Busier by the Day

Calm seas early on Friday morning.  The monastery over on Nimos is just catching the morning sun.  Trucks are gathering by the clock tower, waiting for the Friday morning Blue Star Diagoras.

The Panagia Skiadeni has resumed service from Rhodes on a regular basis so there is a lot more fresh stuff in the shops.  This photograph was taken yesterday,  in a brisk cold breeze.  We have had strong north-westerly winds all week which have kept temperatures below 20 degrees.

The Poseidon is back in the water and round the island excursions will be starting soon.

This old building on the waterfront belongs to Panormitis monastery.  The downstairs is now a shop but the elaborate pediment houses an icon to St Michael the archangel.

This old vine hasn't seen any formal attention for many a year but is still flourishing.  That curly bracket on the wall, just to the right of the main stem, is a latch, to hold the door open.

Swallows posing on a cornice of the clinic in Chorio.

Still life with chapel and lone black sheep.

Same chapel, different day, different sheep!  The cold wind has blown away the haze and visibility has been very good this week.  That is Pedi bay in the background.

Not all of my neighbours are sheep.  I spotted this chap on my way to work this morning.

It  has been a chilly week with lots of northerly winds but temperatures are forecast to rise into the mid twenties next week.  If we don't have rain in the next fortnight or so, that will be that until October as it is very rare to have rain in the second half of May.  It is about a month since we last had rain and the ground is starting to harden and crack. The drying wind is speeding up the rate at which the vegetation is wilting and the sheep, donkeys, ponies and goats are munching as fast as they can.  Unless we have a late shower to give the plants a boost, by the time the first package holiday arrivals start to come in mid-May Symi's greenery will just be a distant memory.

The island grows busier by the day. The Panagia Skiadeni is in nearly every day now, bringing small numbers of day trippers from Rhodes plus supplies for the shops on the island.  More businesses are opening up and there is a steady trickle of new arrivals including walking groups, artists, writers, botanists and those who enjoy Symi in the spring and aren't forced to plan their vacations around school holidays.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana