I was blessed to be able to accompany some friends of mine to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise in September 2009. The weather was beautiful and we went to many ports along the 12 day trip. This gallery highlights our time in Rhodes, Greece.

Rhodes has been famous since antiquity as the site of Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The citadel of Rhodes, built by the Hospitalliers, is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe.

The island's history is what adds to its appeal. Comparatively closer to mainland Turkey than Greece, Rhodes has a flavor of its own. It is thought that the Greeks erected the Colossus of Rhodes in the town's old harbor. Two thousand years later the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem fortified the city, protecting its inhabitants from Turkish invaders. Much of my time here was spent in Old Town, protected behind these walls.