On 6th May 2025, six members of the u3a Travel Group flew to Rhodes. We stayed at the Blue Sky Hotel where three of us had stayed previously. The hotel was within walking distance of old Rhodes Town, one of the reasons we were more than happy to return there. The other reason being it was in close proximity to a lovely friendly Greek taverna where we had enjoyed tasty evening meals on our earlier stay.
We booked our tours with a local company called Holiday Essential. As a group we picked two trips that we fancied, the Island Tour by coach and the boat trip to Symi Island.
The island tour was excellent, thoroughly enjoyable day with visits to Siana Village and a lunch stop in Embonas village where we had a very tasty and inexpensive lunch with wine. Other stops were at Monolithos Castle, Fountoukil & Eleousa, Ancient Kamiros as well as Butterfly Valley.
Our boat trip to Symi was exhilarating, seas were a bit choppy but the weather on Symi was pleasant. Time for a leisurely lunch, a stroll about the village and time for souvenir shopping. The boat trip included a visit to the Panorimitis Monastery on the south side of the island and short stop in a bay before returning to our hotel.
During the other days we occasionally split up and visited museums, strolled around the walled city, found the ancient ruins of the Acropolis of Rhodes and enjoyed leisurely lunches.
In the evenings we met up and went for our meal to Tommy’s House, the local name for the wonderful taverna called Orexi, with its rustic freshly cooked fish, meat and pasta dishes. Always receiving a welcoming hug from Tommy and his partner Anna.
They go above and beyond to welcome their customers and we were able to sit and enjoy beautiful sunsets. Another visit next year?
Elise Shaw
