Calm Seas and Pastel Mountains

The wild clematis has recovered from the summer drought and is in full bloom, garlanding fences and scrambling through trees and shrubs.  The buildings in the distance are in the Milos area of Chorio, across the Pedi Valley.



Calm seas and pastel mountains.  At this time of the year the palette is constantly shifting with every change of light and weather.



Astonishingly, after a lapse of severeal years, work has resumed on the undercover sports complex in Chorio.  This was the scene on Saturday morning.



The men worked right through Sunday to finish the large roof and are now working on completing the smaller one.  Does all this activity mean that the Greek economy is improving at last, or did someone find some money in a biscuit tin somewhere?



The familiar view of Mouragio and Harani from the Kali Strata corner.  Not a gulet or flotilla yacht to be seen and it is very peaceful indeed.



The gnarled sweep of an old grape vine on the Kali Strata. This house is also notable for the small saucer with a vine leaf on it set in the centre of the bull's eye on the pediment. It is not very clear in this photograph.



The Virginia creeper leaves are turning red and starting to fall. 



The water taxis have finished for the year, the tourist shops are closed and Symi harbour looks much as it did 40 odd years ago, before tourism brought prosperity to the island.

 



Dodecanese Seaways has now released its schedule for December and it is not an improvement on the present one.  This company only stops in Symi on Friday, Sunday and Monday and as it is on the northbound route to Kos in the morning, returning in the evening, it is not possible to make a day trip from Symi to Rhodes using this connection.  The only days Symiots can go to Rhodes without having to stay overnight are Wednesday and Friday with the Blue Star.

The weather remains mild for the next few days with rain and strong winds forecast for the weekend.  Temperatures remain in the range 12 to 20 degrees centigrade although it feels colder in many places due to the pervading damp from last week's rain and with so many steep hills and slopes the sun does not penetrate many north facing areas.

Have a good week.

Regards,

Adriana