Cabbages to Carpets

The halcyon days may be coming to an end as a spell of unsettled weather is expected to bring countrywide showers over the next few days. Wind-torn high clouds already hint at gales in the Aegean and further shipping disruptions are likely due to industrial action among port workers in Greece's major harbours.

While we are all waiting to find out what the ferry schedules will be to get us from Symi to Rhodes and vice versa between now and April, a Google news alert has just popped up to advise us that a luxury Silversea cruise ship will be passing through Symi in the week starting 12 September 2009, on a voyage from Istanbul to Athens. Now that's what I call forward planning.

Meanwhile the crowds are gathering on the quay below our office window, waiting for the Proteus to come in from Rhodes. The orange seller's truck has more empty crates than full ones so bad luck, Tilos and Nissyros. The peripatetic hawkers of everything from cabbages to carpets are an essential part of island life in the winter and everyone waits with interest to see what will roll off the boat next. Limited choices are a characteristic of island life but the very randomness of what those choices are adds an element of excitement never to be found in huge shopping malls where everything is available all year round.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana