The Rhodes to Ruin

Hi everyone. Sorry we've been off the grid, but we've just returned from 14 days on the island of Rhodes in Greece, and we are groaning from the all inclusive, all you can eat and drink buffet at the French resort there.

It was kind of weird, being the only English speaking guests at the Club Lookea Rhodes, surrounded by French people on holiday. We were minor curiosities at the resort, and had to explain to many people why we were such a long way from home (in French, mind you).

However, it was also fascinating to us, to see how 500 French people do holidays. It seems many are not interested in mixing with other nationalities or perhaps only speak French, hence the all French resort. But the pluses abounded, such as great food, playing petanque, and not having to listen to other tourists complaining in English :  )

We also lucked out with the best room in the hotel, in their brand new block, with a massive terrace overlooking the hills, olive and pine trees, and the herds of wandering goats. Love those goats - they're responsible for the impossibly rich and delicious fetta that I ate a small mountain of in just one fortnight.You go, kids!!

Our days were filled with eating, drinking and swimming in the pools, alternated with eating, drinking and swimming at the beach at our sister hotel which was filled with Italians and Poles. Talk about being Poles apart! It was like going to a different country at the beach, with the beer drinking, mustache sporting Polish (just the men, that is) and loud Italian families eating gelato at the beachside cafe. It's hilarious how Italians will calmly go up and order a coffee wearing nothing but a tiny speedo and some flimsy thongs - I mean the footwear, not the g-strings! Miles started going up and having an espresso in his speedos too - when in Rhodes, do as the Romans do, I say.

Back at the French resort, we also dove into all the activities organised by the Lookea Animation team. All the all inclusive resorts (Club Med was the first to start this, I believe) have these animation teams who organise games, sports, dancing by the pool, and nightly shows. They all spoke English to a more or less degree and all expressed a desire to go to Australia. Whether they show up some day remains to be seen.

We had a bit of Greek culture thrown in too, with the hotel staff, and our visit to the famous acropolis in the cute, but hot and touristy town of Lindos. Many Greeks have relatives in Australia or America, so we ended up being friendly with a few. Our French also improved a bit. However, our resolve to avoid rose wine and desserts is definitely in ruins, just like all those Greek temples.

Now we are back in Toulouse for two days before heading off to Carcassone, in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region of Southern France. We cannot really recommend Toulouse, though it has some lovely old buildings in the centre of town, as it is filled with a lot of homeless drunk beggars with large dogs. Overall, fairly missable. The one bright spot is that we are staying at a swanky boutique hotel, and just celebrated our wedding anniversary drinking complimentary French champagne, as you do. More soon from the vineyards!