Still a Lot of Work to be Done

Once again the world looks on in horror as Greeks struggle to protect their homes against the ravages of wildfires armed with little more than buckets and shovels. Athens’ last remaining ‘green lung’ is fast disappearing in the flames and at time of writing suburbs are being evacuated as the fires encroach on the northern residential areas of Athens. This is not a happy state of affairs and there is a strong sense of déjà vu in Greece as little has changed since the devastating summer of 2007. For more updates on this summer’s wildfire situation in Greece, see http://news.ert.gr/en/26048-synexizetai-o-pyrinos-efialtis.htm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8217433.stm Here on Symi every shop and business with a television set is tuned in to one or other of the Greek TV channels as the story dominates the local and national news. Worried Athenians still on holiday here on Symi cluster round to get up dates on their smoke-filled city.

Yesterday I had reason to go down to Pedi so I took some photographs of the new marina. As can be seen, there is still a lot of work to be done, laying the concrete capping to connect the blocks, fitting bollards and mooring eyes, surfacing the adjoining quayside, constructing amenities, repairing the access road etc. Local residents have been informed that work will resume on 25 August and that it will all be done from the shore so there will be no further visits from the floating crane. Materials are already piled high, awaiting the concrete mixers. When the marina is complete, yachts will only be able to berth stern-to on the outside as the interior space is too narrow even for many of the small local boats that were originally anchored along that stretch of the shore.  It will, however, reduce pressure on the main quay and give visiting yachtsmen an alternative to swinging to anchor.



Have a good week.



Regards,

Adriana