Celebrity Chefs and Cloudbursts - Late October on Symi

The water taxis will soon be hauled out of the water for the winter.  In the meantime the owners have started wrapping up the seats etcetera in black plastic bags.  I took this photograph on Wednesday, when the light was bright and sparkling and the clouds had not caught up with us yet.

Not much activity in Pachos this morning.  The roads are wet from overnight rain.

A rain-streaked sunrise at 8 a.m. in Yialos.  

A new construction on the waterfront in Yialos.  It is being painstakingly built with dressed local stone.  As Symi's architecture is protected all new buildings have to blend in with the old.  This will be a splendid structure when it is complete.

Pigeons being fed on the quay near the clock tower.  I'm not sure if the train is coming or going but there aren't many takers for rides around the harbour now that the weather has changed and the tourists have faded away.  That is the Blue Star Diagoras in the background, en route from Piraeus to Rhodes and Kastellorizon.  She was waiting for the ambulance to arrive as there was a medical emergency to be transferred to Rhodes.  The Diagoras will pass through Symi again this evening on her reciprocal route.

Most of the yachts now are cruising folk waiting for the end of the month when they go to wherever they are over-wintering, often in marinas and boatyards along the Turkish coast.

A peaceful scene in Yialos, Symi.

An elegant black cat by the bridge in Yialos.

Yes, it is true that celebrity chef, Rick Stein is on Symi at the moment, filming for his latest cookery programme about Mediterranean cuisine in one of our properties,  Symi Visitor Accommodation has been in tentative negotiations to arrange a book signing before he leaves the island next week.  We will know more once he is closer to completing filming and there is a clearer idea of when he might have time available in his schedule.  Once we have firmer details we'll put them up, here and on our Symi Visitor Accommodation Facebook page.

We have had a few showers but so far the heavy downpours expected have passed either to the north or the south of Symi and it has been far wetter on Rhodes than has been the case here.  The weather is expected to improve in time for the Ochi Day parade on Tuesday and then closing in again with more rain and unsettled conditions expected next week too.

There are very few visitors staying on the island now and although the 'Symi' day excursion boat is in from Rhodes, the streets are deserted.  Just a few small huddled groups in the cafes along the front, wondering if it will rain again.  Those shops that are still open are having big end of season sales as it makes sense to try and get rid of stock rather than pack it away in what may well be damp storage until April so there is many a bargain to be had if you are looking for beachwear.  Finding more appropriate clothing for the changing season is more of a challenge and we have to go to Rhodes for practical winter wear unless a passing gypsy hawker has what we need.

The bus came back from Rhodes on the Blue Star on Wednesday afternoon so normal service has resumed, much to the relief of everyone who lives up and works down or has to commute between Pedi and Yialos.

Have a warm dry weekend.

Regards,
Adriana