Early This September Morning

In all the years I have lived on Symi I don't think I have ever seen this cactus in bloom before.  The large building in the back ground was the original Panormiteion high school which now occupies newer buildings on the same site.  The old school is now the Symi cultural and conference centre and this is where dancing and art classes are held.  During the period when it was undergoing renovation it was also used as the family house in the film, Anna's Summer, which was shot here in 2000.  The scar on the hill in the background is the motor road connection Yialos with Chorio.

The Eid holiday in Turkey brought an unprecedented number of Turkish boats to Symi and the harbour and anchorages have been packed every night. The island in the background is Nimos. The small monastery on this otherwise deserted island is just catching the morning sun.

A row of Turkish gulets.  

These large traditional wooden boats are popular for group charters operating out of Datca, Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye and Bosburun as well as further afield along the Turkish coast.

One of my neighbours was out early this morning, gathering prickly pears in the Pedi Valley.  If you compare this photograph with the ones on this blog in April and May you will get an idea of the dramatic change in climate and vegetation between the winter rainy season and the summer drought.

Looking across the Pedi valley from Lieni to the Mylos area of Chorio.  That terracotta building in the middle is part of the Taxiarchis Hotel which is situated in terraced garden.  This hillside also includes our rental properties, the Little Blue House and Zoe's apartments.  The motor road from the harbour skirts the houses in a big sweep and then divides at a T junction into the road down to Pedi Bay at the bottom of the valley and the road up to Chorio and on to Panormitis.

Olives ripening on the Kali Strata.

It's that Kali Strata black cat again.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana