Treat Yourself for Easter 2014!

This year Catholic and Greek Orthodox Easters coincide on 20 April.  To celebrate we are offering 25% off selected accommodation booked for April 2014.  Easter in Greece is famously spiritual and joyous - and a far cry from the commercial event it has become in the West.  April is also a beautiful time of the year scenically as the wild flowers are still in full bloom, making it popular with walkers, photographers and botanists. Temperatures are generally mild with cool evenings and midday reaching mid to high twenties. While we cannot guarantee that you won't have the occasional rainy or windy day, we can guarantee that you will have a memorable Easter holiday.  For more information please email us on symi-vis@otenet.gr or symivisitoraccommodation@live.com.

A fine display of winter vegetables brought in by ferry.  With virtually no arable land Symi is dependent on supplies brought in by sea from other places.  At this time of the year much of what is available comes from Greek market gardens, sometimes as close as Rhodes and Tilos, as well as Crete but in the summer tourist season many of the more exotic items such as iceberg lettuce and celery are imported from cooler places such as Holland.

Now is the time for planting pots and gardens. There is enough rain to settle the plants in and the slowly lengthening days and rising temperatures make for ideal growing conditions.

I spotted this laden orange tree in a back garden at the base of the Kataraktis, the ancient foot path connecting the harbour, Yialos, with Chorio.  

After months of wet weather the houses are looking a little damp and rain-streaked, but still picturesque.  This is a small close at the back of the harbour.

Yialos at 9 o'clock this morning was very empty indeed.  We had heavy dew last night and as the sun still had not reached the south side of the harbour the paving was slick.  The dog being petted on the right of the picture belongs to one of the few cafes open at this time of the year.

The rock face that makes Symi's famous natural amphitheatre harbour is surprisingly verdant at this time of the year.  The dusty shrubs of summer glow green with secret life in the winter months, unseen by any tourist or day tripper.

Lemonitissa church on the Kastro in Chorio looms benignly over Yialos.  Much of Symi's landscape is perpendicular, the houses clinging to the cliffs and connected by a maze of steps and paths.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana