Greece — Sebastian Schlueter

Aegean Spring in Rhodes

Spring 2016
photos - Sebastian Schlueter

Beauty of course is subjective, but standing at beaches wide and open or small and fissured, looking at the light blue sea and breathing the lightly salted air that comes with the wind from the Mediterranean Sea, it is very hard to imagine somebody not being moved by the beauty of this island. The landscape is rough and rugged, but the recent rain over the winter months scattered many green trees and bushes all over the island. On the southeast coast there is a small village called Lindos that lies neatly below the big Acropolis. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Rhodes. The small white houses of the village cover the hills around the Paul´s Bay. Walking inside the narrow alleys gives me the feeling that this place has been here forever. Spring is special here in Rhodes, the streets are still empty and quiet. It is a time of change. People are getting ready for the tourists to arrive.

"I have been to many places in Greece, Kos, Corfu and Rhodes, but after seeing Rhodes I never wanted to leave", the manager of a small beach bar tells me while he is thoroughly cleaning sun beds for the bar which is due for opening in two weeks. The 65 year old man from Liverpool found his new home here. During the winter months, Rhodes becomes a different place. After the last tourists leave the city in late September a certain tranquility spreads over the island. Some of the people spend the winter month somewhere else in the world. Dimitrios is a waiter in one of the many hotels of the island: "During the winter month my cousin and I grow oranges and olives, which is a wonderful and rewarding compensation for the hard work we need to do over the summer month." He is living in a small village not far from his work.

Greeks are probably among the most hospitable people in the world. They always carry a smile on their face even despite the fact they have to conquer the challenges the Euro crisis. Their friendliness does not seem to fade. //

Autumn was kind to them,
Winter was long to them—
But in April, late April,
All the gold sang. [...]

Thomas Wolfe - Spring