April Postcards from Symi

Symi's supply lines - the twice weekly Blue Star Diagoras and the Dodecanese Seaways catamarans.  Photographed on Wednesday morning.

Looking down at Yialos and Harani early this morning.

A returning fishing boat early this morning.  The huddle of people and vehicles over by the clock tower are waiting for the Blue Star which was about an hour late.

Flowers growing in painted feta tins, a well fed cat and a Vespa - near St John's church in Yialos.

The traditional tavernas are opening up in the lanes.

Pet birds enjoying the spring air - outside the newsagents.

Buckets are usually used to catch drips in the winter. This one in the harbour has been deployed to prevent winter rains from pouring down a chimney.

Pretty windows on the Kali Strata

Maria has her herbs out to dry on the Kali Strata.  She is something of a summer landmark on Symi, sitting on the steps and offering thirsty climbers water and then talking them into buying her bags of Symi herbs.

The loose panel in this shutter reveals the original bright green, before countless Symi seasons bleached away the yellow pigment, leaving a distressed teal blue that one would be hard pressed to emulate by artificial means.

Looming out of an oregano bush, the smelly Dracunculas vulgaris stands proud.  In a couple of days it will unfurl into something that looks like a very sinister giant purple arum lily and smells of dead rats as it is pollinated by flies.

Mowing the verges, Symi style

The weather is warming up.  More boats are coming in.  More shops, cafes and tavernas are reopening after the long winter sleep. There is the smell of new paint and the hum of sanding machines as woodwork is finally dry enough to work on.  Locals are still wrapped up, particularly if they ride motorbikes, but have paint spots on their clothes and do their main shopping at the hardware stores. There is a definite feeling that summer, while not exactly here yet, is just around the corner.

We have had a whole week without either rain or gale force winds and the next 'blow' is forecast for next week Wednesday so the intervals between fronts continue to lengthen. Sometimes in the afternoons we see thunder clouds over Turkey and hear the rumbling on the horizon but Symi remains dry.

Temperatures are around 20 degrees at midday, falling to about 14 at night with quite heavy dew. The breeze is still chilly and it can be quite cold indoors.  We are still wearing winter woollies in the office, shedding layers when we are out of doors.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana