October Observations

The view from the Symi Visitor Accommodation office this morning.  I never know what I am going to see when I open the French doors but this has to be a first.  See the next photograph for a close up.

An unlikely sight in Yialos on a Tuesday morning in October - or any other morning for that matter.

Monday morning was rather more conventional.

The Swan Hellenic Lines 'Minerva'.

Sunny balconies near the post office in the back streets of Yialos.

It is very quiet in the harbour.  I took this photograph in the late morning on Monday and apart from occasional promenading couples from the 'Minerva' there were very few people around.

It is even quieter up in Chorio.  Feral fowl stomping through the dry grasses, looking for bits to eat. There are now a lot of escaped poultry living 'off piste' in parts of Symi. They seem to have a symbiotic relationship with the dustbin cats and they all hang out together.

Remember the new bus stop bench in Chorio? Well something hit it recently, possibly even the bus, so it is now slightly wonky.  The two luminous orange posts are evidently an attempt to prevent a recurrence.

There's a chilly little northerly breeze whipping across the harbour and thoughts are turning to digging out warmer clothes.  The light is sparkling on the water and it is quite warm in the sun if one can find a spot out of the wind. The cafes have started shuffling about their plastic drop cloths and awnings to create wind breaks and sun traps. Day time temperatures are around 24 degrees and evenings are cool at 18.  The locals are snuggling under quilts and duvets whereas the last visitors, predominately sturdy northern types from Germany and Scandinavia, assure us that they are fine with just a sheet, thank you.

The winter ferry schedules have been released, in the case of the Blue Star up to March and in the case of Dodecanese Seaways until the end of December so we can make our own travel plans.  You can find more details on Andy's travel blog in addition to the links above. Andy is also doing his usual sterling research into flight details for how to get to Symi in 2017 from various points around Europe so don't forget to check his regular travel news updates.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana

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September Postcards from Symi

A tiny fig sprouting between the old paving stones at the top of the Kali Strata.

The Blue Star Diagoras from Pireaus coming in at 08.15 on Tuesday morning.
Later on this month it will revert to Wednesdays.

One of the fishing boats moored below my office window.

A typical morning in Yialos in September.
Visitors queuing for the water taxis to the beaches in the lull before the excursion boats arrive from Rhodes.

An early morning departure from Pedi.  The sun does not clear the hills surrounding Pedi Bay until about 9 o'clock at this time of the year, a reminder that the equinox is not far away.

The carpenter at the bottom of the Kali Strata has made new frames for these old windows and shutters.  Many of the old houses here still have the original katrani (juniper wood) doors and shutters and wherever possible these are salvaged in restoration projects.

The hills and terraces are tinder dry after months with no rain. These sheep are rooting in corners for any scraps of vegetation they can find. And yes, that is my shadow :-)

The Swan Hellenic  cruise ship, Minerva, called into Symi on Thursday.

The view from my office window is an ever changing parade of boats and people at this time of the year.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana

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