An Air of Optimism

Bright Bougainvillea in Chorio - next to the Cottage.

Not quite Banksy - just two little girls with a packet of crayons and an irresistibly flat rock.

One of the new solar powered street lights in Yialos. 

Zinnias and Basil in Yialos

Pots of larkspur in Yialos.  The shop to the right of the picture is Kiara Luna's new premises.

Symi is gleaming after the recent rain and there is an air of optimism about the place that is very much at odds with the impression of Greece that the foreign media loves to paint. This is not because the Symiots are in denial about the state of the nation's finances or the Eurozone crisis but because Greeks are essentially good at making the best of whatever life hands them. There is no point in weeping and wailing about what is happening elsewhere - islanders have had to fend for themselves by and large over the centuries anyway and life must go on. In answer to some of the emails I have received at Symi Visitor Accommodation in recent days, the banks are functioning normally, the ATMs do have money in them, we are unlikely to switch to the drachma any time soon as even if there was to be a Grexit it would take time to print/mint the new currency, there is plenty of food in the shops and tavernas and Symi is definitely open for business.

Yesterday afternoon I was invited to attend the christening of Yannis Moschos, the little son of Maria and Dimitri of Kampos Supermarket - the one on the corner by the bus stop in Chorio. I have put some photographs on the Out and About page - my little camera is not very good in twilight conditions and I do not have a fancy zoom lense but I hope that you enjoy them never the less. The photograph at the bottom of this blog was provided by Andrea Amerikanas of Pedi. Thank you very much, Andrea. A big fat Greek christening is a joyous and exuberant event, even in times of austerity, and everyone made a big effort. The clothes were bright and summery, the children beautiful and a good time was had by all. Memories of happy occasions are what tide us all through the rough times and I found myself heading home in a far more cheerful frame of mind than I had set out. Symi does that to people.

I apologise for any glitches in the layout today - Google seem to be tweaking Blogger.com again!


Have a good week.

Regards,

Adriana

Built in 1931, this little house in Lieni has seen the Italians and the British come and go.  It has survived the Stukas of the Second World War, the Greek Civil War, mass emigration and extreme poverty,  the Colonels and their Junta, the advent of tourism and Symi's Renaissance as a heritage destination.

The scooter is a box containing new clothes for little Yannis to be dressed in after his baptism.  For more pictures please see the Symi Visitor Out and About page.