Today we leave for the island of Kythira. As we walk through the large doorway in the castle wall to exit Monemvasia rock, we see a cruise ship has docked nearby. Small boats were ferrying groups of people to the causeway. I thought it had felt very busy as we walked the cobbled streets. It…
The weather was very pleasant during our stay. We were very lucky as we had heard about the Saharan sand storms that had blown their way over to the Cyclades. Apart from one overcast day we had beautiful spring sunshine and the temperatures of an English summer! We had planned to walk up to the…
Although we have spent Easter in Greece before, we know that the various regions and towns have their own traditions and their own programme of festivities. We know very little of what to expect in Monemvasia apart from the church service on Good Friday and the procession of the epitaphios – though the timings we…
For many years I’ve had an obsession with photographing doors and windows. There is something really evocative about an old, ornate door that through it’s peeling layers of paint, shows the patina of time. It’s not just about the external appearance, it’s the curiosity of what lies beyond, the lives that have been lived in…
I never plan my trips too far in advance. Often they are spur of the moment decisions (driven by depressingly grey UK weather) or the opportunity to take advantage of a cheap flight. My last trip to Crete and onward around the Dodecanese was neither of these. The summer of 2018 was probably one of…
17 years ago, my partner and I kept a travel journal during our trip around the Dodecanese. This was back in the day when a travel journal meant a notebook and pen rather than a piece of tech. Each day we took turns to write a summary of our travel experiences. This particular trip took…
I arrived back in Rhodes Old Town from Chalki last night and fly home tomorrow night. How on earth am I going to wrench myself away? I’m staying at the Sylvia Hotel close to the port again – it wasn’t far to fall from the ferry to a bed! For now I have one last…
My time here has gone so quickly. I have a ticket for the Prevelis leaving at 18.20 this evening. During my stay I haven’t seen my host but I make a point of trying to find her this morning. She doesn’t speak English but I manage to communicate a question about checking out later in…
I was so taken by the magnificent sunrise when I first arrived on Chalki that I set my alarm at 5.00am to make sure I catch it again today. There isn’t as much definition in the sky as the storms over Rhodes have moved on. Nonetheless – it is still stunningly beautiful. I set up…
When I arrived on Chalki one of the first things I did was to join the Chalki Visitors Facebook group. I had hoped to find out what I can see and do in my short 3 nights here. I’m so glad I did because one of the first posts I saw was promoting the day…
It is still pitch black when I disembark. Just a handful of us departed from the ferry and about a dozen boarded. It feels like the season will soon be drawing to an end. I thumbed the Atlantis apartments into Google maps and it was like Pigadia all over again! Up what felt like hundreds…
We arrive in Rhodes Old Town mid morning. I am still in a bit of a dilemma regarding my next steps. My compadres have flights to Manchester and London this evening and I have a ferry that leaves at 3.00am in the morning. As much as I like to think I still have the staying…