A Short-Lived Affair

The clocks have changed and suddenly we have gone from hot water bottles and evenings huddled round the fire indoors to long summer evenings round the BBQ in the garden with no stops in between. Spring in Symi is a very short-lived affair so it is just as well we get a second spring in October when the rainy season starts.

The ferry companies, however, seem to be happily oblivious to the fact that the tourist season is supposed to start this week and the schedules are worse than ever at the moment. There are no boats from Rhodes to Symi on Thursday or Saturday and the only boat on Sunday is at 08.30 a.m, so early it condemns Sunday arrivals to stay on Rhodes until Monday evening. Not very good for anyone who has planned a week’s holiday on Symi, or for homeowners coming out to check that everything is in order with their houses after the winter’s storms. Considering that the town council owns shares in ANES, as do many of the Symiots themselves, and this island depends so heavily on tourism and foreign property owners for its economic survival, perhaps it is time the town hall woke up and did something about this, particularly as it happens every year. In the present economic climate it is foolhardy indeed to take the gamble that business lost in April will be regained further down the line.

Ferry frustrations aside, everyone is enjoying the milder weather and winter woollies are being discarded with enthusiasm. The warm weather is set to continue for the rest of the week, although mud showers from Africa are a possibility later in the week. Day time highs will be around 20 degrees centigrade if not higher, dropping to around 15 degrees centigrade at night.

Have a good week.

Regards,

Adriana