Daydreams

Happy St George’s Day! There are so many Georges on Symi that today is practically a public holiday. Most years St George’s Day falls in Lent and Greek Georges have to celebrate their name day on Easter Monday, but this year, with Easter exceptionally early, Symi’s Georges have free rein to celebrate their name day on the proper day. With several churches dedicated to the saint, including the little chapel on the beach at St George’s bay, round the corner from Pedi, there are parties all over the island. It is good to have something to celebrate on the island as Symiots are generally quite fed up at the moment. Aside from the ripple effect of the Icelandic volcano on Greek tourism and the interminable saga of the Greek economy, something has gone seriously wrong with the island’s desalination plant and Symi has been on increasingly strict water rationing for the past fortnight. Rumours and speculation abound as Symiots eke out the meager dribble that passes for a water supply and some wags are saying that it is all a central government plan to rejuvenate the economy and buy its way out of debt by forcing us all to bath in bottled water. Apparently a technician is expected to arrive on the island any day now to sort out the problem with the desalination plant – in an election year the town hall cannot afford to allow this problem to continue for much longer, particularly with the tourist season looming on the horizon.

Meanwhile, down in the harbour, the Diagoras and the Poseidon excursion boats are bobbing cheerfully on their moorings, grinders humming as the crew get on with the varnishing and other bits that can be finished afloat. The Triton should be following them into the water soon, and then the water taxis. Soon the Lazy Days will once again be alone and forlorn on the shore at Harani – inspiration for the daydreams of many regular visitors.

The weather remains warm with midday temperatures in the mid twenties and a refreshing breeze. It is now highly unlikely that we will have significant rain again before October – the summer drought has begun. The lizards basking on the rocks are growing fatter by the day and the cats are too drowsy in the warmth to be bothered to chase them. The wild flowers are starting to die back now but there should still be enough left for the traditional May Day posies.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana