Bright and Newly Scrubbed

It is a clear cold day on Symi with a chilly northerly breeze riffling the harbour.  Everything looks bright and newly scrubbed after all the winter rain.  The days are growing longer and the summer tourist season creeps ever closer, even if it is only 12 degrees centigrade today.  We are still wearing the famous Symi layered look and will be for some time to come, the only difference as the month progresses being that it is important to make sure that the base layer is socially acceptable in the event of having to peel off that far!  Strong winds are forecast for Sunday with the possibility of heavy rain as a big low currently over Italy passes over us. 

 

There is quite a lot of work going on in the harbour as the crazy paving project continues along the Mouragio side and the replacement of water pipes carries on from the bus stop to the taxi rank.  Katerinettes, the building in which the peace treaty was signed on 8 May 1945, is also undergoing work.  Used as a small hotel and restaurant for many years, the lease is now up and we are all waiting with interest to see what the future brings for this historic waterfront building.

Although the big boat schedule has been fairly reliable this week and  only a few hours late on Wednesday and Friday there is still very little in the shops.  Most businesses that are open are only carrying stock that they can be sure of selling.  The vegetable hawker from Tilos is selling cabbages, oranges and beetroot.  More exotic delicacies may be ordered in for the Carnival weekend and Clean Monday holiday on 18 March before Greek Orthodox Lent commences – a resumption of the diet of pulses and vegetables that has been standard fare for most people all winter anyway.  One thing about austerity – it is something of a health cure!

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Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana