22 September 2018
Travelled on an Olympic package holiday with Jet2 on the afternoon flight from LBA to Rhodes. I was allocated an aisle seat with extra legroom and the flight left on time. Just as well I had 22kg luggage allowance as my suitcase weighed 21.5kg!
We arrived in Rhodes slightly early but the airport was busy and it took a while to get through passport control and collect the luggage. There were no Olympic reps around so I went to the Olympic desk where Nigel gave me an envelope confirming that overnight accommodation would be at the Meliton Hotel, with a 7am pick up tomorrow morning to catch the ferry to Symi. The transfer was via a mini bus and we had to wait a while for another couple before setting off for the 10 minute transfer to the Meliton. I was the only passenger staying at the Meliton, which seemed quite remote – though it’s hard to tell in the dark. After paying my 1.5 euros tourist tax, the very pleasant receptionist showed me to room 22. The bed was a bit hard and the air-conditioning unit was quite noisy – with no remote to turn it off or alter the temperature - but it was perfectly adequate for one night. As it was 11pm my now I read for a while before turning in for the night – finishing off my Boots meal deal that I purchased at the airport.
23/9/18
The mini bus transfer to the port arrived at 0710 and I was the only passenger for a while, until we picked up 6 more people at the Blue Horizon Hotel. The Dodekanisos Express was ready and waiting and it only took a few minutes to collect tickets at the booth before we were all on board for the 50 minute crossing to Symi. A mini bus and driver picked us up at the clocktower in Symi, and after dropping the other passengers at the Iapetos Village, the driver dropped me at the side of the road in Chorio, where Sam was waiting to accompany me to Studio 3 at Anastasia.
After a catch up with my neighbour, Symi regular Colette, I stocked up on provisions at the supermarket (no issues paying by card) before taking the steps down passed the Secret Garden and joining the Pedi road. I enjoyed my leisurely stroll down to Pedi, listening to the birds and the distant cockerels before the hum of the power station took over. I took the left hand fork into Pedi, where 4 hens were strutting along, before stopping to sit on a bench with the sea lapping at my feet. I sat for a while enjoying the view and the peace and quiet of Pedi before continuing round the bay to Captain George where I sat on the wall admiring the view of Pedi with Chorio in the background, contemplating whether or not I will make it up to the Vigla this trip – the masts in the distance look an awfully long way up!
I retraced my steps and continued past the Pedi beach hotel and round the bay until the road came to an end. After walking back to the room and stopping for a short comfort break, I made my way down the Kali Strata to Yialos, stopping at the small café just before the bridge for a chicken gyros – 2.5 euros. The chicken was in breadcrumbs (it did say chicken pita on the menu to be fair) and the chips were very thin cut fries but it was tasty. After a wander round the harbour, which was very busy with day trippers, I made my way back up the Kali Strata. I sat outside the room for a while as inside was very warm, though there was very little breeze outside. I’m contemplating paying for the air conditioning for the first time ever in late September. Anastasia has just been round to give me a welcoming hug as she was in Panormitis when I arrived.