In the ancient world, Rhodes was seen as the island of the Sun God Helios, who crossed the firmament with his team every day. The bronze statue, the “Colossus of Rhodes”, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. Today Rhodes with its 2000 year history is a fascinating mix of beaches, nature and testimonials.

Rhodes City (Rhodes)

A walk through the old town of Rhodes is at the same time a ramble through the thousands of years of history of the city - from the Archaeological Museum with its ancient statues, graves and ceramics, you can go down Street of Knights to the Palace of the Knights dating from the Middle Ages which has not suffered any damage to the present day. Not far away you will find modern boutiques, bars and cafés which invite you to pass away the time and take a stroll.

The formidable city walls from the 15th Century are an impressive sight. You can walk along part of them to enjoy a wonderful view of Rhodes old town. The Turkish quarter with its oriental mosques, in which time seems to have stood still, is also worth seeing. In the tangle of small alleyways you will stumble again and again across quaint nooks and crannies, but the old town is at its most beautiful in the early evening when the dwindling sunlight lights up the streets of houses dating from the Middle Ages in gold.

Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes)

Butterfly Valley is a narrow, lush forested valley through which a beck runs - this idyll is ideal for walking and taking a picnic. At its upper end there is an 18th-Century monastery which is worth a brief visit.

Those visiting the valley, however, generally have other reasons. The “Valley of the Butterflies” is not so-called for no reason - thousands and thousands of rare harlequin butterflies with their red and black wings live here. It is, however, not always possible to see them. You will mainly come across them in the summer months between June and August - in late summer they lay eggs, in April the caterpillars hatch which transform in June and spend the summer in the valley. Why this species of butterfly has come to settle in this area of Rhodes can be explained by a botanical particularity - amber trees, whose aromatic resin attracts the harlequin butterflies and on the bark of which they feed, only grow in this area of the country.

Lindos

A stay in Lindos in undoubtedly one of the high points of a trip to Rhodes. The fact that this settlement has been constantly inhabited since the ancient world is unsurprising when you consider the scenic position of the village between the hills and the sea. The whitewashed houses form an arch around the hill, which is crowned by the Acropolis surrounded by an enormous wall from the Middle Ages which can be seen from the village.

On the way to the Acropolis, you may easily get lost in the maze of alleyways and in many places stumble across well maintained silicic mosaic floors with splendid patterns. The so-called captain houses from the 18th Century, which are decorated with complex façades, are famous. At the excavated site at the highest point of the Acropolis you will find the Temple of Athena Lindia, which was meant to replace the old wooden temple and which was constructed in the 6th Century BC under the rule of Kleoboulos. Here, you can walk over the terraces, pass by an Exedra from the 3rd Century BC, through an impressive portico and the gateway which forms the entrance to the holy temple area.

Thari Monastery (Moni Thari)

The Thari Monastery, a Byzantine gem, lies south of Laerma in the middle of the island. It is run by a few monks who have their own radio and TV programs. It was empty until well into the 1980s when Abbot Amfilodios first gave it a new lease of life. The monastery goes back to the 13th Century and was built on the site of an even older building.

The basic legend says that a Byzantine princess from Constantinople suffered from an incurable illness and almost died alone in the woods of Rhodes. The mild climate and the bubbling springs in the area cured her and she founded a monastery to show her thanks. She determined the site for this by throwing her ring - the monastery was to be built where her ring was found. The church is worth a visit due to its frescoes with scenes from the Old and New Testament, which mainly originate from the 16th and 17th Century, although some date back to the early 14th Century.

Kamiros

The ancient pottery town is admittedly one of the less important ancient sites on Rhodes, but is nevertheless worth a visit. The picturesque Kamiros, nestled between green hills not far from the western coast of the island, is the smallest of the three ancient sites of Rhodes but lost its importance after the merger in 408 BC of the separate site with the capital Rhodes City.

Kamiros is a homogenous Hellenistic settlement whose inhabitants were farmers and craftsmen, often potters which gave Kamrios its far-reaching reputation as a pottery town. Ceramics from Kamiros were exported nearly everywhere in the world known at the time. The architectural uniformity of the town is due to the fact that the entire town was completely rebuilt shortly after a serious earthquake in 226 BC which flattened out the town. It was finally abandoned after another earthquake in 142 BC, after which the population lost their destroyed town.

Ataviros

At 1,215 m, Ataviros is the highest mountain in Rhodes. The ascent is extremely hard and you should allow approximately 7 hours to get there and back and make sure that you have good footwear with you. It is best to start the walk from the tiny village of Embona. The otherwise sparse mountain is covered in spring by a gory sea of white and blue sage, light-blue anemones and pink rockroses - a sight to sweeten the tiring walk. If you can reach the summit, the breathtaking view of the island and the sea is worth it.

Here you can also see the scant remains of a Zeus Sanctuary from Mycenaean times. A gruesome legend surrounds this - the altar is said to have been designed in the form of a bronze bull in which people were locked away. Then a fire was started and those inside died a painful death. The priests of the sanctuary interpreted the screams and cries for help of those sacrificed as an oracle. Even today inhabitants of the village tell this story at the foot of the mountain.

Epta Piges

The “Seven Springs” are a waterfall which is formed from the meeting of several springs to irrigate the Kolymbia plain. Here you will find a tavern which will tempt you to while away long periods of time with its tables under the shade of donated sycamores and numerous peafowls which form a tryst.

Epta Piges is a popular place for the residents of Rhodes, who like to bring picnics here, particularly in the summer months. It is pleasantly cool here even in the height of summer thanks to the water and close-by pine forests. It is hardly surprising that legends claim this place was a favourite with nymphs. A 150 m long water tunnel links the beck to a lake. Only the courageous should take this route to the lake, since the tunnel is pitch black. For those less adventurous there is also an overground route, but it is slightly longer. Fans of rare plants will also appreciate this area, as light-blue mandrakes, for example, grow here which have a human-like figure and are said to have had magical powers in the Middle Ages.

Embona

Embona is one of Rhodes' largest mountain villages and is the wine capital of the island. At the entrance to the village you will find the Emery winery, which produces excellent wines and can also be visited on weekdays - with wine tasting included, of course! Its fame is due to the Athiri grape, which thrives wonderfully on the small terraces on the western slopes of Ataviros and has been cultivated since ancient times. Attempts to cultivate this type of grape outside Rhodes have always failed.

Due to its famous wine, the village has been taken over by mass tourism. Not a day goes by without the arrival of coaches of tourists. Many of the local taverns offer Greek evenings with folklore dance shows. Those wishing to have a slightly quieter visit to Embona should take a short walk to the quieter and more traditional part of the village where you can buy rugs and weaved goods which are made in nearly every house in Embona.

About the Author

If you would like to learn more about Rhodes and of last minute travel deals then visit Rhodes Holidays

Fishermen the world over have developed a new passion for pike fishing - and the big variety is found plentifully in Alberta, Canada. Fishing the Canadian Rockies and other little-known areas of Alberta could be the fishing trip of a lifetime.

Traditionally, pike haven't gotten all the respect they deserve. Some experts even refer to them as the Rodney Dangerfield of the fishing world. But that's starting to change, as fisherman who used to focus on the quest for trout are developing a passion for pike. . While pike may not be as pretty or graceful as trout, when it comes to tenacity and strength, they are tough to beat. The northern pike on fly is now the most sought after game fish in fresh water and one of the very best places to find pike is in the Canadian Rockies.

Chris David, owner of Mountain Country Outfitters is one of pike's biggest fans. From his base in Hinton, Alberta, he has access to some of the best pike fishing in the world - and he's happy to share his fascination for pike with his clients.

"Fishing for northern pike on fly has become a real trend over the last 10 or 15 years,: says Chris. "They used to be thought of as garbage fish - people would throw them up on the shore - but that attitude has really changed. True, die-hard fishermen know that pike is where it's at right now."

Hinton is nestled in the heart of a recreational paradise on the eastern edge of Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies 280 km (174 mi) west of Edmonton. The city of Edmonton is the gateway to the North and the first stop for many visitors seeking adventure in Central and Northern Alberta, as well as parts of the Rockies.

Why Fishermen Like Pike

There's no question the Northern Pike is a worthy adversary. Reaching up to 50 pounds, they are voracious eaters who like to dwell in clear water that's on the shallow side. They're particularly drawn to weedy areas, with their spring spawning season a prime time for catching. Generally, they're much harder to catch when they move to deeper waters in the summer months.

Alberta certainly grows big pike, with a 38-pound pike claiming the provincial record. Last year, fishermen in Hinton set a new world record in one of many categories, catching a 28 lb., 6 oz. pike. "There are some huge fish here," Chris says.

American Fishermen Love Alberta Pike

The pike fishing in Hinton is such a draw that it's attracting clients from across the globe. "Most of our clients are American," Chris adds, noting he sees a lot of traffic from Michigan, Minnesota and Montana and Washington." Alberta pike fishing has also received international attention, attracting fisherman from as far away as England, Germany and France.

Chris finds that many people book fishing vacations thinking they want to seek out trout, but quickly change their minds after they see how much fun they can have fishing pike. One client, a diplomat from France, came to Hinton specifically for trout fishing. After Chris convinced him to try a half-day of pike fishing, he was hooked - and has since sent several of his friends to Chris for a similar adventure. "It was really great - he caught some trophies," Chris recalls.

"I tell people the fishing in Alberta is really exciting," Chris says. "Our goal is to make their visit to Canada exciting enough that they are going to go back and tell everyone what a wonderful time they had in Alberta. There's just a fantastic opportunity here for someone from the United States to come up here and really experience what Alberta has to offer."

Pike Fishing, Alberta Style

The average pike Chris catches is about 12 pounds (6 kilos), but "every time I got out I get at least one 20-pound pike," he says. "Our advantage is we have more varieties and species, and larger fish. And more fishable lakes."

One of the unique features of lakes in the Hinton area is water clarity. "It's very clear, which is pretty rare for a pike lake," Chris says. "There's nothing more exciting than watching a four-foot long pike attack your fly."

For now, the best pike lakes in the Hinton area remain relatively unknown - and that's the way Chris wants to keep it. That way, they aren't over fished or over taxed, and they retain their natural beauty and assets. "The nice thing about this area is that I can fish a different lake each day of the week and each of those lakes will produce. It really is a jewel of the Canadian Rockies," Chris says

Many folks recognize Chris from his stint as a host on television's Dimestore Fishermen. The most widely broadcast fishing show in Canada, Dimestore has given Chris a chance to travel to some of the most exciting streams in the world.

"As a television fishing show host, I get to fish all over North America," Chris says. "I can tell you there is no pike lake in Alberta like the lakes in Hinton. It's extremely rare."

Pike in Alberta's Boreal Forest

Winefred Lake Lodge is another Alberta outfitter committed to pike fishing. Located southeast of Fort McMurray, in Alberta's boreal forest, the Lodge offers comfortable accommodations for fishermen who are anxious to test their skills against the area's staples, pike and walleye.

Fly-in for Pike

For a Canada fly-in fishing trip, Andrew Lake Lodge features a package that's designed to help you get up-close-and-personal with the northern pike. Nestled in the northeast corner of Alberta, the area features some of the provinces best pike fishing. Since it takes a little more effort to get to, the area is relatively untouched, and according to publications like Outdoor Canada, offers an excellent chance at trophy fish.

And check out Calgary, which offers exceptional pike fishing opportunities in Southern Alberta.

Resources

Mountain Country Outfitters
Andrew Lake Lodge
Winefred Lake Lodge
Alberta Pike Fishing
Hinton

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About the Author

Author, Noelle Aune, is Director of Travel Media and Public Relations for Travel Alberta Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.travelalberta.com