Greece- Touring the Islands

Our main destination was Kalymnos, an island near Turkey, in the Dodecanese group of Greek islands. Traditionally, this island isn't one of the main tourist attracting islands. It's main industry used to be the sponge diving. Apparently, after Chirnobl (sp?) the sponges all died, and the industry for this little island with it. They are trying to reinvent themselves as a tourist destination. The island only has a handful of little towns, and one major town, Pothia.

This is an old monastery, on the top a big hill, with an amazing view. It was spectacular to tour it.



View of Pothia from the monastery.








Hiking to Chora Castle (in background).

Castle of St John, parts are still maintained.







We traveled to a neighboring island, Kos, on a rest day. We took are scooters with us. We could see Turkey, just 5 km away. Rich kept gobbling all day. Kos is larger than Kalymnos, and it was Hippocrates home.


Brie, Rich, Chris, Adam and Mara in Kos Town.


Inside a large castle complex from about 5-700 years ago.




Asklepieion: temple to the god Asklepius and Apollo: this was a large temple complex that was also a medical school and hospital. It was a therapeutic center that attracted patients and pilgrims from far and wide. Hippocratic medicine was practiced here; therapy was applied in a scientific fashion for the first time.


Columns from the Temple of Apollo, part of the Asklepieion.



Photos from the ferry ride to and from Kos. Our 'rest' day started at 6am.


We're all looking a little tired. It's only nescafe in those cups, but it was good enough.


Hopping on our scooters after the ferry.




This is a fun video to watch, listen for Rich's "gobble".