Lindos Acropolis

We took the public bus to Lindos, €5.50 p/p for about a 1.5hr journey. We enjoy taking the bus on the islands as generally they  serve the local villagers so you get a glimpse down the back roads, up windy hills and pass through little town squares. 

The bus wound it's way up to the drop off point for Lindos. What a spot, fabulous views out to the ocean and down to the little horseshoe shaped beach miles below. We went prepared for walking and sensibly we went on an early bus to avoid the heat of the day.

There are three parts to Lindos, the Acropolis which sits atop a headland, the village beneath the Acropolis and the beach. The bus dropped us on the side of a busy road and we had to walk downhill about 10 mins to the Chora/town village, only to walk back up towards the Acropolis.  

The walk up from the town takes you through a maze of little lanes with picture perfect Greek shops selling tourist souvenirs and with gorgeous looking restaurants tempting you through discreet doorways to sumptuous roof top terraces.

Most of the walking was on pathways made from embedded stones ...very pretty but would be treacherous if wet.

An elderly gent from one of the tour groups fell in front of me, luckily just pride was hurt and nothing more serious.

We  spotted the poor old donkey trade waiting to transport visitors up the path to the Acropolis. I hate seeing Donkeys and horses standing tied up in the heat like this in tourist hot spots, however they did look well cared for and the only person taking a donkey ride was a wee girl so not too much work for the donkey. 

Lindos is spectacular on a clear sky day like today, it was perfect and easily one of Greece's most important  archaeological sites. 

Lindos was all about the massive temple of Athena Lindia built around 300 BC. Everyone has had a go at retaining this perfect citadel - the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights of St John and the Ottomans.

After winding your way up the hill above the town you come to the bottom of the Acropolis, just 300 steps separate you from the top. We were off up the Hellenistic staircase (2nd century BC) and on to explore the citadel.

The steps were rough hewn block with no hand rail, I was worried for a lot of the elderly folk that were clearly off the cruise ship that had docked in port this morning. A few were really struggling, but what a reward when you got to the top - spec-tac-u-lar! I'll let the photos do the talking.

The views down to St Paul's beach were super. We could have walked down that way and then found our way back to the main town but we opted to retrace our steps and then go down to the main beach.

It was getting hotter and we thought lunch on the beach sounded good.

There were a few people in swimming and it looked like a safe swimming beach but we didn't have our togs so no dip for us.

Many beaches in Turkey, Spain and Greece have a beach club set up where you hire a deck chair and eat at the cafe/bar that has the sun umbrella/loungers....hmmm not my scene but works for others.

A fabulous day out to Lindos made even more special when a group of young school boys got on the bus to go 4k up the road to their village. They were delightful, wanting to practice their English, very proud of their grammar, they must have had a terrific teacher who had told them to practice in the bus with the tourists. Wonderful to see such youthful energy and enthusiasm.