The island is filling up

It has been very slightly cooler this week. Other parts of Greece have experienced quite stormy and windy weather with forest fires and winds around Force 8 on the Beaufort Scale. A fire-fighting plane was actually swamped by a large wave and sank while refilling, trying to put out a fire in Kea. Fortunately the crew were rescued but it is doubtful if the plane will be much use after its submersion.

Here on Symi we have had nothing worse than a breeze which has brought temperatures down to around the low to mid 30s. The island is filling up and there is more Italian and French to be heard on the streets and in the lanes. The Excellence III, the glossy black motor yacht that was hanging around Harani last month, has been overnighting alongside the Roloi the last few nights and there are plenty of yachts of all sizes swinging at anchor in Pedi. One of my favourites that visits every summer is an old wooden Dutch botter. She's about 45-50 feet long and very beamy, with a cheerful green enamelled hull. The distinctive slow thump of her single-cylinder engine as she sedately chugs in and out of Yialos and Pedi is one of the sounds of a Symi summer. Mind you, I've always been something of a traditionalist when it comes to boats!

The Greek banks are on strike on Monday so anyone travelling this weekend is advised to make sure they have enough euros on them to last until Tuesday as it is unlikely that the ATMs will be replenished.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana
www.symivisitor.com