The Old Town of Lindos is another mish-mash of narrow cobblestone pedestrian streets lined with small shops. Each country we've visited has it's distinctive collection of souvenirs. If we had room in our backpacks, we'd load up on little statues and ceramic reproductions of ancient pottery. While wandering through the streets of Lindos we discovered two Orthodox Churches, both built in the fourteenth century. I took lots of photos of The Church of the Panagia before seeing the sign that said "no photos!" I also missed the sign that said "no shorts!" and an unhappy guard let me know about my transgression after it was too late. I guess I'd better pay closer attention.
Below the Acropolis and the village of Lindos is The Bay of St. Paul. It's a very small and almost perfectly-circular body of turqoise water with two small outlets into the Aegean Sea. Two small beaches welcome sun-seekers to the bay, and perched on a rocky hillside is the Church of St. Paul. Legend has it that Paul was shipwrecked off the coast of Lindos (that info is not in the Bible, but Paul did get shipwrecked a lot.) Tradition says that he sought refuge in the bay and went on to establish the church of Rhodes. The Book of Acts just records that he stopped on the island on the way back to Jerusalem from Rome on his third missionary journey. I swam in the cool, clear waters of St. Paul Bay while Leroy walked back to Lindos and shopped for souvenirs. Back at our home in Afandou, we dipped in the pool and then packed up our belongings before dinner. We are up early tomorrow for a 6:45 a.m. flight to the island of Santorini.
