The First Serious Cold Snap

It’s a wild and stormy day with thundershowers alternating with brief patches of sunshine. The first serious cold snap is forecast for this weekend with strong northerly winds and low temperatures. Definitely time to pack the remaining basil and chilli bushes into the greenhouse and lay in supplies of dry firewood. Today's pictures shows the sea washing up the customs' slipway and into the road - although the Mediterranean is technically tideless, it is strongly affected by fluctuations in barometric pressure and it is not unusual when a 'low' passes through for the water to cover the harbourside.

The island is slowly filling up with people for the Panormitis Festival which takes place on Tuesday. It will be the first one since the death of the Abbot, Papa Gabriele earlier this year which will be a bit strange for all of us. An anxious eye is also being kept on the weather forecast as stall keepers and pilgrims alike have had bad experiences of deluges and quaysides awash with breaking waves.

The ferry system is in disarray as the Aegli hydrofoil has broken down and the news that the Spanos won’t be calling in at Symi this winter has been met with great dismay. Costas Sikalos, the agent (Symi Tours) is collecting signatures for a petition to have it reinstated, as well as trying to get the big boats from Pireus to call in more often than once a week.

Have a warm dry weekend. I think I’ll be spending mine planting potatoes!

Regards,
Adriana