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October 26, 2009
Taking leave of Rhodes
It's time to leave Rhodes. I have many more stories, but they must wait.
The last charter planes full of tourists will be lifting off from the seaside airport at the end of the week. After that, until April, its an expensive air trip to England, with an enforced stop in Athens. So there'll be a scramble for places, as a good number of Rhodeans leave with the tourists.
For many remaining, its a six month break, after six months of seven day weeks. Waiters who've worked together night after night after night say goodbye, with the words: 'See you in April.'
Strangely, quite a few will spend the next six months in the Alps, where Thomas Cook relocate during the winter, offering a large number of holiday destinations. The man who taught water skiing in Lardos, will now be teaching skiing in the Austrian snow. And our local rep, all sweat in the Rhodean sun, will be now be running three mountain chalets in Switzerland, with ice as far as the eye can see.
So peace be with you, those who remain, as the rains come, and the sun-dry river beds suddenly swell in deep, deep shock at the downpours.
As our plane lifts off, we are soon over the deep blue sea and looking back and down. It's a hard, tough little jewel, Rhodes, set in the gap between Africa, Asia and Europe; not quite any of them, but some of all of them.
Many conquerors down the years; many invasions, the most recent being the tourists.
Use the invaders, my friends; but don't bow to them. Be gracious; but tend your own heart; seek your own way.
And thank you.
Posted by Mr Bojangles at October 26, 2009 02:46 PM