First of all, I want to say something to Greek Ministry of Tourism or Foreign Affairs : We were in Bodrum, it was crowded, my mind was messed up, I needed to get out of this crowd. Actually, I had been thinking of going to Rhodes, before coming here. Going there from either Bodrum or Marmaris and coming back the same day.
I was checking out the ferry timetable and my friend Ece immediately called her father to take care of me in Rhodes. Of course, this made me totally lazy ! No maps, no search, no details...We took the 8.30 ferry from Bodrum, the ferry which was freezing inside. I was regretful that I haven`t taken any towels or loincloths while wearing my bikinis. I was frozen in this 2.5 hours road because of air-conditioner.
When we arrived in Rhodes, a warm sticky weather welcomed us. First, I was afraid, but then I learned that Ece`s father, Ceyhun, was coming to pick me up with his motorcycle. I would be on the motorcycle and the wind would blow me up.
First Ceyhun and then Rhodes castle and city walls welcomed me. While passing through the castle to the old bazaar, I was feeling like I was getting closer to Cyprus or Grand Bazaar (Istanbul). I could not feel like I was in a greek island, yet. The architecture proves that once the history of Rhodes was full of pirates, cavaliers, Ottomans, Italians and Greeks. Ceyhun took me to all Turkish shop owners and introduced me to them, one by one. Everyone was a little bit worried, maybe because of being a part of minority.
At the end of old bazaar, we stopped in `Hafiz Ahmet Aga Library`. The library was closed and when we tried to get in the garden, a greek look like Turkish lady opened the door. She was the wife of library manager Yusuf. They welcomed us into the breezy garden. That day, Turkish minister of foreign affairs, Davut Guloglu and greek ministers had a secret meeting, but as Yusuf was aware whole Rhodes was aware of this meeting, as well. The reason of the meeting was visa-free travelling option for Turkish travellers who are going to 12 Greek islands of struggled Greece.
This topic has been talked every year but hopefully this summer they will be able to solve it, I don`t want to go to Mytilene alone.
Yusuf invited me to show inside the library, me coming from far away. Irem, you are lucky anytime ! In the library, there were special manuscripts, even one of the two Qurans was in this little special library.
After Hafiz Ahmet Aga Library, we reached the Cavalier Path. In old times, cavaliers were walking on this stone path. How magnificient it was !
After visiting historical houses and Ece`s grandparents` old house, it was time to get on the motorcycle. First Mandraki, then Rhodes monumental area, Nisantasi-like new bazaar, tomb that I forgot the name, Cretan neighborhood, big hotels with casinos, amazing beaches and Ceyhun`s farm house...In Rhodes you can jump to the sea anywhere you want, just like Kos. Plus, they are free, public beaches. All of them are turquise colour, glassy with sand or pebbles. Motorcycle was quite common in Rhodes, but I haven`t seen that many ATVs as in other islands. Anyways, I was enjoying my moto ride. When we arrived in the farm, Ece`s aunt and uncle welcomed us. As we were full, they invited us for a delicious Turkish coffee. Just after, corn fig. Normally, fig is not good for my migraine, but this was something else. After coffee session, we had a walk in the garden, full of fruit trees. The land was huge, even they have sold a part of it.
On our way back, we climbed up to the hill to have a Rhodes view from the top. I saved this image into my mind instead of my camera as I wanted to share it clearly and fully with you.
Rhodes was full of Ottoman work. Some of them were protected and some, almost lost. And Rhodes governorship wasn`t doing much to protect them, as they said so. Even they are not so willing in keeping the Ottoman touch, the island has a very important geographical and historical position, mainly because of Ottoman effect.
Until I heart freeshop seller`s greek accent, I haven`t really recognized that I was in a Greek island. I had only one contrition in this trip. Although I very much like travelling alone, next time I want to take someone with me, I need to have also pictures with myself :)
At the end, I want to say something to Turkish Ministry of Tourism or Foreign Affairs, anyone who can hear me....
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