Katerina's Adventures in Rhodes

Katerina’s Adventures in Rhodes

Katy Pitsi

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© 2011. Katy Pitsi. All rights reserved

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First published by AuthorHouse 04/1/2011

ISBN: 978-1456-77739-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1456-77740-1 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

I would like to dedicate this book to everyone I know in Rhodes and to all the friends I’ve met there over the years.

The only things in life you regret are the things you’ve never done.

Contents

Introduction

Tholos

Wednesday 7th May

Thursday 8th May

Friday 9th May

Saturday 10th May

Sunday 11th May

Monday 12th May

Tuesday 13th May

Wednesday 14th May

Thursday 15th May

Friday 16th May

Saturday 17th May

Stegna

Sunday 18th May

Monday 19th May

Tuesday 20th May

Wednesday 21st May

Thursday 22nd May

Friday 23rd May

Saturday 24th May

Sunday 25th May

The Steps of Stegna

Monday 26th May

Tuesday 27th May

Wednesday 28th May

Thursday 29th May

Friday 30th May

Saturday 31st May

Pefkos

Sunday 1st June

Monday 2nd June

Tuesday 3rd June

Wednesday 4th June

Thursday 5th June

Friday 6th June

Saturday 7th June

Sunday 8th June

Monday 9th June

Tuesday 10th June

Wednesday 11th June

Thursday 12th June

Friday 13th June

Saturday 14th June

Sunday 15th June

Monday 16th June

Tuesday 17th June

Wednesday 18th June

Thursday 19th June

Friday 20th June

Sunday 21st June

Saturday 22nd June

Monday 23rd June

Tuesday 24th June

Wednesday 25th June

Thursday 26th June

Friday 27th June

Saturday 28th June

Sunday 29th June

Monday 30th June

Tuesday 1st July

Wednesday 2nd July

Introduction

I’d been going to the Greek islands with friends for several years. The fact that I’m half Greek Cypriot could have something to do with why I love Greece so much – it’s in my blood! Apart from my sister Lucy, niece Marianna, a few good friends and some voluntary work in a charity shop, I don’t really have anything keeping me here in England. So, I go to Rhodes to ‘escape’ from ‘nothing’.

When no one was able to come with me one year, I decided to go anyway and went on my own. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, but managed to carry on holidaying in my favourite country. In 2004, I found it necessary to buy a battery-operated scooter to take with me on holiday and we’ve been going to Rhodes together ever since. I call him ‘my Buggy’.

I’m quite a complex person and in some ways I’d say I’m much like MS itself, in that, insofar as we’re both concerned, you never know what each day will bring!

I would have to agree with the characteristics ascribed to my star sign Aquarius: `freedom loving, original, independent, loves to travel and can be mysterious’. When it comes to men, I’ve always been fussy, and I know what I like in a man, which is something that hasn’t changed since I’ve had MS – what’s wrong with knowing what you want in your partner? Better to be fussy than unhappy or bored.

Now back to the matter in hand; when in Rhodes, I’m known to the locals and to all my friends as Katerina. This book is a diary of my experiences in Rhodes in 2008.

Tholos

Wednesday 7th May

I guess I’d have to call Rhodes my favourite Greek island. Although this was to be my eighth visit, I would be staying for the first time in a new resort, so there would be different challenges to overcome and new things to discover.

The queue to check in at the airport seemed to last forever, even though I was riding my scooter. At the counter, they told me that my luggage was too heavy for the baggage handlers’ health and safety regulations and that I’d have to remove at least 5 kg. Another lady who was also travelling alone on the same flight kindly offered to help me, and we shifted my scooter’s battery charger, some clothes and the docking station for my CD player to my already-bulging hand baggage, bringing my suitcase below 30 kg, so the airline would take it. Fortunately, they didn’t charge me for excess baggage.

After I’d checked in, I browsed a few shops, had an overpriced coffee and pre-boarded my flight by Ambi-lift whilst they loaded my scooter into the hold. By 9 p.m. we were in the air, heading for Greece.

The four-hour flight to Rhodes was uneventful and when we arrived, with my scooter safely loaded in the boot of a Mercedes taxi, I set off to find my apartment in a resort called Tholos, four miles to the north west of the island.

The Greek lady I’d spoken to on the phone was waiting for me and showed me to my apartment. It was great! I had a big bedroom, a bathroom, my own separate kitchen and a dining room with a table and a wicker sofa. I could even ride my scooter in the dining area, although there was a step up to all the rooms off it.

It was 6 a.m., but, despite being very tired, I needed to unwind after my journey. I sat outside on the patio with a bottle of wine I’d bought on the plane (one of those small ones!) with my thoughts, listening to the sound of the sea.

Thursday 8th May

I got to sleep at around 6.30 a.m. and my landlady kindly let me sleep until 1 p.m., when she knocked on my door. She was living up to the reputation of the Greek people for hospitality and friendliness by coming to make sure everything was okay and bringing me a slice of beautiful chocolate cake. I only had one spoonful with a cup of tea, as it was very rich, and it seemed best not to eat too much of it.

Then I got ready and went next door to Mike’s Taverna. Mike is Debbie’s (my landlady) brother-in–law. (Everyone’s related in Greece!) He was very friendly and helped by tightening a few bolts on my scooter for me, while I had a cup of tea and chatted to a couple of English holidaymakers who introduced themselves as Jeff and Terry. They told me they’d been to Tholos several times previously with their other halves, but had left them at home and just the two of them had come for one week. They said it’s a quiet resort but they love it. We were also joined by an English couple, Carol and Dave, who own the next-door supermarket, and I began to feel very welcome.

I was a bit disappointed, though, when I went for a stroll to have a look around. Tholos is just one long, horribly busy main road with only a couple of bars, one large, all-inclusive hotel, the Doreta Beach Hotel, and a few nice-looking tavernas. I wondered which ones would be accessible to me on my Buggy.

I got back to Mike’s just in time before the rain and thunder came – typical Greek weather for some days in May. It didn’t last long, but I was still waiting for the sun to come out. Having been to Greece in May before, I knew it might take a couple of weeks with only the odd sunny day before it brightened into steady summer sunshine.

Mike, seeing we were a bit chilly, gave us a shot of something to warm us up. I don’t know what it was, but it worked!

Even after the rain stopped, I still didn’t feel sure about Tholos. I wondered if I should have gone straight to Stegna, a resort on the south east of the island that I’d visited seven times before. But I’d decided to try somewhere else first this time, and had done some research on the net before booking ten days in Tholos (short for Thologos). So I kept telling myself, ‘It’s early days; give Tholos a chance.’

I bought a bottle of the local dry white wine and headed back to my room, thinking, ‘I love my apartment, shame about the place!’

After a brief lie-down, I got ready and sat at my dining table, poured a glass of wine and admired the lovely view of the sea, only slightly hidden by the wavering trees. I opened the window so that I could hear the waves and put some music on. It was a Greek mixed CD someone had made for me the previous year. Listening to it made me feel so peaceful that I didn’t want to venture out. But the feeling didn’t last long. I wanted to see what the nightlife was like. I went back to Mike’s, where I could ride my scooter right inside and park it by the table.

Apart from the awful chicken bake on the plane, I’d only nibbled on a roll that day. I still felt a bit jetlagged, but I thought I’d better eat something to soak up the evening’s wine. So I opted for the chicken fillet.

Later, I saw Jeff and Terry, the guys I’d met earlier, and joined them for a few more drinks and conversation before eventually heading off to bed at 1.30 a.m.

Friday 9th May

Feeling a little worse for wear, I got up to a warmish day, opened my door to let the breeze in and went into the kitchen – only to find that the kettle had exploded and there was water everywhere! I rang Carol from the supermarket, who had kindly given me her number in case I needed any help. She sent Jeff to help clear up the mess. So much for a cup of tea in the apartment!