Life on Symi in July 2016

A flotilla of cruising yachts sailing out of Yialos early this morning.  It was nice to see so many sailing boats, many of them obvious live-aboards, all rafted up in the harbour while their crews enjoyed breakfast ashore in the many waterfront cafes and bakeries.

A water taxi loaded up and ready to head for the beaches.  Most of Symi's beaches are not really accessible by any other means as they are surrounded by steep cliffs and hillsides.  Apart from the stretch from Harani to Nimborio, there is no coastal road on Symi due to the sheer nature of the coastline and the road that connects Yialos and Chorio with Panormitis monastery at the south-western end of the island, goes along Symi's spine.  If you ever get the chance, it is well worth going up on the Panormitis bus or hiring a car or scooter for the day as the views from the top are quite spectacular.

The state of the art new Hellenic coastguard cutter rounding the bows of the Panagia Skiadeni while a tourist gulet from Turkey waits patiently to depart. There is always something to watch in Yialos and Pedi and anyone who spends their time in the water front cafes peering at cat memes on a device instead of watching the passing parade is missing one of the many reasons for coming to Symi on holiday.

A very unusual high speed motor craft, all the way from the Ukraine and painted in the Ukrainian national colours.

Symi harbour is not all hustle and bustle and glamour yachts.  Sometimes Symi harbour is peaceful fishing boats and sparkling reflections.

Look up as you walk around and you may be surprised at what you see.

Fishing nets below the Symi Visitor Accommodation office this morning.  

Steps to no where on the Kali Strata.  Many of the ruins have had their doors and windows blocked up with stones to discourage people from wandering about and possibly having an accident.

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October Postcards from Symi

The Mouragia - Yialos

Luxury charter yacht, Ginger, in Yialos on Wednesday.  The fashionable August set may be long gone but there are still a few rich men's toys to be seen.

The tourist shops along the front are still open for as long as the day trip boats from Rhodes continue to come.

There are quite a few cruising yachts and flotilla fleets around now as sailing conditions are good in late September and October.  Unlike the megayachts and gulets of high season which arrive with fully stocked pantries and professional chefs, these boats provide some much needed trade for the waterfront tavernas and cafes before they close for the winter as they are more likely to eat ashore.

Good quality sponges make great gifts - they weigh next to nothing in your luggage and will neither break nor leak!

Looking towards the head of the harbour where the Symi Visitor Accommodation office is located, above the Sunflower laundry. That is Lemonitissa church on the cliffs to the left. The mountain in the background is the Vigla.

Gypsy basket sellers by the bridge with a couple of priests chatting in the background.

The local tinsmith is another good source of souvenirs to take back, particularly if you want to spoil yourself.  You can watch him make lanterns and other household implements using the same tools that he inherited from his grandfather who was the tinsmith before him.  His shop is at the back of the harbour, not far from our office.

Sunrise over Pedi earlier this week.

A tamarisk tree in flower.

The Blue Star Diagoras swinging into Yialos at 7.45 this morning.  With the Panagia Skiadeni out of circulation the twice weekly car ferry is crucial to bringing supplies onto the island and providing vehicle transport.

It is nearly a fortnight since we had that wet weekend and the island is turning green.  The start of the rainy season is like a second spring as the weather is still warm and temperatures are optimal for germination.  Daytime temperatures are around 26 degrees centigrade, dropping to about 18 degrees at night.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana

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In the Early Hours of a Summer Morning

As I set off for work early this morning there was a lot of traffic heading the opposite way – priests and pilgrims and ladies in black, all heading into the Pedi valley to the little monastery dedicated to St Panteleimon.  For an explanation of his life and works, please see James’ blog on Symi Dream.  I walk down to work in the cool of the early morning and it is amazing how many people there are out and about at 7 a.m  Not just priests and pilgrims but also all the people that help to make Symi function smoothly during the tourist season. The dustbin men, the street sweepers, the men from the electricity and telephone companies, the employees of all the cafes, tavernas, restaurants and tourist shops are all about their business in the early hours of the summer morning, or gathering in the kafeneions for a quick Greek coffee before tackling the labours of the day.

The harbour was host to the finish of the Kos-Tilos-Symi yacht race last night.  Members of the fleet were in the bakery ahead of me this morning, buying bread and cheese pies for breakfast.  In an attempt to impose some kind of order on the harbour, the mooring men work on a formula of putting the power boats on the north side of Yialos, by the war memorial, the sailing flotillas and catamarans on the south side by the taxi rank and then the big Turkish gulets by the bus stop or by the clock tower and anchored off in Harani. This works quite well and there are fewer shouting matches between indignant small boat owners fending off great looming power yachts.

The Symi Festival is very low key this year and comprises mainly those events that take place at this time of the year every year regardless.  Last Saturday night the theatre group staged a popular play for children.  This Saturday evening the Symi Women’s Association is hosting its annual Symi Shrimp Festival in the Syllogos Square in Chorio.  If you like the combination of seafood and traditional dancing, follow the sound of the music. Everyone is welcome.

DodecaneseSeaways has announced on Facebook that the Wednesday schedule in September will be the same as in August so even though there is nothing showing on their website yet, never fear.  Symi Wednesday arrivals will be able to catch the ferry from Kolonna at 18.15 and those leaving on Wednesday mornings will be able to depart on the 7.45 from Symi.  Welcome news for those who have been worrying.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana

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