Description: Having exited the Old Town near to the modern port we strolled along the waterfront to the harbour. A modern sculpture incorporating dolphins, near to the large cruise ships, took our eye and we checked that out before making tracks to the harbour. Massive cruise liners were docked having spewed out their precious cargos onto the streets of Rhodes. It’s the first time we’ve seen one of these floating towns up close and we were real impressed with the scale of them. Perhaps we’ll try a cruise one day!
Next we’re hot footing towards the harbour passing through a small street market in the shadow of the city walls. Its traders are selling hard to the passing tourists, but there was nothing particularly unusual or enticing as far as we were concerned – just the usual tourist trivia. We continued on route and enjoyed the array of small, but no doubt expensive personal cruisers moored at the water’s edge. It was here that you’ll be able to book tours and boat owners were not shy in their offers for fishing trips, glass bottom trips and day trips to surrounding resorts,
But the real focus of our walk was the walk around the old harbour and this was a real hive of activity, with countless local fishermen sat on the quayside, families apparently discussing weighty matters, numerous sightseers snapping off photographs and scores of birds flying across the harbour and settling on the local landmarks.
Where the famous and mighty Colossus used to stand, astride the entrance to the harbour, now rest two more subtle figures that have become synonymous with Rhodes. They are the bronze figures of a Stag and its Doe and this couple keep an ever-watchful eye over the comings and goings in the harbour. I’ve read somewhere that the deer was introduced to help keep down a growing snake population and assumed the qualities of the guardians of the island as a result of their success. Not sure how credible that story was but as many snakes would be “imported” on incoming ships I guess their site at the entrance to Mandraki harbour makes absolute sense.
Across from the stag statue you get a good view of the city walls and looking out to sea are three medieval windmills and the 15th Century fortress of St Nicholas, which has assumed real importance for the shipping lanes as it now “doubles up” as a lighthouse.
A few metres away from the harbour we found the real delicate minaret of the Murad Reis Mosque. A mosque which has its peace disturbed by the steady flow of traffic around it.
Other notable buildings to watch out for are the government buildings with the delicate stoned mosaics built into the pavement, the picturesque dome of Nea Agora (the 'new' indoor market) and the impressively placed church of the Evangelismos (built in the 1920s). It's a great area just to stroll around admiring the many statues around the harbour.
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