32 | WHEN IN RHODES


www.nitravelnews.com


July/August 2023


BY ERIN ENGLISH erin@nitravelnews.com


CLOSE your eyes and picture yourself on the beach, with the blazing greek sun on your skin and the warm sand surrounding your feet. Or perhaps you would prefer to explore UNESCO World Heritage sites and immerse yourself in a new and exciting culture? On a trip to Rhodes, you no longer have to choose between experiencing a beach holiday or a sightseeing vacation. In Rhodes, travellers really can experience the best of both worlds.


For travellers heading from Northern Ireland, it never has been easier to head off on your very own Greek getaway as easyJet kickstarted their new route between Belfast International Airport and Rhodes at the beginning of June 2023. The flight departed from Belfast International Airport on the 3 June 2023. The flight time between Belfast International Airport and Rhodes ‘Diagoras’ Airport is around four hours and fifty minutes. But with a good piece of reading material or a podcast in tow, the time quite literally flew by. As the plane touched down on the tarmac, the anticipation and excitement took over. It was my first time visiting the Greek Islands. However, the Greek Islands


prep visitors for a full day of activities or relaxation, whichever you prefer. Breakfast there was an assortment of fresh pastries and fruit to choose from, alongside the choice of an al a carte breakfast. Out of all the options, I went for the pancakes with summer berries, a refreshing but hearty meal to set me up for the day.


were always a destination that peaked my interest, having watched an array of movies that utilised the beauty of the islands as their backdrop.


Mamma Mia, and the Sisterhood of Travelling Pants,


Movies such as where


the turquoise waters and picturesque cobbled streets are splayed across the silver screen. It only took me a few hours to realise that Greece is exactly as the movies portray it to be; beautiful, vibrant,


and bursting at


the seams with culture and history.


The accommodation for this trip was the luxurious Gennadi Grand


Resort. The Gennadi Grand Resort is located around a one hour transfer from Rhodes Airport, offering a secluded slice of luxury on the southeastern coast of Rhodes. The resort overlooks the Gennadi Beach, with resort guests benefitting from a private path and an area on the beach to relax and soak up some rays. For the course of my time in Rhodes, I stayed in a Junior Suite with a sea view. Stepping through the door of my room, the Gennadi Grand Resort immediately welcomed me home. The Junior Suite was pristine, with an open plan concept and a balcony overlooking the pool area and a view of the stunning coastline of Rhodes. Having arrived at the Gennadi Grand Resort in the evening, I quickly got acquainted with Room 3113 before drifting off to sleep ahead of the first day of my Rhodes Adventure. With the curtains open, the first glimpse of the greek sun crept into my room on the first morning. A welcomed wake-up when compared with the typical jarring alarm clock. The morning began with breakfast in Gennadi Grand Resort’s Level 2 Breakfast restaurant. An outdoor rooftop restaurant, the Level 2 breakfast experience is the ideal way to kick-start your day. The Gennadi Grand Resort places a keen focus on spa and wellness, and provided to drink was a vitamin booster, set to hydrate and


Following breakfast, it was time to hop onto the bus to Lindos. From the Gennadi Grand Resort, Lindos is located around a thirty minute drive away. There is a bus route available directly outside the hotel which will cost you around four euros, or taxi services are available from the hotel reception and will cost you an estimate of fifteen to twenty euros. The Gennadi Grand Resort also offer bookable excursions to Lindos or Rhodes, with the reception staff happy to assist you in the organisation. The Lindos Acropolis can be seen standing guard over Lindos, an old town grounded in history and Greek legend. A visit to the acropolis was the first port of call for our group. The acropolis stands at 116 metres high cascading elegantly over the Lindos sea level and the winding streets of the old town. The journey to the top of the acropolis is around 300 steps from street-level, although to capture a glimpse back in history,


it


was well worth it. The Lindos Acropolis is steeped in fascinating Greek Mythology, with the belief that, Danaus the son of the King of Egypt founded Lindos when he was fleeing from Hera and his brother. Danaus fled in order to stop his fifty daughters from having to marry Hera and his brother’s fifty sons. In a bid to avoid this family arrangement, Danaus resided in Lindos with his daughters where it is believed that he built the Doric Temple of Athena at the top of the Acropolis. At this temple, Danaus placed a statue of Athena, the greek goddess of war and wisdom, to worship. Amazingly, the remains of this doric temple from 300BC remain at the top of the Acropolis. The Lindos Acropolis was unlike anything I had seen before, with pillars and ruins that transport you back to Ancient Greece. Not to mention, the views from the top of the Acropolis are incredible. Walking from one side of the Acropolis to the other, the view changes from a magnificent birds-eye view of Lindos town, where the bustling streets look like the veins of the town, to the spectacular sight of the vast blue ocean and the beach that nestles comfortably into the bay of the coastline. Interestingly, on one side of the acropolis, sits a theatre at the foot of the west slope. This theatre dates back to the 4th Century BC with an estimated capacity


of around 1,800 to 2,000 spectators. This theatre is carved out of rock, and one of the three areas still preserved is the circular orchestra, which can be seen from the Main Street of Lindos New Town.


After a morning spent relishing in the beauty and greek architecture of the Lindos Acropolis, it was lunchtime, the climb up to the top of the summit had worked us up an appetite! Lunch was spent at Nefeli restaurant which is a charming restaurant located just beside the ocean. Owned by Marianna Nefeli, this restaurant is the star- studded spot for tradition greek cuisine. All ingredients are sourced local and fresh which is evident in the quality of food provided, our style of dining was the traditional Greek ‘meze’ style which consisted of traditional greek


salad, moussaka, pastitsio and


much more. Personally, my favourite two dishes were the dolmades which are greek vine leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat and the locally sourced greek yoghurt with honey.


With full bellies and a packed bag of trinkets from the shops


that line the streets of Lindos, there was a bit of space on the itinerary to have some free time and explore the facilities at the Gennadi Grand Resort. Dropping my belongings back into the room, I opted to explore the wide expanse of the resort with a walk down to the beach, the pool and an exploration of the main areas of the resort. The resort exudes elegance and wellness,


dolmades,


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