Game playing between flights
This picture was taken on Friday afternoon at Rhodes airport arrivals. October is the last month of the summer season here, direct flights from Europe and further afield start to dwindle as the last few visitors come across to enjoy the glorious weather at this time of year.
With a few clouds in the sky, warm sunny days and cool evenings it amazes me how few people visit in Autumn. The sea is still warm from the months of intensive summer heat and the beaches are quiet.
Enjoying some time to relax the taxi drivers at the airport took time out to play the traditional Greek board game which they called τάβλι (tavli) similar to backgammon there are several different games that make up τάβλι.
There wasn’t a mobile phone or tablet in sight, several pairs of men were playing along the glass wall of the airport with the occasional observer. Said to be good for brain function, strategic mind games like these are believed to help prevent dementia and keep our brains exercised.
Games played on a board or table have a very long history, the name tavli is related to the word tavla, meaning “board” or “table” or “tawleh” from Arabic, and the Latin tabula. Versions of it were played across ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Iran and central Asia. It’s believed that the game was brought to Europe by men returning from the Crusades.
As I’m always interested in where our words come from, the origins of the word backgammon is unclear. Two theories are that it comes from the Welsh ‘back’ (little) and ‘gammon’ (battle) or from the Saxon ‘bac’ (back) ‘gamen’ (game). Either way it’s a good example of how cultures mix and learn from each other.
The world has always been a melting pot of different cultures and ideas, it’s how we have developed and learned from each other over the centuries. Sometimes today it seems we’ve forgotten how much we gain from each other and how better the world is when we work together.
Recommended by my husband who is currently reading this
The images in this post were taken with my iPhone 6 and edited with fotor for mac. The best camera is the one in your pocket.
I need to learn how to play backgammon one of these days!
me too, I have a vague memory of learning it as a child but wouldn’t have a clue how to play it now!
Hi Amanda,
It’s interesting to learn about different cultures and Countries around the world. I love all the pictures you share. Looks like an absolutely beautiful place to be. Enjoy Paradise!
B
Thank you Bren, there’s beauty everywhere if we look for it 🙂
I love exploring origins of words too. I just came to know that dreadlocks are called rasta in spanish, and it’s probably derived from Rastafarian!
since my son’s almost 5, we’re subjected to many board games too! it’s fun for a change, but I’m pretty feddup of snakes and ladders now! #practicalmondays
Words are so interesting aren’t they? The english language is such an international mix you never know what you’ll find next. I think board games are so important at that age they learn so much from playing them.
I’ve always wanted to go there. Love the photo!
Thank you… book a flight and come 🙂
We visited Rhodes a few years ago and loved it. I agree that Greece is beautiful at the end of the summer. Forty two years ago I bought a backgammon board in Athens. I still have it although we don’t play now. I think we should start again. #MySundayPhoto
I imagine Athens would have looked very different 42 years ago? Would love to have seen these islands then before mass tourism and hotel building took off. Good luck with the backgammon…
Great photo, you just don’t seem to get this in the UK
Thank you for linking up