Cheerful Pink

It is a warm spring day on Symi. The low cloud that was draped across the Vigla at daybreak has burned off in the heat of the day. Yialos is full of school children on a day trip from Rhodes and the Nicolaos has just come in with a party of tourists. Yachts are milling about, looking for berths. The Poseidon has taken a group of Symi reps and business people across to Bozburun and Marmaris for the day to promote the new day excursion for this summer and has just returned to Symi with the mayor of Bozburun and a delegation who are similarly visiting Symi. While the Greek financial crisis occupies centre stage in the international media and the government struggles to keep everyone happy, small communities such as Symi are doing their bit at a grass roots level to promote tourism which, after all, does account for a sizeable chunk of the Greek economy.

Tomorrow is May Day in Greece and many businesses will be closed as it is an official holiday. Greece does not, however, subscribe to the practice of making this a long weekend so the banks will be open for business as usual on Monday. A local May Day tradition is the picking of flowers with which to make wreaths or posies to hang on the front door. Wild flowers, garden flowers, florists’ hothouse flowers and, occasionally, plastic or silk flowers, decorate the doors of houses, shops and businesses in a celebration that winter is finally over and summer has begun.

The corona daisies are drooping in the drought but the cheerful pink of hollyhocks and bindweed still lights up the countryside. Scarlet poppies, drifts of white oregano blossom, tiny blue pimpernels – the island isn’t quite in its summer wardrobe of dull gold and brown just yet. The gardens are bright with pelargoniums and old fashioned scented roses. The long range forecast remains dry with a few hazy clouds and no rain apart from the small chance of a dust shower. It should be sunny for the next big celebration on Symi, the VE Day Parade on 8 May.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana