A Week of Contrasts

Pedi Bay and surrounding hills on Wednesday 4 May

Weather wise it has been a week of contrasts on Symi with everything from blinding sunshine to dramatic rolling clouds. The whole region comprising Greece, the Balkans and Turkey is experiencing this unsettled and often thundery weather. Symi has not had anything by way of significant rain but the skies have been quite spectacular.

A sunny interval in the oldest part of Chorio.

This is why we refer to them as 'big boats'...

Another spectacle that occurred this week and owes more to human intervention than the divine was the appearance of the Blue Star Diagoras high speed ferry, on a test trip to see if it could dock in Yialos. As can be seen it was something of a tight fit but the mayor and various dignitaries came down to welcome the first ‘big boat’ to visit Symi since at least March. We hope that it will be able to make regular scheduled visits to Symi to relieve some of the transport problems that have occurred since ANES went into bankruptcy and the ANEK boat dropped the route. This is not the first time the Blue Star has tried to serve the route and we hope that it will be more successful the second time around.

This isn’t the only development on the ferry scene - Dodecanese Seaways has announced that with effect from 21 May it will be offering trips to Datca on Saturdays, filling the gap left by the Symi II which used to do this during the season. At 15 euros per person each way and with the journey only taking 15 minutes this is likely to be popular with everyone except the excursion boats that traditionally serve the route. However one must bear in mind that the fast connection gives less time in Datca for actually enjoying the market and so on, and it will free up seats on the excursion boats for those who want to make a day of it rather than travelling one way.

Flags in Yialos in the early morning sunshine.

Down in the harbour preparations are well under way for the VE Day Parade on Sunday and when I came down to work early this morning the municipal workers were using the island’s ‘cherry picker’ to hang bunting from the lamp posts along the head of the harbour and round to the War Memorial. If you are in Symi on Sunday remember to take your camera with you to Yialos. This parade is usually one of the most colourful on Symi’s calendar and includes a display of traditional costumes and dancing.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana