A Great Opportunity

A lone sail heading to Nimos.  That is the Turkish coast in the distance.

Yachts lining up in Yialos for the night.

Grape vine fronds reaching for the sky on the Kali Strata

Excursion boats, Poseidon and Diagoras, are back on their berths.

Tomorrow is May Day (Protomaio), a holiday traditionally celebrated in Greece long before it became associated with workers’ rights and the trade union movement.  May Day in Greece is a celebration of springtime and is characterised by decorating front doors and gates with flowers, preferably wild ones gathered from the countryside, but garden ones are also popular.  Wreaths and posies of roses, geraniums and daisies often add the final touch to doors that have been newly painted for the summer.

With the recent rains followed by lots of sunshine the whole island is a garden at the moment.  Temperatures continue to climb up into the low thirties and it is now definitely mild enough in the evenings to sit outside.  Speaking of evenings, there is quite a lot going on this week as apart from the bank holiday tomorrow, there is also a Symi Gallery Poetry reading dedicated to spring tomorrow evening. This is taking place at the Kantirimi Bar in Yialos at 7 p.m so if you are on Symi please come along and join in.  Admittance is free but please buy your drinks at the bar.

On the same evening, 1 May 2012, at 6.30 p.m there is also Koukoumas – the traditional dance celebration at Agias Thanassis church in Chorio.  This is when the local girls of marriageable age perform a special dance which should, according to local tradition, enable them to foresee their future husbands.  If you are in the area and interested in traditional Greek dancing, this is a great opportunity to see traditional dancing and beautiful costumes.  Once again, admittance is free.

Last but not least, the Greek government elections take place on 6 May and with the schools being used as polling stations the children are looking forward to a long weekend.

Have a good week.

Regards,

Adriana