Continuation of the trip around the island of Rhodes with children
This is a continuation of my story http://www.turpravda.com/gr/rodos/blog-155061 .html
... By the evening of the day after the previous trip, my husband arranged walkers around the room. Boring!! ! "Let's take the car again? " - "Lets do it! ". Because the children did not have any terrible tantrums, they decided to continue exploring the island.
In the morning, the children were announced about a new journey. Only we will no longer look for knights, but carefully look around and remember which houses and trees, and maybe even drive into the mountains. In general, to study another country - Greece. “Ah, to see how the Greek people live, who speak the Greek language, ” the daughter issued.
For starters, we went to the south of the island. On the way we turned to the village of Vathi. We meandered along the narrow streets, everyone was afraid - and if there is an oncoming car, then how? It worked))) We got to the advertised Platanos tavern. It was about 10 am, there was no one, only a lone plane tree. We walked around the church, and back to our route.
Square in front of Platanos Tavern in Vathi
On the way to the main road, we came across dry fields with strange round vegetables the size of a soccer ball, something like a pumpkin, but not a pumpkin. We stopped - so it's a watermelon! Whether this is the variety, or the remains of illiquid assets in the fields, it does not matter. But the children learned the word "melon".
"Orphan" watermelons
In general, the trip turned out to be very informative for them: they saw and listened to a short course of lectures on wind and solar power plants, learned what windsurfing is. While they remember)), even in the garden they managed to share their knowledge)))) It’s not that I have them so smart, I’m just telling what we did in the car, so that they wouldn’t be bored, suddenly someone will come in handy...
Well, we got to Prasonisi, the southernmost part of the island. Spectacle, of course, spectacular!!!
On the right - the Aegean Sea, on the left - the Mediterranean
The beauty of water and wind
Naturally, we decided to take a dip when we still have the opportunity to swim in two seas at once. The children did not climb into the Aegean Sea, they were scared by the waves and the strong wind (they were worried about the fate of their circles, they would suddenly fly away and swim away), although the water there was noticeably warmer than in the Mediterranean, but they splashed with pleasure in the calm water of the Mediterranean.
The next point of our visit was Monolithos Castle. The road is smooth and unremarkable. On the right - mountain landscapes, on the left - beautiful deserted beaches. We walked a little along one of these.
West coast deserted beaches
I had to prevent the 156th ))) attempt of children to collect another collection of stones, they are so beautiful...
And how many pebbles, how many pebbles. . .
In general, the western part of the island is completely different: more greenery, less people. More calm or something...
When we arrived at Monolithos, my husband compared this place to Foros. It was on Foros that I was not, but the Crimean landscapes really remind me.
Monolithos Castle
The path to the castle itself is somehow mystical because of these pyramids. For example, I felt a little creepy.
Path to the castle
Pyramids along the path
But our omniscient dad explained that they didn’t conceive anything, no rites take place here, all this is tourist bullshit. In the end, we also succumbed to this garbage and built several pyramids.
Our pyramids
The children said that while we had a photo session, they still built.
The ruins were terribly beautiful for me, literally. I am terribly afraid of heights, but I stubbornly go there, of course, I try to the edges of observation platforms, cliffs, etc. do not fit.
Breathtaking views
The views are breathtaking, but I could not let them enjoy them for a long time, because. I was terribly afraid for the children, they cannot stand still. And they really liked it there, that's where they jumped over stones and even trees. This time we played the prince saving the princess)))
Another way of sightseeing)))
It's time to refresh yourself, and you should already try Greek cuisine. In the village of Monolithos itself, we did not like anything. We didn’t stop near taverns on purpose, because the view from the car window... and many establishments were already mothballed for the winter.
In Xian, of course, we stopped near the Church of St. Panteleimon.
Church of St. Panteleimon
Central Square in Xi'an
In general, the churches on the island (I don't know how they are in other regions of Greece) are very bright, cheerful in appearance. Again, we didn’t particularly enjoy the interior decoration, because. my son liked the benches, the seats are very cool rising and falling, and so loudly. All my booing and talking about misbehavior only led to additional noise effects.
From Xi'an we decided to head towards the house (hotel), i. е. cross the island through Agios Isidoros and Laerma, which, according to the map, is located almost in the center of the island.
The terrain is already mountainous, and the roads are already appropriate - bewitching beauty, pleasure and fear. Squeals of joy from children at every sharp turn, youthful delight on the face of my husband, and I was afraid in silence. It was more terrible when a reckless taxi driver was driving on Ai-Petri, and when in an open UAZ they climbed into the mountains in Sochi along a dirt road, if you can call it a road. And here, ugh, a great road, a good car, a careful driver... And if there is no humor, then it’s really great!! ! From time to time there were goats that refute all the laws of gravity, they could not determine whether they were wild or domestic, the most beautiful species. The children learned what a mountain serpentine is.
the road from Agios Isidoras to Laerma
In Agios, a woman jumped out onto the road, inviting them to eat. We decided to go. I won't say if it's a good or bad place. this is the only catering place visited outside the hotel, we liked it. The tavern is called "Aletro", if I understand correctly, this is the designation of a typical dwelling in mountain villages. The house was built in 1888. The owner, a nice guy who speaks English quite well, in any case, my husband understood him and then translated for me - he gave a short tour of the establishment, told where the living quarters were, where the cattle lived, etc. now, of course, everything has been redone and, as they say, meets modern norms and standards. The food was very delicious. We ordered a little, suspecting that the portions are large. Two cola 0.33 liters, two homemade sausages with french fries (this is for children), a bottle of beer and a plate of Greek salad (for mom), a portion of moussaka (for dad) cost 24.5 euros. I don’t know if it’s expensive or not, there’s nothing to compare with. Sausages, of course, got to us, because. they had bits of fat in them. In addition to us, there was only one visitor in the tavern - a local resident sipped beer, most likely discussed us with the owner))). At some point, another peasant came in, apparently a local drunkard, and handed the hostess 5 euros. Based on the hostess's stormy speech and active gestures, we assumed that he had not yet returned everything.
Aletro Tavern
View from the terrace of the tavern
Inside the tavern
In Laerma, we had to decide which way to go further. It seemed that through Asklipio it would be more interesting, and the road leads directly to Kiotari. Indeed, it turned out to be interesting. The setting sun added additional interest; it was already getting dark, and the path didn't seem to be very popular. Kind of abandoned. Around the hills and in some places burnt trees, probably once there was a forest fire. The road crossed dry rivers several times, I suspect that during the rainy season it is impossible to pass here. Olive groves and sometimes appearing solar stations, which the children shouted with joy, gave hope that people are somewhere here.
Road from Laerma to Asklipio
You go like this, you go . . And then bam, and sheep
After Asclepio, the road has become much better. The settlement itself, like the other villages we met, is also very colorful, with narrow winding streets (how do they, after all, disperse? ), And, of course, a beautiful church on the central square. Small groups of men were noticeable on the streets, apparently coming out after a working day to discuss world topics. They didn’t stop there anymore - they were tired.
Well, that's the end of our little trip. Well, just a huge pleasure from what he saw and learned! I think we had a good ride for the first time. I really hope that there will be more…
Children also have a lot of impressions, they remember a lot. The daughter gives out a bunch of information to her caregivers and girlfriends in the garden, you have to share it, otherwise it will burst))). The son is less emotional like a real man, and even younger, but he also periodically recalls: “Do you remember, mom... ”
