Down in the Valley

The Pedi Road

Veteran of many fights. 

 That is the bell tower of St John's Church, Yialos, in the background.

It is not for nothing that the Greek word for summer, kalokairi, means ‘good time’. While Symi does not have a reputation as a party island like Mykonos and Santorini, July and August are certainly the busiest time of the year down in Yialos, Symi’s famous natural amphitheatre harbour. Returning from dinner in Harani with friends last night the pavement cafes and bars were humming and all the restaurants and tavernas appeared to be full.

The official premiere of the Symi Festival is scheduled to take place tonight with a performance by Greece singer Miltos Paschalides. Presumably he and his entourage will be arriving on the big boat in the course of the day because at time of writing there are no posters up in the town advertising this event, although there are plenty promoting the annual Symi Women’s Association Symi Shrimp Festival which takes place in Syllogos Square, Chorio, on Sunday evening. There are also a lot advertising something called ‘Miss Vanity’ which is taking place at the Alethini, one of Symi’s clubs, at 23.00 this evening more or less the same time that the concert would be taking place. Of Miltos Paschalides, however, not a word. Indeed when a rep made enquiries at the town hall about the Symi Festival this year so that she could inform people of what is going on at her ‘welcome meetings’ she was told that to all intents and purposes there isn’t one, but if anyone wants to stage something, please let the town hall know!

Meanwhile life in the Pedi valley continues quietly, with modest pleasures and little fanfare. The main church dedicated to St Pantelimon had a big festival on the evening of 27 July with lots of free food and drink and live music. Down in the Pedi valley, however, the small monastery and chapel dedicated to the same saint had a much quieter and more discreet name day celebration attended by many locals. These photographs were taken by my husband, Nicholas Shum.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana