Leaving Naxos I have a strong feeling that something will go wrong today. It is a full on day, check out, return rent a car, catch flight with a tight second connection. Will something go wrong with the car return will we or our luggage not arrive? Whenever I fly I always feel that I have forgotten something but today the sense of foreboding was stronger.
Rhodes has long captured my imagination. Of course it was where the famous Colossus was built in 280 BC. Subsequently this island became the headquarters for the knights of St John who built a walled fortress in 1310 to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. We arrive uneventfully and I am lulled into a false sense of security.
First item on the agenda is booking tickets for a day trip to the picturesque Symi Island. Online bookings finished 2 weeks ago and will restart in April next year. Wandering through the old town, travel agents are closed as it is low season now. The only solution was to head to the port and bingo! We have success with a booking for tomorrow. Next step is booking the ferry out of Greece to Turkey for 3 days time. My pre trip research stated that there are at least 2 ferry crossings daily between Rhodes and Fethiye. We are directed to another part of the port complex to book the tickets for Monday. Imagine my reaction when I am told that there are only two ferries weekly on Friday and Sunday! My premonitions have borne fruit. We have big decisions to make and quickly. Ultimately we decide to leave a day early losing the extra day driving around Rhodes and a prepaid night of accommodation. We do, though get most of a day to explore this magnificent old town and I get to see the site of my 4th of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
