Labours of Love
After a few fraught days Symi’s recent water crisis seems to be over for the moment. As the island steadily fills up with high season visitors Symi’s limited water resources, dependent as the island is on the desalination plant on the Pedi road and the occasional visit from a water ship from Rhodes, require very careful management. This is why Symi does not have infinity pools, rolling lawns and golf course hotels.
Vine and Water Meter near the Top of the Kali Strata
Symi Festival Posters on the Kali Strata, the 19th Century Main Street that
Connects Chorio and Yialos
Ruin with Morning Glory in Central Chorio near Giorgio and Maria's Taverna
If you are visiting Symi and staying down in Yialos or Harani do make sure that at some point in your stay you take the bus or a taxi up to Chorio to explore the old Symi that predates the 19th century harbour. The upper town is also protected by the Archaeologia and despite serious damage during the Second World War is a fascinating labyrinth of small houses in the vernacular style, many of which have been built one on top of the other over the centuries into a veritable warren of tumble down rooms, kitchens and cisterns. Some have been lovingly restored by people who are prepared to pay the vast expense involved but many others still remain ruins. Apart from the amount of bureaucracy involved due to the architectural restrictions, many of these places cannot even be reached by donkey train due to the narrowness of the lanes and all building materials have to be man-packed from the nearest vehicle or donkey access point. Labours of love indeed.
Have a good weekend.
Regards,
Adriana
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They certainly were labours of love. I just returned from three weeks on Symi, staying at my children's house in Chroio, which they have recently inherited from their father, a Canadian architecture professor of Greek birth and origin. I felt an immediate connetion with the beauty around me andwith the traditional architecture of the area. Chorio is also fun in a modern way, with at least one (probably several) internet cafes and many nice tavernas. Despite the challenge of the walk home for three women in their late '50's and late '60's, it was a wonderful place. I shall return next year.