Rising Temperatures

There is to be no relief from the heat as the meteorologists forecast that the countrywide heatwave will linger into next week. Most of Greece is experiencing temperatures of at least 40 degrees and on Symi temperatures are closer to 50 degrees centigrade as the rocky slopes have been soaking up the heat for weeks and the meltemi breezes seem to be giving us a miss this year. It is a busy time for the water taxis and the beach tavernas as everyone who does not have to work heads for the cooling waters of the Mediterranean. With the rising temperatures the bougainvilleas are shedding bracts and papery pink drifts collect in the corners of the Kali Strata like rosy snow.

This is a week for name days, first Agia Marina and then Profiti Ilias. Profiti Ilias(Prophet Elijah) is the imposing white monastery clinging to the cliff face above the Pedi Valley. These last few evenings it has been floodlit and the sonorous tones of the Papa reading the liturgy have rung out across the valley. On a small island with over 300 churches and chapels one is seldom far from the Word of God or the sound of church bells.

Although there is a country wide taxi drivers’ strike at the moment, protesting against the government’s new plans to liberalise the profession, the taxis on Symi are working normally today. While taxi drivers in big cities such as Athens can easily recoup lost earnings after a few days at the picket line, in a small place like Symi with 2500 inhabitants and 6 taxis, they cannot afford to take a week off work.

I apologise to my regular readers for the erratic nature of this blog but the new interface at www.blogger.com seems to be having teething problems.

Have a good week.

Regards,

Adriana