Clear, Calm and Warm in the Sunshine

Looking towards Nimos and the resorts along the Turkish coast.

Looking down on Pedi Bay from the top of the Vigla

Saturday was a perfect winter’s day – clear, calm and warm in the sunshine.  We went up the Vigla, Symi’s highest mountain,  in the afternoon, in search of snow views across the water, but the little row of clouds on the horizon perversely remained lined up along the Turkish mountain tops, masking the snowcapped peaks.  Vigla means sentinel and the name as apt as you can see from the photographs.  The ancient inhabitants of Symi would have been able to monitor any threat from the sea from all directions.

The cats of Agios Thanassis.

I wonder who put this optimistic geranium out amongst the ruins.
 Rain-streaked whitewash flakes away to reveal the colours of previous spring-cleaning.

Up in the lanes of Chorio a cat makes his mark on someone's new washing machine...  Getting domestic appliances up through the narrow lanes is quite a business as the nearest vehicle access is a good 10 minutes away - and routes have to be planned carefully to take into account sudden narrowings such as that at the top of this flight of steps.

New blossom and the last of the old nuts right at the top of the tree.

On Sunday the rain resumed and this morning the Proteus was unable to do her scheduled trip to Rhodes due to heavy swell in Rhodes harbour.  She will be going tomorrow instead.  Even in years when we have had a regular winter ferry schedule, weather frequently interferes with the most carefully made plans.  It only takes an easterly or south-easterly wind to close Mandraki and Rhodes’ commercial harbour or a Force 9 gale in the Aegean to bring shipping to a standstill.  On days like this Symi and the other small Greek islands scattered across storm tossed waters are almost as isolated and dependent on their own resources as they were in ancient times.  No wonder the island Greeks are a tough and resilient people and it is this fortitude that will help Greece survive the present economic storm.

 Have a good week.

 Regards,

 Adriana

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The Ultimate Greek Island Wedding

The ultimate Greek island wedding photograph. 

The Symi cat was entirely spontaneous.

It is a hot sunny day on Symi, just right for a Mamma Mia style Big Fat Greek Wedding. Our congratulations to Kate Elliott and Alistair Dyer who tied the knot at Symi Town Hall this morning. The wedding party has now departed on the Poseidon caique for a ceremony of blessing at the little chapel on the small island at Agia Marina. This will be followed by a mini cruise to Nimborio and an afternoon reception at the Aktaion which is, at the moment, being transformed into a pastel-tinted bower by Symi Visitor Accommodation staff. More photographs will be available later as the official photographs are being done by Jordan Blakesley of Symiart but here are two which I took of the bride and bridal party en route to the town hall this morning and a third of them passing below my window on the way to the Poseidon. What more romantic location could one possibly want?

Speaking of weddings, this weekend also marks the official opening of the Old Markets boutique hotel on the Kali Strata and the bridal suite there is really something. I had a quick preview there this morning on my way down to work and the decorators were putting the finishing touches in place. Interior photographs will be available shortly but this picture shows the location. The four windows with the pale green shutters all belong to the bridal suite which is the full length of the building. The other rooms, downstairs, are in the actual covered market so don’t have views but are unique with their vaulted ceilings, luxurious furnishings and exotic bathrooms.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana

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Royal Wedding Fever

The Authentic Royal Wedding Bunting

Royal Wedding fever has spread as far as our small corner of the Aegean, and we even have the bunting to prove it. The Olive Tree café in Chorio is hosting a Royal Wedding Street Party today, in the lane between the Hotel Fiona and the Olive Tree. In keeping with the nature of the event cucumber sandwiches and trifle will be eaten and Symi Visitor Accommodation has donated a basket of fresh locally grown vegetables as a prize for the tombola.

The prize - with the picture book village, Chorio, in the background.

Let us not forget that the British Royal Family has Greek connections, not least of which being that Ex King Constantine of the Hellenes is Prince William’s godfather. Long term visitors and readers of the late Symi Visitor newspaper will remember that we interviewed Constantine when he visited Symi in 2005 for the Aegean Regatta. Celebrity watching is as popular in Greece as it is anywhere else and although Greece is no longer a monarchy, the Greeks are still interested in the activities of their own, now deposed, Royal Family, hence the mass media coverage when Prince Nicholas was married to Tatiana Blatnik on Spetses last year.

Kate Middleton’s hair style is a popular one in Greece where young women traditionally favour long flowing locks and waist length hair is more likely to be natural than the result of extensions so hers is a look that people can relate to. It is unlikely, though, that Symi is the honeymoon destination – we have not seen any security chaps peering into plant pots around the harbour or sealing off restaurants as was the case when George Bush senior paid us a visit in June 2004.

Have a good weekend.  I am off to drink Buck's Fizz and eat cucumber sandwiches...

Regards,
Adriana

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Ochi Day Parade

As you are aware, Adriana is on holiday, so she has requested that I try and continue (nowhere near as informatively as she) to keep all her readers aware of Symi activities. As this is my first winter on Symi, I am interested in the daily aspects of Symi life and it was suggested that I should attend my first Ochi Day Parade. For those of you (and me) who don’t know what Ochi Day is, please accept my very brief description.

In 1940, the Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas was given an ultimatum, which basically stated free passage for Italian troops to occupy Greek territory. Obviously Metaxa's answer was 'Ochi' (No) hence the Ochi Day Parade.

The parade day started badly: due to a heavy downpour of rain, the smaller children had to take shelter in Chorio village school. Once the sun eventually appeared, the children were assembled outside and with their national flags and banners unfurled proceeded to march down the Kali Strata to join the rest of the parade participants in Yialos.

The mayor of Symi and other dignitaries witnessed the march past of the young people in the parade who looked resplendent in their uniforms of white and navy blue, totally in contrast to the soldiers in their olive green uniforms.

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Cabbages to Carpets

The halcyon days may be coming to an end as a spell of unsettled weather is expected to bring countrywide showers over the next few days. Wind-torn high clouds already hint at gales in the Aegean and further shipping disruptions are likely due to industrial action among port workers in Greece's major harbours.

While we are all waiting to find out what the ferry schedules will be to get us from Symi to Rhodes and vice versa between now and April, a Google news alert has just popped up to advise us that a luxury Silversea cruise ship will be passing through Symi in the week starting 12 September 2009, on a voyage from Istanbul to Athens. Now that's what I call forward planning.

Meanwhile the crowds are gathering on the quay below our office window, waiting for the Proteus to come in from Rhodes. The orange seller's truck has more empty crates than full ones so bad luck, Tilos and Nissyros. The peripatetic hawkers of everything from cabbages to carpets are an essential part of island life in the winter and everyone waits with interest to see what will roll off the boat next. Limited choices are a characteristic of island life but the very randomness of what those choices are adds an element of excitement never to be found in huge shopping malls where everything is available all year round.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana

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