Painting and Refurbishing Frenzy

It has been foggy with thick dust in the air since yesterday. The southerly wind came up yesterday evening, creaking and groaning through the trees, and it is still quite choppy now. Shreds of low cloud hang around the mountain tops and visibility is poor. The forecast for the rest of the week is generally overcast with some quite strong winds and the possibility of a shower or two around Friday. There is a big low passing through fairly slowly causing gales in the Ionian and much of the mainland is experiencing quite wet weather.

The Symi was very crowded this morning with people who had come over from Rhodes and further afield for the long weekend leaving the island (see webcam). We went up the mountain yesterday to photograph an archaeological site and there were quite a few Greek tourists on the road, doing touristy things like photographing the views and wrestling with underpowered motorscooters on unfamiliar bends! Sections of the road have deteriorated badly in the winter storms with some deep sinkholes in places and a few rock falls. Nonetheless, it is considerably better than it was when we first came here in 1993, when the road was often impassable after heavy rain and we always took two planks and a spade with us in case we needed to dig our way out. The new trees planted by the municipality with the assistance of the army are taking well and, thanks to the judicious use of fencing wire sheaths, have not suffered from the goats and sheep. There are wild lilies growing in the rocky places and the sage bushes have started to flower. There are also occasional tiny purple irises and crocuses, evidently much stunted by the minute quantities of soil in which they grow among boulders. It is several degrees cooler up there, particularly at night, and the high valleys are still covered with small white daisies whereas in the Pedi valley the larger yellow ones and poppies are starting to take over.

Down in the harbour, the painting and refurbishing frenzy is well under way. The ducks and geese are doing their bit, holding up the traffic, quacking through wet cement, sleeping on the fishing nets and keeping the cats in order. There are pallets of bricks stacked beneath our window and every vehicle that passes seems to have ladders, paintpots, doors or furniture sticking out of it or strapped on somehow.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana