Rhodos cont.

Day Four.

After a good nights sleep I take off early for a walk around the new city and west coast beaches.  It's very scenic but very touristy as well, especially catering to the British.

After coffee on board Greg cooks up brunch of savoury eggs which are delicious and very filling.

Yannos our agent returns with all our paperwork; transit log, entry and exit stamps, crew list and the bill.  It's 465 Euros for everything including their fee of 100 Euros for booking our berth at Mandraki Marina and handling all the officials, well worth every cent.  Immigration and the transit log cost 170Euros.

Soon after Kim and Peter arrive all kitted up for their ferry trip back to Athens.  Wow they are packed up well and have all the mod cons, like built in microphones in their helmets, and they can play their iPod through them.  We have a coffee with them and then bid them safe travels just as their ferry is arriving.

We are heading over to catch the hop on hop off bus that will take us around the old and new city.  It takes about an hour and is pretty disappointing but at least we get to see the acropolis which is a fair way out of the city.  We do go via the very scenic route of the west coast and the beaches and water look  very inviting.

Mandraki Harbour is fascinating and we could spend all day watching the comings and goings.  There are charter yachts returning from their week at sea, ferries, gulets and many other commercial ships.  We have had a 90 foot gulet beside us for three days now and they are leaving in the morning.  The westerly winds have been pushing them onto us so we are squashed like a sandwich next to our neighbouring catamaran. They are Italians and very friendly and helpful in trying to adjust themselves to help us a little.  Plus all the agents of the sailing industry ride around on scooters checking at who is here and coming into the harbour to ensure they try to get your business.  We were actually advised not to come to this marina because of the reported many anchor foulings but there are no other options.  The new marina that was supposed to by completed by 2011 is still not available so Mandraki it is.  Actually so far we have not seen any yacht have any issues leaving the harbour.  This is the best location to be in for viewing the historical city, we are very lucky.  Fingers crossed we are lucky tomorrow with the anchors.

Sunday night is all about the F1; we are watching the race at the Yacht Club Cafe where we have spent a few afternoons enjoying a refreshment and their great Wi-Fi.  They set up a special viewing area for us on one of their TVs as the locals are watching a basketball game between Greece and America, unfortunately they loose.  The race is exciting and we enjoy the evening. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

Monday morning is departure day.  The forecast is for the westerly winds to die down by lunch time.  I go for a final walk around the old city and take some more photos.  Rhodos is  really fantastic, most likely the best historical town we have visited so far.  Plus  I purchase our final fresh foods for the trip. 

At 10.30am we take a walk around to the west coast to see what the winds are doing.  The winds are picking up instead of dieing down so Greg decides that we should stay another night otherwise we are punching into the Beaufort 5s and 6s. When we look at the wind forecast the only place it is windy is over Rhodos, go figure!  We visit the marina guy and get the OK for one more night.  He sends Yannos over later to pay the fees, only 28 Euros.

The forecast does look good for tomorrow and the next few days, very slight winds so should be a good sail over to Simi.

In the afternoon we head over to the beach on the west coast for a swim, its really busy and full of local kids and holiday makers.  The water is very refreshing.  The rest of the evening is spent with a yummy meal on board and watching some old reruns of Entourage.