Kalo Mina!

The view from Symi Visitor Accommodation this morning - definitely in winter mode.

A zoom view of the work going on over by the fuel station as the work on the new commercial jetty continues.

Work continues on the building next door, housing Pachos kafeneion.

We don't get the spectacular autumn leaves that are characteristic of autumn and fall in temperate climes but the Virginia creepers always give us a glorious show at this time of the year.

A peaceful harbour scene.

Ready for the rain.

Checking the roof on the sports' stadium for damaged tiles before the rains.

Awaiting restoration - two neo-classical houses near the Kastro.

Billets for the baker's ovens.  Many of the bakeries on Symi still have traditional wood-fired ovens.

The toy shop in Chorio, making a modest concession to Christmas.

Useful things in a planter - a dustpan, a dipper made from an old sunflower oil bottle and a pink ribbon.

Sunlight on an oak leaf.

It is the first day of December and the beginning of Advent.  The local women are preparing for the Christmas baking marathon - not the heavy fruitcakes and mince pies associated with the British festive season but light shortbreads and cookies that can be shared with friends.  The shops on Symi are starting to get in some Christmas stock, mainly foil-wrapped individual chocolates and glace fruits.  Christmas in Greece is not as commercial as it is in other Western countries and the emphasis is more on family reunions and the spiritual aspects than a spending frenzy and boozy office parties.  The students come home from university for the holidays and friends who have not seen each other since the start of the academic year in September have the chance to catch up.  On the Greek church calendar the weeks of Advent are actually fasting weeks, to be followed by 12 days of feasting from Christmas to the Epiphany.

The weather forecast shows a deterioration in the next day or so and rain is expected to reach us again on Wednesday evening.  As the weather fronts reaching the Mediterranean from the Atlantic become more frequent the intervals between wet and windy spells will become shorter.  Daytime temperatures are around 18 degrees, dropping to as low as 11 degrees in the evenings.  Wet weather is usually fairly mild - it is when the sky is clear and the wind blows down from the frozen north than temperatures plummet to near freezing or below.  As Symi is such a steep and hilly place, many areas are much colder as they are not receiving much light during the day and others are much warmer because they face south and have become suntraps so there are many microclimates at this time of the year.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana