We met at the Euroairport for our flight to Rhodes at 19.55, instead of as originally planned at 15.20. Due to changes in our flight schedule from the airline, we no longer were able to take the early morning ferry on Sunday to Karpathos. So day one was simply meet-and-greet – then travel and arrival at our modest hotel in Rhodes, not far from the bustling harbor. Following our late-night arrival and check-in and a drink, we all went to bed.

After a generous breakfast, our guide Christina led us on a walk along the Rhodes shorefront. Leaving the harbor, we emerged onto a beautiful narrow street that climbed to the Palace of the Grand Master. We continued onto a street lined with restaurants and bars. Beer is available for the bargain price of 2.5 Euros!

Then we traversed the old city on a narrow street lined with souvenir shops, arriving eventually at a roof restaurant with fabulous views over the sea. Following a drink, the group dispersed, someheading to other restaurants, others to shops and still others to the Palace.

Our small group enjoyed lunch at another roof restaurant, after which we visited the Palace and experienced its wonderful exhibition of mosaics. In the evening, we enjoyed a lively dinner – with generous starter, a choice of meat or vegie for the main course, and first samplings of Retsina and other local wines– at Zizi.It was a wonderful introduction to Rhodes, and set us up for our upcoming flight to Karpathos.

Thank you, Adrian. Jean

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a brilliant sample of Gothic architecture in Greece and one of the must-see historic monuments in Europe.

Two wars and a major earthquake damaged the Palace of the Knights three times.The Italians restored the palace between 1937 and 1940 and made it the holiday residence of Vittorio Emmanuele III, the King of Italy at that time. Later, the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes became the residence of Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator. During this restoration, the Italians brought mosaics from the island of Kos and used them to decorate the floors of the palace. In 1948 when Rhodes was transferred to Greece, the Greeks converted the palace into a museum and opened it to the public.