Blinding Sunshine

Looking across at Rhodes Old Town from Kolonna harbour in Rhodes

It is a mild humid day on Symi, very typical of the weather we have been experiencing recently. Low clouds drift by, drizzling intermittently, punctuated by intervals of blinding sunshine. Temperatures are in the mid twenties and we are all wrestling with getting our ‘layers’ right as the humidity makes it feel a lot warmer than it actually is. It is very peaceful on Symi at the moment. The last of the Panormitis festival pilgrims and hawkers have gone home and there is little activity on the streets.

Tug boats in the early morning in Kolonna, Rhodes



The mayoral election passed very quietly as Lefteris Papakalodoukas stood unopposed and is now on his third term of office. Countrywide all the elections were marked by a low turnout – highly unusual in a country where voting is compulsory. The indecisiveness of the weather is mirrored in the indecisiveness of the electorate and throughout Greece the number of ‘white papers’ indicating disapproval of the choices offered was much higher than usual.

Olives and oranges and fat Symi cat.

The Proteus went to Rhodes and Kastellorizon today. ANES will be issuing its schedule weekly until such time as the problems with the Ministry and the subsidy, or lack thereof, have been resolved. ANEK is reducing its service to Symi to once a week. Meanwhile we are all getting used to reading three day old newspapers. It is at times like this that the internet comes into its own for staying in touch with the outside world, particularly as the flow of post to and from the island is more erratic than usual.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana