Seeing peacocks in the arid environment was a highlight for this writer. (Korradol - stock.adobe.com)
Editor’s Note: Amariah Alexander is a student writer from Dr. Wiedemer’s and Ms. Ireland’s class at Spangdahlem Middle School (SY 24-25).
As the summer sun went down, painting the sky with beautiful golden colors over the blue waters of Rhodes, I was super excited to start an amazing adventure that would change how I thought about traveling forever. Greece was like the coolest place ever, with its awesome history, gorgeous landscapes and yummy food! From sunny beaches to fun local culture and exciting activities, I couldn’t wait to find out why so many travelers loved this magical spot.
“Come with me as I explore Greece, where every moment feels like a piece of paradise! ”
You can see why Greece pulls at least three million tourists yearly.
On the bus ride to our resort, you could see a lot of vibrant peacocks just walking around. There was little to no grass, and to me, everything looked dry. This stood out to me because in America, you would never see that, and it was my first time seeing peacocks. Those beautiful multi-colored feathers: blue, purple, and green make you want to reminisce about a rainbow.
As we arrived at our resort, this was another way people love Greece: their resorts look so exotic compared to hotels back in America. The scenario reminded me of the beauty of Cornwall, England, due to the coastal vibes of both places.
The next day, my parents surprised us with a boat trip to Symi, which excited me because the last time I was on a boat, a huge storm happened in the middle of it. The boat ride was one hour long and boring. But when we got there, it was all worth it. Excitedly, I looked around and saw the houses of very vibrant colors, ochre, salmon, red, light blue and white, which reminded me of the colorful beach houses in England. We went window shopping to see all these unique items, like these small pouches that have eye-catching patterns.
Shopping in the village of Symi. (nejdetduzen - stock.adobe.com)
After that, we started to hike to Pedi Beach. It was a difficult journey because of the scorching sun, so suncream is a must.
Once we made it, we ate at Taverna Tolis, which was a seafood and Mediterranean restaurant. While we were looking through the menu, a cat came and lay under our table. It was really cute. I got calamari (fried squid), which is my favorite seafood dish with a squirt of lemon juice. Once we were done eating, we finally got to go to the beach, but we couldn’t get in all the way because of the freezing temperature. But our fun only lasted a short amount of time because we had to catch a bus to get back to the dock to go back to Rhodes. After the long hike, I just passed out when I found a seat on the boat.
Upon returning to Rhodes, we decided to visit the Old Town of Rhodes. The place environment of the area would surely brighten your day with all the people laughing and music playing. If you want souvenirs, this is the place to go.
All types of unique shops where there. I got to purchase a mirror that has the evil eye (the evil eye protects you from evil spirits). Then my parents picked up a magnet for our fridge that usually holds all the magnets of places we’ve been. The magnet we bought had two blue chairs and a white table with a sign that says “Rhodes” and other nearby islands.
The old town of Rhodes has lots of unique shops. (svetlanafoto - stock.adobe.com)
Being near the beach means swimming and sandcastles. The sea salt smell reminded me of going to the beaches in Florida. The only downside to the beach was the hot sand, forcing us to have to bring our sandals to the shore. This part was exhausting but worth the time to have some beach fun because the part of Germany we live in is landlocked.
So, I rarely get to swim, but there was a water park on the beach. I thrilly asked my parents if we could go to it. “We will make time for it another day!” my dad said, but that never happened.
Sun loungers on a beach in Rhodes, Greece. (vivoo - stock.adobe.com)
The next day, our parents went to the bar, leaving us alone at the waterpark. We played water volleyball, went on multiple waterslides, and went on one of my favorite water rides, which is the lazy river. But that soon ended because my eyes started to react to the chlorine, meaning we had to leave.
So, we got pyrkagiés, which means fries, and it was the word I didn’t struggle to pronounce. We got back to the room and I tried unlocking our room door, but it wouldn’t, which caused me to panic. I started to spiral as I reached for my phone to call my parents. They came and used their keycard, which didn’t work at all. That left me flabbergasted, because I needed my eyedrops. My parents went and got the staff to get new keycards so we could get into the room. I ended up sleeping for the rest of the day.
The next day was mainly about trying food. For breakfast, we just ate the buffet, and the theme of the day was mainly an English breakfast. So, I got toast, beans, eggs, sausages and mushrooms, which gave me flashbacks from England. The eggs were slightly burned, but overall, it was good and nostalgic.
Then for lunch, we ate at a Greek restaurant where I tried some Greek sauces. The only one I can remember was an eggplant dip, which was horrendous. I don’t like eggplant, so that could have been the whole reason, but I don’t think it’s a must-try. For my main course, I had octopus and salad. I enjoyed the traditional Greek salad even though I don’t enjoy feta cheese or tomatoes. The octopus was perfect; it was tender and saucy, which enhanced the flavor. This is something you have to try when coming to Greece.
For dinner, we went to an Asian restaurant. For my starter, I got the boa bun. When it was severed, I started to have doubts about the food, but after one bite, I was in heaven. The bun was soft and the meat was so flavorful. I would have to say it was the best restaurant at the resort.
The day we had to leave, honestly, I never felt so sad to leave a place. As we ate bread for breakfast at one of the resort’s cafes since the buffet was closed, we sat and waited for our bus to arrive to pick us up and take us to the airport. On the bus, I just knew it might just be my last time in Rhodes, Greece.
In conclusion, my trip to Greece was breathtaking and opened my eyes to how beautiful and interesting this country is. The landscapes were stunning, and the history was so mind-blowing! I loved the delicious food and how friendly everyone was. I had so much fun exploring the colorful streets of Symi, relaxing on the beaches, and tasting the unique flavors of Greek dishes. Every moment was special and something I will always remember. This trip helped me satisfy my travel cravings and made awesome memories with my family. Greece is one of the best places to visit in the world, and I can’t wait to go back and discover even more of its magic!
