With great expectations the Englishman and I looked forward to our ‘get away from it all’ break. The search began in November to find just the right place, that special place filled with peace and quiet. For some reason I had the intense desire to be somewhere in the bush, almost cut off from civilization just the two of us, oh my word can you imagine! Eventually after days of searching found this special place tucked away between the indigenous vegetation, a wooden chalet advertised as private, comfy and all the right words that sold it in an instant.
BUT, and as always another darn BUT in my life, it turned out to be a let-down of enormous proportions. Yes, tucked away it truly is, not far to drive either, private yes, but everything else left a rather bad taste in the mouth. Now, don’t get me wrong here, these cabins and chalets are not somewhere in some remote area. Nope, quite the contrary, just off the main road on a small holding about 5 minutes from the beach and shopping area.
Tired was the first thought that came to mind, the bed linen looked like all the left over multi coloured whatever is available at that moment. The wardrobe one small shelf to pack two persons clothes for 10 days and three ‘we get this for free with the dry cleaning’ hangers. The musty smell that hung in the air we discovered later the result of the rotting floor where the shower leaks and black mildew framed shower, basin and sink. Woke up the first morning with tiny red bite marks all over and realised with absolute horror that some other creatures also inhabit the bed.
Having had to pay the full non-refundable amount before arrival left us with a rather costly predicament, do we threaten the owner with the new consumer protection law and insist on our money back, or just pack up and go? The Englishman insisted that we stay for at least 3 days in order to get some sort of ‘value’ for our money much to my utter dismay, decided not to make a fuss but just up and left after three days, heading to the mountains of Rhodes.
If you’ve never been to Rhodes you don’t know what you are missing. The most peaceful place on this earth yours truly decided after the second day having my early morning coffee on the veranda, listening to the birds while watching the mountain wake from its slumber.
The days went by without incident, we walked in the streets, collected crystals, visited the old cemetery and rinsed our feet in the clean mountain river that runs through the little town. We joined the braai at the hotel where the small community meet every Saturday, totally at home where everybody talk, ate and took an interest in each other.
We left wishing we could have stayed longer, the hour long drive on the gravel road back to Barclay East very few words were spoken between the two of us. Suddenly we both said the same thing at the exact same time, wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in Rhodes permanently! But sadly, that is wishful thinking but maybe, maybe one day lady luck will look down upon us and grant us this wish, to own a house in this remote little town. To run away with every opportunity and breathe the fresh mountain air and find peace within.
Thank you Janita for accommodating us, thank you for your friendship and thank you for sharing your mountain with us. We will be back!
