Off to a Rhodes Wedding

We left Denver on Mother's Day in a snowstorm! After some problems with fueling the plane, we had to be de-iced resulting in a 1 1/2 hour delay leaving Denver. Thankfully, we had planned a 3 hour layover in Frankfort and thus had no problems making our connection to Athens. Another 2 hour layover then the 1 hour flight to Rhodes. We were happy to see my brother, Dick, waiting for us at the airport, since we hadn't arranged for a rental car. He had arranged a large house, the Faliraki Lodge, for the family for the week. It was a beautiful setting with rooms to sleep twelve and enough outdoor patio area for a party of fifty. The beach and the bars are about 3 blocks away. The town was relatively quiet since tourist season had just begun.

Faliraki Lodge

We woke up the next day with the plan of visiting Lindos with its acropolis. Unfortunately, we soon learned that Tristan's (the groom) brother, Sam (the best man) was in the hospital after collapsing the night before. The suspicion was that he was dehydrated and had drunk too much booze, but the hospital ended up keeping him for two days for tests and observation.

We did gather most of the Balza clan together to visit Lindos. On the way, we stopped at seven springs, where the springs form the source of a local stream. Upon reaching Lindos, we gave everyone freedom to do whatever they wanted and set up a return time. We climbed 300 stairs to the top of the acropolis. In Classical times, it had 3 large terraces with a temple to Athena at the top, 116 meters above the sea. From the top you see St. Paul's Bay where his ship capsized. In the 14th century, a Byzantine fortress was built on the acropolis. After visiting the acropolis we had a nice roof top lunch, followed by wandering the village of Lindos with its many shops.

The town and acropolis of Lindos