David's Diary: Thursday, June 26, 2003

Exploring Kos, Greece

Kos will be our last stop in Greece and today we take time to explore the ancient city. The island is a popular tourist destination for Northern Europeans. We walk along the road from the marina into town. The road runs parallel to the beach and we see hundreds of people out soaking up the sunshine. The Meltemi is calm again today and it is hot in the still air.

Knight's of St. John Castle

We visit the castle which stands guard over the harbour entrance. The castle used to belong to the Knight's of St. John before they were chased away by the Ottoman Turks in the sixteenth century. This castle, along with the ones in Bodrum and Turkey were the last to fall under the Ottoman onslaught. After leaving the area, the Knight's of St. John eventually settled in Malta and survived a seven month siege by the Ottoman's that chased them there. For us, we get to complete our live history lesson, by comparing our experiences in Malta to the castle that we walk through today.

Lunch on the Aegean

We stop for a late lunch at a restaurant by the sea. I take a series of life style pictures of Karalee and Jocelyn eating lunch which I hope to add to my portfolio. Then it is Jocelyn and Kevin's turn to write post cards at the table while I take even more pictures. Cruise ships and ferries pass by in the background as the Aegean Sea provides a colourful backdrop to the restaurant.