Clear Blue and Chilly

The Dodecanese Express catamaran rode out Wednesday's northerly gale securely tied up in Yialos, Symi.

After all the recent high tides and flooding, it is strange to see the slipway at the other extreme, with such a low water level that the weed growing on the quayside is exposed.  In the summer there is a sign warning tourists to be careful if they walk on the slipway as it is, quite literally, slippery.

The north wind cleared the air and suddenly we could see the mountains of Asia Minor once more.

Clear blue and chilly - it is about 13 degrees today but much colder in the shade.

Water flowing out of the rocks i n Chorio. The island is very water logged now and pockets of water will continue to drain out of the hillsides for days after so much rain.  Unfortunately the rock formations are such that little is trapped to feed springs and wells and Symi is a famously water-less island in the summer.

An unusual sight - a toad on the road in Chorio.

This is about as far as the commercial exploitation of Valentine's Day goes on Symi - some cuddly toys at the flower shop.

The agricultural shop next to the town hall looks very spring-like at the moment and those are some florishing Kos lettuce seedlings on the stand on the left.

It is a dazzlingly bright day on Symi,  The storms have blown themselves out and apart from a few showers forecast for the weekend, the weather is set to improve next week with a big area of high pressure heading our way.  Midday temperatures are expected to be around 14 degrees centigrade, dropping to about 8 or 9 in the evenings.

Here in Greece it is the run up to Lent and yesterday the traditional Tsiknopempti (Smokey Thursday) street party took place in the square in Chorio.  In recent years it has been cancelled or rescheduled due to bad weather but this year it all worked out perfectly.  The children (and a few old grown ups too) got to show off their fancy dress.  The live music was a hit and it didn't rain on the BBQ so everyone was happy.  To see some photographs taken by Susan Grzebisz, one of our Symi Visitor Accommodation team, please go to our Out and About page.

We are still working winter hours and as our office is having some essential work done that involves a fair amount of jack-hammering, please don't panic if we don't answer the telephone. The easiest way to contact us to book your summer holidays is by email at symi-vis@otenet.gr and symivisitoraccommodation@live.com and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana