Fluffy Clouds

It is a mild autumn day on Symi with fluffy clouds gathering around the horizon and the smell of wet earth on the breeze. Perhaps there is some truth in the forecast for showery weather tonight. It is the season for heavy dews and misty mornings as the winter rains approach and the first light snowfalls are expected on the mountains in northern Greece in the next few days. There are still quite a few visitors around on Symi even though 15 October usually marks the beginning of the end of the tourist season on Symi and many tourist businesses make that their closing date for the season. Here on Symi those beach tavernas that are still open have reduced their menus to the absolute minimum and are starting to pack away their sunbeds and umbrellas as the water taxis are not running as frequently and many of the beaches are in shadow from quite early in the day. The Cyclades has already battened for the winter and the gypsies are heading south on the car ferries with their vanloads of kitschy quilts, fleecy pyjamas and sensible slippers. It is only a matter of days before the carpet sellers arrive.

It is not only the hawkers that are heading south. Symi is filling up with cruising yachts waiting for their winter berths to become available in marinas along the adjacent Turkish coast and charter flotillas heading back to their bases. In the evenings Pedi bay is a floating village of bobbing riding lights and Dino, the chandler in the lane below our office, is busy every day measuring out chains and warps for those who want to improve their ground tackle against the winter storms.

Have a good week. I am going home to watch my carrots grow.

Regards,
Adriana