Kos in the Dodecanese Islands
We left the ring of the Cyclades Islands behind during the night and this morning awoke at Kos, one of the twelve Dodecanese Islands. In recent history control of this island had been juggled between Turkey and Italy. Today, it is a part of Greece, but the ancient remnants we walked through today told the story of a procession of struggles for possession.
We threaded our way from a sun drenched Odeon, to a shaded jumble of columns and other building elements that had been cast about by a succession of earthquakes over the millenniums. The contrasts were just as stark in the layers of architecture as minarets were silhouetted in the background of marble columns before the backdrop of the Knights of St. John Castle.
The plentiful water supply of the island was evidenced by the lush growth of a multitude leafy-crowned trees. This was most comfortably demonstrated by outstretched branches the Plane tree of Hippocrates, a sycamore whose shade provided refuge to dozens of sun wilted explorers.
With a freshening breeze, we boarded the Panorama and set sail towards our adventures for tomorrow.
Following in the footsteps of the courageous men in tin,
I stand hot and sweaty ready to jump back in
The cool, crisp Mediterranean.
Jamie Walsh, Age 12
