Fragmentary Rainbows

It is a day of growling thunder and sharp squalls driven by a cold north-westerly wind. Heavy showers of icy rain and hail pound Symi, punctuated by brief intervals of blinding sunshine and fragmentary rainbows, the clouds rolling along too fast for the arcs to form completely before they are overtaken by the next storm. The weather is set to turn colder over the next few days with strong northerly winds bringing snow and sleet to most of Greece. Here on Symi the wind chill is expected to drop below freezing for the next 3 nights – definitely log fires and hot water bottles rather than cocktails on the terrace.

Down in Symi harbour the dim shapes of huddled coffee-drinkers are just visible through the rain-streaked plastic drop-cloths of the café bars as locals wait for a gap between showers to dash to the next destination. Up in Chorio the shopkeepers have laid elaborate arrangements of duckboards, cardboard and old carpets in the hopes of minimizing the amount of mud tracked into their shops by sodden customers and everyone is selling umbrellas. The vegetable hawkers are sheltering their wares under sheets of plastic, dimly glowing oranges and cabbages pressed against the dripping covers like strange fish in an aquarium.

The annual municipal Smokey Thursday BBQ was cancelled yesterday due to the weather and so far carnival activities on Symi have been muted. This is disappointing for the island’s children who always look forward to this time of year to show off their fancy costumes. At the moment they are rebelliously wrapped up in raincoats, gumboots and brollies instead of strutting their stuff as cowboys and princesses.

Have a warm weekend.

Regards,

Adriana