The First 'Official' Tourist Run

The weekend was wild, windy and cold with a northerly Force 9 blasting through the whole of Greece, disrupting shipping and sending everyone searching for blankets once again. The wind has steadily eased and today is partly cloudy. It is still quite chilly - only about 13 degrees - but it is expected to reach 24 degrees by the end of the week as the wind changes to the south. As there are a number of summer-house owners currently on the island, preparing their places for the season, the end-of-winter clearance of halogen heaters at various shops has been brisk!

The cold dry wind has speeded up the disappearance of the cyclamens and the grass is started to die back in many places. We have had a lower than average rainfall this year and it shows. Dracunculus vulgaris, the slightly sinister purple member of the arum family which makes its stately, albeit it stinky, appearance at this time of year in many parts of the island is looking distinctly droopy. March was a dry month and unless we have some good showers in April it is going to be a very long summer indeed.

Most of the shops opened today for the first time as the first 'official' tourist run took place today. The Symi has just docked (see webcam) having come through from Rhodes via Panormitis. As you can see, it's not exactly packed! The shortage of charter flights to Rhodes might have something to do with it.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana
www.symivisitor.com