White Christmas for Symi?

It is a mild drizzly day on Symi and a large area of low pressure is hanging over Greece. The hydrofoil could not run yesterday due to strong winds but the sea is calm and glassy this morning. This is not set to last, however, if the weather boffins are to be believed. Wintry weather is normal around the solstice but looking at the long range forecast, the Greek meteological service is forecasting strong northerly winds, plummeting temperatures and countrywide snow and ice for Greece next week, with conditions at their worst on Wednesday and Thursday. The cold weather is expected to start from Sunday as the wind moves round to the north. Time to hunker down, stoke up the wood fire and fill the house with the aromas of Christmas baking. Who knows? Perhaps it will be a white Christmas for Symi? The shepherds in the Pedi valley have lots of new lambs to worry about. It is not unusual during cold winter weather on Symi for the new lambs to be kept warm by the fire in household kitchens – a biblical touch appropriate to the season.

With the inclement weather there are very few people around and the streets are quiet. The inhabitants of Symi are either in Rhodes doing their Christmas shopping or tucked up snugly in their homes. As I was walking down the Kali Strata to the Symi Visitor Accommodation office this morning the sounds of Christmas carols on Greek breakfast television drifted out through many closed shutters. The municipality is busy putting up more Christmas decorations including a small tree tethered to a lamppost at the bus terminus in Chorio and a row of similar small artificial Christmas trees along the water front outside Pachos. Some of these will be visible from the Symi Visitor webcams at night. The balconies of many of the neo-classical houses are also decorated with models or illuminated silhouettes of caiques and sailing boats, a traditional tribute to Symi’s sea-faring past.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana