events.
We had veal and dumplings,beetroot salad and fruit salad so not suffering here.The food is fresh and wholesome.
Time for bed,another day walking tomorrow.

Zakopane and a challenge (or two)......

Today we were collected by our tour guide from our hotel in Krachow after breakfast ( what a repast that was) and driven through pretty rural  areas to the mountainous town of Zakopane.
The outskirts of the city are unsightly but once we left the trappings of Communism behind we enjoyed the distinctive pitched roofed houses designed to tip off the snow.Some beautiful examples of wooden homes,carved doors and impressive facades decorated by scenes carved into the wood.The churches were interesting too, mostly Catholic in this area but they have bulbous towers which look a little turk ish.
Zakopane is bigger than expected.The houses are mostly wooden, some in wood cabin designs but others have very distinctive features.Must get some photos to share.
About 30,000 people are resident here but it is like Queenstown and very busy summer and winter.Skiing is huge here and much building evident in the town.We are staying in a pension quite close to the National Park where we started walking after lunch.
Our map reading skills were terrible today.We got distracted by a man giving us the rest of his tickets to enter the park. You pay here to go into the parks.We ended up heading up a different valley to the one we should have and by the time we realised our mistake we decided it was too far to go back so we would soldier on.What a climb.We climbed up to a pass about 1370 meters so the muscles were protesting.
Once we got to the path I decided to climb to the top of the peak for the view.Well it was a challenge but I made it.I had to scramble up but worse coming down.I have climbed a peak in the Tatra Mts.Now I plan to rest on my laurals.
It was a long way down the mountain,tough tracks to negotiate and easy to fall.Total concentration needed.We met heaps of other walkers,families,couples,young and old they are an active nation and enjoy the outdoors.
Scenery was spectacular and the late afternoon colors a rich mix of blues and purples.Lots of plants in the lower valleys along with beech,spruce and pine trees.
It took us five hours to finish the walk so it was a relief to have a hot shower and a cup of tea before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant.
We had traditional dumplings,salads,cheese and ice cream with warmed cherries to complete the meal.Just lovely sitting outside listening to a local polish band performing indoors to a receptive crowd.
Time for bed.We do it all over again tomorrow.Goodnight readers.

Day one:Starting out

For the first time since my arrival the sun shines and promises a day in the sun.However my day will be spent travelling , firstly to Stanstead.I bus there,meet Brad at Goldens Green and then fly to Krachow.
It has been a lovely catch up with Lou.She took the day off yesterday and we walked a total of thirteen kilometers during the day so I am up to the challenge of conquering the Tatras! !!
We walked  Coco the dog up to Highgate Hill along a walking track developed from the old rail line for two hours.We had to wait until the rain stopped though,it was a dismal start to the day.I harvested a few  black berries along the walkway.Delicious.I love the taste of them.
Later we lunched in Stroud Green and later in the day met up with Claire,Liz Jenny and her friend for a meal at the local pub.
It was National Burger day so we sampled the local   vegetarian option which was delicious and went down well with a bottle of red.
Johnathon was not keen to join us but caught up later at home as he cooked up a late meal.It was a full on day.
Now I am packed and ready to go.Not sure if there will be any more posts as my app on the tablet is not responding and not sure if it will get activated.
Anyway all is well and time to go.Ka kite a no.

The adventure begins...

London dawns- wet,cool and dismal,not at all what I was hoping for but maybe tomorrow.
It was a good trip on flight NZ 289 and BA 168 Shanghai to London.I had a window seat on the Shanghai to London leg which allowed me to watch an ever changing skyscape from the comfort of my seat.No wings obscured my sight but closer to Europe the skies c lagged up and the views were limited by thick cloud.
I was met by my taxi man at the arrival hall.How cool.I think it is the first time with my name visible on arrival.
It took about an hour and  forty seven pounds to arrive at the new flat where Lou was waiting for me with hot soup and toast.That was a treat.
We had an inspection of the flat and a catch up before sleep claimed me.
Sadly the day dawns wet and windy so not a great start to my adventure.
Just finishing my breakfast and then I am lunching with Claire at Crouch end.It will be good to spend some time with her after her horrible encounter with the London taxi.

My Favourite Walk

: 

Walking on the Otago Peninsula

by Robyne Selbie

My favourite walk is on the Otago Peninsula which is the rural  hinterland for Dunedin city and host to a number of walks which lead to various  bays and headlands along the coast, or to vantage points overlooking the city.

My  route leads me to a little known walk which begins at Greenacres Street in the Macandrew Bay township. . The return trip  takes me about one hour thirty from my back door to the top road and back to Marion Street.

Signs  at the bottom of Greenacres Street point out the direction  to my destination via a walking track to Highcliff Road. The  walk  takes you from sea level to two hundred metres above sea level. From here there are marvelous views across the peninsula and down to the headlands  towards Taiaroa Heads, better known for the only mainland breeding albatross colony or back towards Dunedin city with views of Saddle.Hill.

Figure 2: The view back to Dunedin City

Setting off from my home in Macandrew Bay is the easy part. It is a short walk around the edge of Otago Harbour on a brilliant autumn morning, calm, with water lapping  alongside the walkway. Seagulls and sea life  accompany me on the early stages of my walk and the smell of the sea gives me a sense of well-being. How lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.

Once I turn off the walkway and start the  hike up Greenacres Street I pass the local dairy and the school tennis court, houses and fields, easy walking  because the track levels out through the suburb and ascends gently towards the hills.

Once I pass the blue gums and blackberry grove the climb up Greenacres Street begins to demand more energy, the view becomes rural and the city seems far away.  Sheep graze beside the track in lush fields , the Highland cattle lumber across the paddock to investigate my presence  and sometimes a rabbit or hare will race into the pine plantation ahead. A local farmer  stops for a chat as he loads some feed into the hay-racks for the cattle. I am pleased to have a stop and catch my breath before the next phase.

Figure 3: Highland cattle waiting for breakfast

This  part of the walk is on a gravel track which leads up to the pine plantation and turns off to the left on a private road, from here you turn right on a pathway which leads up to the top road. This point is marked by a little wooden bench seat ,just the place for a rest and an apple before heading upwards  through the pine trees  which line the track and provide some shelter  from the wind and rain. Not today though as the sun shines and the breeze is gentle. This section is a little bit of wilderness and a real contrast from city living. Horses graze up here  and as you  leave the plantation you clamber over  a stile and cross into the final phase of the track alongside farm pastures and beautiful views back to the city.

Figure 4: I am joined by a dog enjoying his romp through the grass

The track narrows and steepens but the views get better and better as I climb out onto the final section of  the track.

Today I can hear the bellbirds and a tui singing amongst the trees  whilst in the distance the sound of the train heading away on a journey to the north can be heard on the still air. I am joined on  my ascent by a dog and its owner making the most of the open spaces.

Once I reach the top of the track I emerge onto  Highcliff Road. This leads to Camp Road and Larnach Castle, well known tourist attractions on the Peninsula. You walk past the delightful settlement of Pukehiki  with its historic library and church  also worth a stop. This is a nice diversion and well worth a look through the site before walking on to the road leading back to Macandrew Bay. Some days I turn back down the track but today I continue on along the round trip, a little longer but the day is beautiful and the scenery spectacular so I make the most of the day.

Figure 5: Lunchtime with a view towards Port Chalmers and back towards to Harbour Cone

Lunch is calling and I follow my usual trail past the turnoff to the castle and turn down Camp Road  overlooking Broad Bay.  Harbour Cone overlooks the harbour and protect some of the rare gecko lizards found on its slopes.

Camp Road is a narrow gravel road which leads back to Macandrew Bay. Not easy walking if there is a lot of holiday traffic but worth the efforts for the views of the Harbour and surrounding bays. There is another option to return home via the walking track from Larnach Castle to Broad Bay but today I do not have enough time so the road walk it is.

Once I arrive at Company Bay I walk back along the walkway to my starting point in the village.

Figure 6: The end of the road.

Figure 7: Macandrew Bay car park and starting point for the Greenacres walk

Northland Pilgrimage,November 2014

November 2014 was an amazing month.I was lucky enough to meet up with other Heritage Rose lovers from all around NZ in  the Bay Of Islands for a pilgrimage to Ohio Bay the site of the first mission station in NZ established in 1844.

We climbed down to Marsden Cross from the bus stop.We nearly had an upset as our bus slid off the side of the road and we had to clamber out on the lean.A bit scary but we got off safely.
The site of the cross is now a reserve and sadly only one of the roses remain due to some over zealous conservation volunteers who did not know anything about roses!
The walk down was lovely, steep going back but well worth the walk. The cross is magnification and there is a real sense of history here.The remains of the Maori pa loomed overhead of us,the missionaries were under their protection.I wonder how those gentle women from another world found this proximity reassuring as their men were often far away bring the christian word to the local Maori tribes.
Here the first roses were planted by missionary wives, amongst them we know Slaters Crimson was present and is grown in local gardens to the present day.We visited direct descendents of the missionary families and saw the family names replicated in roses growing today.

We stayed at the hotel next to the Treaty Grounds and we were given a tour of the grounds and the Treaty House itself.Later we went to Russell and the Pompellier House, home of the Catholic printing press.I met up with Clive Arlidge there,a real surprise as he had just dropped in to see how the morning tea was going as the local marae were catering for it.The roses were original varieties and beautifully cared for by volunteers.The boat trip over was a treat as well.
We travelled all over Northland and experienced wonderful hospitality at a variety of local members gardens under the stewardship of Olga who rallied her troops to make our trip enjoyable.
We visited the Kauri Museum and dined there before returning to Whangarei  that night.We saw the Hunterweisser town and spent a penny in the toilets there.
Too many experiences to recount in total but we ended our trip in Auckland with the re-opening of the Nancy Steen Garden  after a refurbishment.We had a lovely evening with local members and then we went to Ayrilies Garden on our final day for a good look at the magnificant garden and morning tea around the poolside.
The tour finished at the Auckland Botanic gardens rose garden.

Tokyo on the homeward leg

Arrived into Haneda Airport at about six o'clock British time but one thirty their time and waited a long time for luggage to come through,then I had to open my suitcases for customs- must have looked suspicious!
Eventually we emerged and I located the money machine and the information desk and armed myself on what was needed to get me to the hotel . Why did I think Anthony had given me a Google map of the area?
I caught the monorail to Hamasaki Station ,450 yen and then caught a taxi to the hotel(750 yen) because not sure enough of remembering the map Tony showed me when I booked . Given the heat a good decision although it was within walking distance.

I had a sleep in my very comfortable air conditioned room before going out for a walk around the hotel district . It is located in Manito area with the World Trade Centre and the Zoioi Temple nearby . Also the Tokyo Tower which is their answer to the Eiffel Tower.

The temple was impressive and the contrast between the modern high rises and the traditional buildings is interesting . Cicadas are in full cry here too , competing with the noise of traffic from downtown city bound traffic.
I explored the temple grounds and Shiba Park nearby until the heat drove me back to the hotel for an evening meal,a pity as the gardens are well laid out and the trees are a feature with their shaping and many  shades of green . Lots of lovely little local shops selling noodles and sushi around this area  but they seem to be full of business men in dark trousers and short sleeved shirts so maybe best to stick to hotel tonight.

 

 

Packing up ready for departure.....

You could not believe the mess I have made in my time here!!!It took three of us all day to get to this stage. I thought I travelled light....
Kensal,Lou and I have spent Saturday getting the flat packed up ready for the big move on Friday.
I am put off ever moving. First Jo and now Lou it is a big job so think I will stay put at Marion Street for ever.
It has been so warm and muggy today after a pretty heavy rain this morning.
Had a trial pack yesterday and a re run this afternoon . Not sure how I have acquired more stuff but I have and so I will have to manage the transfer and hope I am under my luggage allowance.

To Rhodos and home......

Another beautiful day in Paradise. As I pull the curtains the sun is streaming in and the cicadas are in full cry, a chorus which does not let up all day. We ate our usual breakfast outside on the deck enjoying the views of Peraklos Castle standing guard on the headland. It was the last stand of the Knights Templar on Rhodos. We have been promising ourselves to climb it before we left Haraki so tonight it will have to be.
Our free bus tour to Rhodos was arriving at nine thirty so it was a bit of a dilemma, the beach or the bus trip!
We took a chance on the bus and decided to come back early if it was too hot and busy with people.
We were driven right into the old town area with easy access into the fortifications so we did manage to fill in our three hours exploring the old city and having lunch in the market place.
An amazing place to wander at will and take in the market streets and bazaars, so much sound and colour to attract you into the tiny streets and narrow walkways in between the city walls.
One of the seven wonders of the world once guarded this city and protected the populace from the enemy in centuries past. Colossus was huge and stood astride the  Harbour entrance for hundreds of years until he was brought down by an earthquake and is now seen in name only.
We made our way through the fortress walls and past the tower of the Palace gates of the Grand Master . The walled city was built by the Knights of St John and the impressive moat and castle walls are testament to the will and might of the order . What work went into these medieval castles and fortifications.Rhodos is strategically placed at the tip of the island and controls the shipping channels towards Turkey and the other Greek Islands
The old town is a warren of old cobbled streets, a paradise for souvenir shoppers and crafts people.  We did acquire a bag or two(who could resist such a bargain) before taking refuge in the shade for lunch.
Our guide took us back to the bus about three and once we got back to Haraki it was down to the beach for a lovely swim followed by a climb up the castle ruins just as the sun was setting over the hills surrounding the valley. Perfect timing but a bit of a challenge as the rocks were loose and we spent some time scrambling around the goat tracks finding our way up to the top of the walls. It was worth it when we emerged at the top-we could see down the coast and across the river flats.
We celebrated our climbing feat with a beer and another perfect evening at our favourite restaurant on the waterfront. The end of another lovely day.

Another day in Paradise

Another lazy day lying on Aganthi Beach was planned for Sunday. Hot and sunny and not a sign of wind indicated a perfect day in Paradise. We were up a little later than usual and enjoyed a breakfast on our deck before heading away to laze the day away.
We spent all day there and enjoyed every minute,the water is so warm and buoyant, it is easy to just float around keeping your head above water and enjoying all the beach life unfolding around you . The temperatures got to 35 degrees, hot but not as bad as Symi on 45 degrees  the day we were there.
We completed our day with another fine meal at our friend Kristos's restaurant and a coffee at the bar on the way home so we could use the Internet to catch up on news.
Our next adventure was to Lindos,a   heritage town about twenty miles down the coast and highly recommended  by travel books because of the Roman acropolis ruins and heritage town winding up and  around the hillside fortress.
We hired a car for the day and arrived earlier to beat the sun as it was a steep climb up to the fortress and very exposed once you came out onto the top. Well worth it though as the ruins were fascinating and the view beautiful. We climbed up through the little cobbled streets,through the donkey poo and past little craft shops vying for the tourist dollar until we came to the entrance gate , paid our money and walked through the walls of the old castle also on the site.
We could have paid five dollars and arrived on a donkey!!!!
After exploring the site we climbed back down to the town and rewarded ourselves with lovely fresh orange juice served under the shady grape vines and shaded from the heat of the day. Crowds were building so we escaped back to the car and drove down the coast for lunch . Our real destination was a place called Prasonissia where the Aegean Ocean and the Mediterranean lapped either side of the  sandy isthmus separating an island from the mainland. We paddled in both waters and watched the kite surfers etc enjoying the breeze before travelling to Sania,  the home of honey and back to our beach for a swim . A great day out.

Symi Island

The bus collected us up before seven and away we went to catch the ferry in Rhodos for our sea excursion to another Greek Island.
This was an adventure.  The  Mclaughlan's are not known for their seat legs so anticipating a two hour trip at sea required  a certain mindset to approach the day with.
We need not have worried as the water was calm and the cruise was marvellous - we sat out in the sun on the top deck amidst the ocean breezes and enjoyed the views of the Turkish coastline, other small islands and even a dolphin or two approached our vessel.
We had heard that this was a very beautiful island to visit and we were not disappointed.
It was a gorgeous place, houses were perched on the edge of the steep hills, colorful and distinctive with their symmetrical shapes and steep pathways leading up and down to the beachfront.
It is said that the women of Symi had the most shapely legs in Greece because of their daily climb for food and other necessities . The houses also looked as if they have been thrown randomly at the hillside and indeed legend had it that a giant's hand did throw them against the hills,I have forgotten why but guess the story changes with the telling.
The bay is packed with boats of every description,those for earning a living from traditional practices such as sponge harvesting are now very few but pleasure craft and luxury liners are to the fore . Every eating place was doing a roaring trade . Our guide says this all changes in winter months and the population is a fraction of the previous times when sponge diving was their commercial livelihood and some fishing was also important.This is why all the houses face the sea , not for aesthetics but for watching out for loved ones coming in from the sea.
The horizon is dominated by another impressive Knights Temple ruined castle and over three hundred churches belong on this island.
We were taken to see the sponge shop and given a description of the 'best practice' of preparing the sponges for the market . These days only five varieties may be harvested over a two year cycle because the beds became depleted . The one that took my fancy was called Elephant Ears and the people working outside in the sun used them as a hat soaked with cold water to keep them cool. It resembled a coolie hat shape but nobody would be seen dead in it today!
Olive oil was big here too with lovely body lotions and creams available in a myriad of shops. The commercial heart was alive and well. Forget stories of Greece as a basket case,only some places are suffering. During the summer there is  full employment in these islands.
We had another three course traditional meal at lunch time which set us up for about twenty four hours I think. 
We did some shopping in our free time and then it was back on board for the rest of our cruise around the island with  a stopover in a sheltered little bay to visit an impressive church. Lou and I were put off by the throng of keen folks so we visited a little bakery and bought apple pies for our tea,this was on the guides recommendation no less . Right he was, delicious fare.
We loved our day on the water but we were ready for an early night after our day out.It must have been the large dose of sea air.

Beach,sunshine and sightseeing...

Our first day on  Rhodes Island was spent hanging out on the beach with the rest of the sun lovers. It was a beautiful spot about 500 metres from our apartment and set in a secluded bay laid out with cafes and sun loungers to escape the ravages of the sun at mid-day.

We hired a lounger and a sun umbrella for four euros a day in the front row and read, swam and sunbathed rather  cautiously as it was so hot but we escaped unscathed and built up a good tan over our week in the sun.
Food is always at hand,there were three cafes on the beach so we were never short of a snack or a drink when required and very few distractions from people selling stuff so it was quite civilized.
We had to go into town later in the afternoon to meet our holiday representative at a local cafe to get the sales talk but we did sign up for a couple of trips.
The first one we did took us all around the Island of Rhodes in a very comfortable air conditioned bus with a guide who gave us a great insight into the island life and plenty of detail about the history and culture of the places we visited.
Our first stop was at Butterfly Mountain,a scenic reserve located in the central part of the island . Most of the area is now closed to the public so they can protect the species but a beautiful place st amongst trees and a river ran through the valley we were in. We tried very hard to catch a photo of  a butterfly in flight but very elusive they were.  It was set in a delightful dell with a waterfall and a dam, along with a cafe of course and umpteen buses parked outside.  This was rare to see such greenery on the island.
Our next stop was Kamiros, one of the three ancient acropolis built by the Romans conquerors on Rhodes . It sits in a strategic location high above the sea so Goddess Athena and daughter of Zeus can protect her people from invasion . The acropolis is built on three levels and we were able to wander at will through the public meeting spaces, the houses and the bath house were on the different levels . Much of  the restoration work is underway but only a small area has yet been uncovered by archeologists, in fact about a third of the total town.  Amazing to walk in such a place and think about life as it was here in Roman times and marvel at their ability to provide drainage, water for bathing, a democratic meeting place- men only of course but it was advanced politics of its era.
We then went wine tasting up in the hills at a cellar set into  a cave. This is a big wine growing region on the island and most vines grow without staking here so it took us awhile to realize it was vineyards we were passing.
We had four wines to taste, ranging from sweet red, a dry red a white and a dessert wine which was probably the best of them all. We had lunch nearby so we enjoyed a three course meal of local delicacies before completing our tour of the island. We stopped at various high spots for photos and honey tasting before arriving back at our apartment in time to go swimming at the pool in a nearby apartment which allowed us to swim there at any time.