Island of Kos, Greece
Balcony of our room at the Kos Divine Hotel at sunset
June 28, 2024
After two nights in Rhodes, we boarded the Blue Star for the short jaunt (less than 3 hours) to Kos.
As we drove up to the gated entrance, the guard scanned our three tickets: one for Wally, one for me, and one for the car, and then he told us to get in line behind the red car, pointing to the line closest to us. I think there were four lines of cars, each about 20 cars long.
Soon, many more cars pulled in behind us and the other lines and then another guard began saying “Piraye-ee” to each driver including Wally. We had no idea what he meant and continued watching, discussing how they loaded and unloaded logistically, watching many 18 wheelers pull straight off the ferry as others pulled on, wondering how in the world they went in cab first and came out also cab first. How could they possibly have room to turn around???
While we waited, I began thinking how when I visited Patmos in 1985, when the villagers said my maiden name, “Dorizas,” they pronounced it, “Dorizou.” And I had heard Rhodes pronounced, “Rodoh.”
I told Wally, “I think maybe when he says “Piray-ee,” he is talking about Piraeus—that they’re loading the last stop cars first. You need to tell him Kos.”
Meanwhile, we were not eager to go with the flow of vehicles, for fear of the car getting trapped, so cars behind us began honking. Did I mention how aggressive Greek drivers are???
Finally Wally got the guard’s attention and said, “Kos.” “Koh?” he asked? “Yes, Kos,” Wally answered. He pointed way ahead away from all the lines and said, “You wait here.”
If only I could write the accents!…Because then Wally began saying with a very southern drawl, “We’re goin’ to Kose.” (The “o” in Kos is more like the “o” in boy.)
Instead of leading us to park the car like checkered puzzle pieces on the bottom deck, this time they led us right around to being lined up and facing outward on the same deck we drove in on. Since the trip would be short, we left all our luggage in the car and headed across the garage to the escalator behind other travelers.
Once aboard, we made our way to the staircase to the open deck and sat in the sun as the boat left. For the first time since being in Greece, we heard American accents. Not Southern, but definitely American.
Wally approached them and asked where they were from. A family of four with a son who looked to be maybe 10 or 11 and a 7 or 8 year-old daughter. From Arizona, they had honeymooned in Greece and after returning without the kids, the kids begged to come, so this was maybe their 2nd or 3rd time as a family.
Our one hotel splurge is the Kos Divine Hotel. Since we would only be here one night, I thought it would be nice to have a room with a view of the Aegean and a king size bed. Also wanted to be near the port to keep driving to a minimum.
After checking in, the receptionist said it would be about an hour before our room was ready, and offered a luggage room for our stuff.
The hotel is actually just a short walk from property my dad and his (now departed) sister—so her children—inherited from my Papouli (Greek for grandfather.). My cousin had asked me to take pictures of it because we were being fined by the city for overgrowth.
The fall
The front of the hotel has three glass doors. As I made my way to go out the one on the right, I noticed the one in the middle was standing open outward, so I decided to go through it so I could close it on my way out. (That red and white tape in the above picture had not been put down at that point, but was added by the next morning.)
No sooner had I had the thought that I would go out the middle door so I could close it, than I felt my ankle roll and both knees and forearms hit the floor.
The receptionist and a couple of other hotel staff rushed over to make sure I was okay. I thought I was more humiliated than anything and I was determined our trip would not be ruined. I half-limped, half walked, repeating that it wasn’t really hurt.
The Property
The undeveloped property with the red pin in it belongs to Dad and three of my first cousins.
We got down to the property, which is across from a marina with a hotel on one side and street on the other.
They offered to call a doctor, but I wondered if it was really necessary. I didn’t want to go to the hospital and totally change our plans, and if it was just a sprain, it seemed unnecessary. The fact that I could walk on it made me think it probably was not broken.
Still, I am very thankful my brother is just a text or phone call away. By this time, it would be about 7AM, so I tried to call and then texted and told him what was going on. He FaceTimed and after consulting with him—he’s an orthopedic surgeon—I felt comfortable with not calling a doctor and just resting with all the things:compression, elevation and ice.
Wally is an amazing and attentive nurse and went to fetch dinner after our afternoon siesta. Here are pictures of our room, view with sunset, and sunrise this morning. We ended up enjoying a private romantic dinner on the terrace, which we would not have had if I hadn’t fallen.
When Wally and I came down this morning, we found that the hotel had added red and white warning tape by the ramp where I fell.
This picture shows the door opening inwards, which actually blocks the path to step off the ramp to the left. Yesterday the door was opened outwards.
Amazing Breakfast
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
I always like to pick hotels that include free breakfast—just one way to save a few dollars. Or euros. The breakfast buffet at the Kos Divine Hotel has to be the BEST we’ve ever enjoyed.
Cookies, cakes, fresh veggies and fruit, meats, omelets, eggs, fresh buttery croissants, chocolate pastry, bougatsa, (custard in buttery flaky fillo), tiropita, spanakopita (feta cheese and spinach pies made with buttery flaky fillo), rizogolo (rice pudding, not to mention cereals, yogurts, and an assortment of breads, muffins, and cakes. Wally said their coffee is better than what he gets back home, and I think the tea is too. The creamer/milk is so rich.
Once again, we are amazed at God’s blessings to us. My ankle barely hurts today, though I did get and am now wearing a brace at my brother’s recommendation and am continuing to take it easy. It’s barely swollen now, but I am keeping it iced and elevated. Wally has been praying tons and we see God’s hand in how well I’m doing—especially considering how swollen and painful it was yesterday.
We had plans to visit Hippocrates plane tree where he taught his medical students and the first hospital, built in his honor, but decided the wisest thing is to take it easy. Jad said swimming in the ice cold water on Patmos will do it good—like cryotherapy-which he is a big fan of.
So we’re just hanging out by the pool today enjoying the breeze, sunshine and blue skies. We board the Blue Star around 7:30 this evening for Patmos, and are due to arrive around midnight. My cousin, Cookie, (whose real name is Irene-who like me was named after our Yaya) and I have been messaging each other and talking through What’sApp. Will be the first time I’ve seen her since her mom passed in 2016. Nice to have a fun visit!
