While holidaying in Marmaris on the West coast of Turkey in 1996 Janice and I took the opportunity to visit Rhodes using the Hydrofoil. The local beach boys fixed us up with tickets for a return journey and a tour of the North of the Island for £35.00 each, which as it turned out was very good value. We arrived at Mandraki Harbour where (as legend has it) one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes, once stood. There aren't any remains of the Colossus which the Greek sculptor Chares and his shop worked on for 12 years to build this giant bronze statue in honour of the sun god Helios. The statue, celebrating the unity of Rhodes' three city-states, is believed to have stood on a promontory overlooking the water.
At approximately 120 feet, the bronze Colossus stood almost as high as the Statue of Liberty in the United States. Interior stone blocks and iron bars supported the hollow statue. Just 56 years after it was built, a strong earthquake destroyed it.

 We  proceeded from the harbour to the palace of the Grand Master located within the old city walls. Most Archaeologists think that the Colossus of Rhodes stood here. The Museum had an exhibition on Alexander the Great. In all we spent around 1½  hours here. We also took in the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. Janice and I were quite Impressed with the collection at this Museum. There is an Acropolis at Rhodes as well and the journey by coach gave us the chance to take in some exceptional views across the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Lunch in a local Taverna was typically Greek and refreshing in the afternoon sun and after a couple of glasses of wine we continued our tour which took in the Acropolis, the Stadium and back to Rhodes Old Town where we could shop before our journey back to Turkey. The shops in the old town are very quaint and it is quite odd after all the hassle of the shopkeepers in Turkey to be allowed to browse in peace at our leisure. There is a government shop in the Town where all the local goods are available at a fixed price and, when you go in the staff offer you a cool drink which takes you by surprise. Could you imagine that happening anywhere back home, I don't think so.

And so it was back to Marmaris, a journey of about 50 minutes on the Hydrofoil - my impressions of Rhodes, a place for a peaceful break from all the hustle and bustle of many other large Greek Islands. And as for the Colossus, it's shrouded in mystery but I was glad to add it to my list.... next stop The Mausoleum in Bodrum.

             
St Nicholas's Castle - The Harbour and the Old Town - Click pictures for a larger view.
So that's 2 down - 5 to go