Steady Progress

It may be autumn but Greece is basking in unseasonably warm temperatures and ET3, one of the state television channels, was forecasting temperatures in the thirties for Crete for today and in the high twenties for the South Dodecanese and Athens. A big high pressure system is lingering over the Eastern Mediterranean in stark contrast to the heavy rain and low temperatures experienced over Spain, Portugal and France at the moment. The consistently good weather has ensured steady progress both down in Pedi with the floating crane and up in Chorio at the new sports stadium, as can be seen from the accompanying photographs.

The others who are benefiting from the mild weather to get on with essential infrastructure improvements on the island are the workmen from DEH, the Public Power Corporation. They have been busy putting up new poles and upgrading transformers around the island for over a week, hence the recent power cuts. They were probably also responsible for the two loud explosions that bounced a few people out of bed at 7 a.m on Thursday morning – dynamite is more efficient that jack hammering when it comes to make large holes in Symi’s relentless rock and blasting is the usual method in non-residential areas.

It may be Hallowe’en in other parts of the world but here in Greece this is another commercial opportunity that passes unnoticed. Symi’s cemeteries are carefully tended places and the dear departed are visited on a regular basis. The idea of turning the dead into objects of fear is far from the thoughts of the ladies in black who carry armfuls of flowers up to the cemetery at Agia Marina on a daily basis and make sure that the little flames of Eternal Life never go out. At nightfall the sweet scent of incense rolls down the hill to our farm where it mingles with the aroma of wood smoke from our chimneys, an ancient fragrance lingering on into a modern world.

Down in the harbour there are a few last tourists around, mainly yachtsmen waiting to go across to their winter berths in Turkey and Cyprus. As Symi is a port of entry and a far prettier place to linger than Mandraki in Rhodes, it is a popular haunt with the cruising fraternity at the beginning and end of the sailing season. Speaking of matters maritime, ANES has finally put up its November ferry schedule so we can all plan our shopping and business trips to Rhodes.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana