Wednesday 21 November 2012

The Light Fantastic

November 12th was one of those glorious days when the humidity is very low and everything glows in the kind of light that the Greek islands are famous for. The early part of the month was blessed with a couple of weeks of the kind of settled and warm weather that so often comes during the month of November. Yes it's sometimes punctuated with periods of cloud and rain, which is good and everyone loves it. But then the sun comes out again and we can swim and do the gardening in temperatures ranging from 20 to 25ºC.

The light being so crisp and fantastic on that Monday, I found a pretext to go out in the car and snap a few coastal shots in the local area. So, folks, here they are...

View near the entrance to the Lindos Mare Hotel. Vlicha Bay and Kalathos Beach in the distance.

Same place as above, only looking the other way!

Is that place magnificent or what? How wonderful to see the sharp shadows as the sun is lower in the sky now. DG's house clearly visible too.



At the Pefkos end of Psaltos Bay. Feeling a bit bucolic (bet that one got ya, eh? Look it up!!)

From Pefkos "top" towards Lardos Beach and beyond

Heading out toward Lothiarika from Pefkos. Not far from the Illysion

Similar spot. With Kiotari across the bay.

Just trying to be arty. Never  gonna match up to Nigel Sparks though, boo hoo.

And, yes, it is swimmable. the water's still only just dipping (did you catch the subtle pun there?) below 20ºC.




Lardos Beach
 A couple of days after this, we had a frappé at the Gré Cafe, down the road from our place here in Kiotari, where we sat next to a nice couple who've just retired and returned to their home village of Asklipio after several decades of living in Canada. They introduced themselves as Yanni and Georgia. They'd lived in Montreal for 40 years and were happy to tell us that they were glad to be receiving their pensions from the Canadian Government, which means that they won't be hit too hard by the austerity measures here. 

What was most interesting was something they told us about the sea here in Kiotari. From the front of the Gré Café you can see the sea just below the Rodos Maris Hotel across the road. As we were remarking on how inviting it looked, Yannis told us that he believed that under the water out there, not too far from the beach, there are still some huge stone columns. George, one of the two Georges who run the café, also said that he'd heard from divers that there were also some stone armchairs, perhaps thrones of sorts, that had been seen by sponge and octopus divers.

It just goes to bear out what we so often hear. When my wife asked why these artefacts hadn't yet been recovered, the answer was that there is simply too much "archeology" around this island. The fact is there is a lifetime's worth (and more) of stuff out there under the sea, and also under the soil on the island, still to be discovered.

Yea, well, OK. Maybe another day then!!

(As usual, if you'd like to see the photos in more detail, hover your mouse over a pic and then click. Once you get the new view, you can make them even larger by right-clicking and selecting "View image". You'll then notice that your pointer is a magnifying glass, click and it gets even larger!!)

15 comments:

  1. Lovely photos, as always, John. Especially today which is damp and the colour one would expect, here in UK. DG's house? Is that the same DG who sold his abode in Pefkos some years ago?
    Vicki

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    1. Vicki, according to my info it wasn't DG who owned the Pefkos house, but Richard Wright, the keyboard player. DG's only ever owned the Lindos one. But I could be wrong of course!!

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    2. Oh okay, I stand corrected! Looking at your title I wonder if that is where the phrase came from...tripping the light fantastic! Obscure joke there somewhere!
      Vicki

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  2. I do love your Ramblings and photo's! Nice to see the crane in your photo of the Acropolis at Lindos.

    Hope you are both keeping well.

    Love
    Annette
    xxxx

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  3. such a lovely tonic to see the photos of our favourite island and fascinated about the columns and armchairs etc under the sea, love a bit of history and culture. Was there actually another village out there then and wonder what its name was (time for a bit of googling methinks)

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  4. unfortunately nothing so far, but will keep looking, too interesting not to. Going to be a very cultural walking tour of Rhodes next time we come methinks lol

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    1. Kat/John, have a look at Lost Cities of Atlantis, Europe and Mediterranean - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eDSFkAghU34C&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=rhodes+sunken+city&source=bl&ots=Vs4wYHAumt&sig=PPR03AhIBKqXOa79U1jHJzMfW-4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=c42uUK3oBqW10QXwoIFA&ved=0CFwQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=rhodes%20sunken%20city&f=false I can't see anything specific about sunken cities off of Rhodes but looks like it could be quite an interesting read.

      Dave.

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    2. Cheers Dave, interesting indeed.

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  5. I know I have read somewhere about pillars/columns being visible in the water off one of the beaches on Halki. Poor memory means I can't be more specific!
    Vicki

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  6. fascinating read thank you very much Dave. So much history, so little time eh?

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  7. Really lovely pictures John ! Can't wait until June - back to rhodes for two weeks :) Greetings Kristina

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    1. Will you be with mum again? Or perhaps your boyfriend this time?

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  8. With my boyfriend this time , i want to show him my new favourite place , Kristina

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  9. Thanks for posting these photos. Happy memories of a week walking the hills and coast in October. Definitely heading back in 2013, hopefully in spring.

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