Non-French TidbitsCity of Rhodes

By Jim and Emmy Humberd

The SS City of Rhodes arrived at the City of Rhodes on the Island of Rhodes, and believe us, while the SS City of Rhodes is not too great, the real city of Rhodes is fabulous. This medieval city has been restored, and is as beautiful a walled city as any of the hundreds we have seen in other countries in Europe.

Centuries ago this was the place from where pilgrims visited the Holy Land. As with most places in this part of the world, everybody and his brother occupied it at one time or another. From 1310 the island was ruled by the Knights Hospitaler, (a military religious order formed during the Crusades) who rebuilt the city of Rhodes. They were expelled by the Ottoman Turks in 1522. From 1912 to 1947, Rhodes was occupied by the Italians, who did much new building, and conducted extensive archaeological excavations.

Agriculture is the Island of Rhodes economic mainstay; olive oil, red wine, fruit, grain, and cotton are all exported. Sponges are taken from offshore waters. Tourism is a very important part of the economy.

Built of bronze, the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ninety-eight (or 110 or 120) feet high, reinforced with stone and iron, the Colossus stood, we are usually told, with one foot on each side of the harbor. Other references authoritatively insist it stood beside, not astride, the harbor entrance. Sixty years later, in 226 BC, an earthquake caused the Colossus to crash to the ground. During an Arab invasion in AD 653, the bronze remains was broken up and sold as scrap metal-it had laid there nearly 1,000 years. Two columns, one with a statue of a roe, the other a buck, were erected where the Colossus of Rhodes might(!) have stood.

The town was so interesting, rather than take the bus to visit other towns nearby, we just walked and walked through this captivating old city. Near some expensive hotels there were a dozen bathing-beauties, some so poor they could only afford half of a bathing suit, so were barefoot from the waist up.

In the harbor were several tourist ships, and many expensive looking yachts. As our ship left and headed along the northwest shoreline, we could see dozens of hotels, extending for mile after mile. Scandinavians and Germans love it here, anything for some sunshine.

Books by Jim and Emmy Humberd:
Invitation to France
Invitation to Germany
Invitation to Italy

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City of Rhodes

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