Racing Raindrops down the Kali Strata

Racing raindrops down the Kali Strata in the purple light of early morning, luminous oranges glowing amid dark dripping leaves and verdant moss sprouting under foot, a damp ewe and her lambs scampered passed me, heading up into the mist as I was coming down. The wild angelica growing on the bits of wasteland among the ruins is irresistible to sheep and donkeys alike at this time of the year and it happens to grow best on the Kali Strata. Where tourists gasp in heat of summer, winter’s sheep may safely graze…

Carnival will soon be upon us and the shops in the harbour are overflowing with costumes, masks, wigs and the like. While Greek commercial television news broadcasts are tempering the latest ecclesiastical scandal with frequent footage of gyrating Brazilians in three sequins and a few feathers (for some reason some of the larger centres such as Thessalonica and Patras try to do the Rio bit, even if it is snowing) in Symi carnival is more of a family affair with the emphasis on fancy dress fun for children. Fairy princess sets complete with twinkly tiara and pink satin petticoats, ‘one size fits all’ red spiderman suits and mysterious jewelled velvet masks are much sought after and gaudy feather boas hang side by side with sludge green balaclavas and yellow plastic raincoats. A cheery mixture of the fanciful and the pragmatic.

The weather outlook for the rest of the week is rain and wind from a variety of directions and strengths with a Force 9 forecast for the central and western Aegean, snow as far south as Attica and the occasional glitch in the ferry schedule. March can be quite a stormy month and some years delivers the worst of the winter weather before the mud rains of April announce the impending arrival of summer.

Have a good week.

Adriana
The Symi Visitor