When somebody visits Rhodes for
the first time, aware of the myth that sets her as the home
of Helios, the sun god, they can’t help but start
with a good – or at least a favourable – disposition
towards
the island. And, in due course, when it is time to leave
again, and by now in love with the place, no one can
claim – or at
least no one so far has – that this love affair has to do
with anything other than the result of yet another mythical
liaison which claims that Rhodes is none other than
the child of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
Simply put, the visitor’ s love for the island is the result
of a relationship that was just bound to end like this, because
Rhodes, the whole island, seduces in a series of inevitable
ways, causing even the most dispassionate visitor at last,
to fall. The hospitality of the inhabitants, the manners
and
customs religiously guarded by village folk, and the hundreds
of ways the people have of enjoying themselves, whether at
the traditional festivals, where everyone performs the traditional
Greek dances – the sousta, the sirtos, the kalamatianos
– accompanied by the violin and lute, or at the top-quality
cultural events that take place on Rhodes almost daily,
or in the many night-clubs.
Rhodes really is magical, as
you too, dear guest, will agree as soon as you get to know
the island. And you will also then do us the great favour
of removing the word “exaggeration” from your mind if it has
possibly entered your thoughts on reading this introduction!
For more details, visit: www.rhodes.gr
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