Many opposites & butterflies: Rhodes

We are staying in the warm south this week, now that it is getting wet and cold again, and are taking a look at one of the main travel destinations in the Mediterranean: Rhodes. The Greek island combines many contrasts: On the one hand, it is a haven for party animals, who mainly flock to the entertainment town of Faliraki. On the other hand, it is home to such beautiful places as Lindos, a town that can only be entered on foot or by donkey.

Since it was one of our first trips, we booked a package deal, as we were not yet familiar with individual travel. We ended up in a hotel with overcrowded evening buffets that turned out to be real food fights (we had already lost our appetite after the starter) and an evening disco that went on until the early hours of the morning - so it was not possible to relax. In order to get some distance from the hotel, we went to the nearby beach one evening, only to discover that we were in a military restricted area and that a military boat was watching us from the sea using a searchlight.

The nearest beach was a town away and we didn't have a driving license at the time. Our idea of a week's holiday with a pool, sea and relaxation was anything other than that. But it was precisely this circumstance that led us to discover the island and take the local bus - which was an experience in itself. So we set off for Lindos, Rhodes, Kallithea (ancient thermal baths with a beautiful beach), the Caribbean beach of Tsambika Bay and the beautiful Valley of the Butterflies and enjoyed many more wonderful impressions of the very divided island. For those seeking peace and quiet, we recommend the south, which has more spacious beaches. The moral of the story: If you find yourself in a situation that doesn't feel right, you should be prepared to leave and change something. This way you can discover heaven on earth even in holiday hell.