Glorious Out in the Sunshine

April showers are still lingering over our corner of the Aegean and Symi had a few useful millimeters yesterday evening. The wild flower display continues unabated and early season visitors to the island are enjoying the show. Although temperatures in Rhodes are still below 20 degrees, Symi, sheltered from the northerly winds by the protective coast of Asia Minor is a bit of a suntrap and it is glorious out in the sunshine.

In all the years I have lived here I don't think I have ever seen

the upstairs shutters on this Kali Strata building open.

Note the flag pole for national holidays and celebrations.

Territorial markings in whitewash.

The Dodecanese Seaways catamaran is doing a daytrip from Rhodes today so there are quite a few people about, sunning themselves on the waterfront benches. The kiosks have set up their ice cream fridges for the summer although many of the kiosk holders are still passing the time playing tavli (backgammon) with friends or chatting on Facebook. Social networking sites have really taken off in Greece. With trade slack in a land of small businesses, bored shopkeepers pass the time on line in what amounts to a virtual kafeneion while waiting for the next customer to appear. The laptop has taken over from the television or radio as a means of keeping abreast of current affairs, with the added advantage that one can easily – and cheaply – keep in touch with diaspora relatives in Sydney or London. Speaking of kafeneions, the doors to my balcony are open and I can hear American, Russian, Italian and French voices rising from Pachos kafeneion downstairs, in addition to the usual Greek ones. The first foreign visitors of the season.

Kali Strata ruins to inspire dreams.

A typical wrought iron balcony on the Kali Strata.  The circles would have held clay pots.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana