Roasting in Rhodes

-DAY 8, Rhodes, Greece-

9.12.16 Monday

BEACH DAY! We were going to do a shore excursion but we thought why spend the 150$ when we could hang out with our new friends.

We had breakfast & got off the ship to be hounded by a new set of taxi drivers. We couldn't decide which mode of transportation to take and finally found a cabbie who wasn't a complete asshole to take us to Faliraki Beach. We are in Rhodes, Greece! The cabbie was kinda attitude-y at first but we learned he HATES being a cab driver and only does it because he and his family live a peaceful life in Rhodes. He used to be a geologist & seismologist but was laid off because machines replaced him. Kind of sad, actually.. but dude- don't bite the hand that feeds you (tourists). I explained to him that in our culture it's not customary for people to approach us the way they do. He almost killed us a few times.. my three FRIENDS got in the backseat so I had to sit up front and he ignored a motorcycle stopped at an intersection to drive directly into an incoming car's path. Good times!

We arrived at the beach through pure miracle (EP was praying for us in the backseat). It was 5€ per chair which was fine because the receipt was good for all day throughout the coast at any chair and included wifi. We soaked up the sun for a few hours with Sarah & Rachel and then EP and I headed out in search of snorkeling.

Eventually we flagged a cabbie to take us to Anthony Quinn Bay. He thought we were English! And had worked as a cabbie in NYC fir 12 years. He was kind of a jerk and yelled at us for leaving his door open for too long because it lets the AC out (OH NO!). But he got us there.. to the top of the hill instead of driving down. Whatever!

We walked down & showed or receipt and asked about snorkeling. It wasn't what we thought but the woman was able to let us borrow masks and snorkel thingies for free which was awesome. We snagged some chairs and snorkeled in the rocky bay. We saw some big fish and some little fish and a lot of blue water, it was fun! Afterward we walked along a trail for a bit and then headed back to Faliraki to get the cab back to the ship with S & R. Our driver back to "F Beach" would only drop us off at the taxi stop (which we didn't know existed) and we were MUCH further down. We ended up walking along the whole beach and seeing (but not having time to stop in) a whole small town as well as many booths ordering snorkeling, het ski rentals, floatie rentals, etc. Know we know for next time.

We had asked our driver to pick us up at 330p and when we got in he was explaining to another family that he'd be back to pick them up. He told us that he was speed to get then at 430p but they changed their minds and he didn't want to lose the money SO he proceeded to drive a million miles an hour and again we had to make our seatbelts as tight as possible and EP had to pray in the backseat. I thought I might vomit.

All was well, we survived the drive and took a selfie in front of the "Welcome to Rhodes" sign before reboarding the ship.

Our plans were trivia @ 5, as usual, and then of course again at 715p and dinner at 815p (drinking all the while per our package). Danis is the one in the selfie with us, we always just tell him to make whatever he wants and it's always delicious! We were exhausted after dinner so we went to bed and then woke up to buy wifi! Lol. Our generation.

 Αντίο (Goodbye?) from Greece for the last time! 😢💙

P.S.- We are back to being 6 hours ahead of you as of tonight!!! (Back to German time EZ! ♡)