Vanilla and Orange Flower Water

A floral welcome in Yialos.

The tin smith in Yialos with his handmade wares on display outside.

Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables for sale in the lanes of Yialos and Chorio.

As usual, we are seeing all sorts of boats, from beautiful old wooden ones like the one heading out in front of the yellow speed boat to the chunky battle-ship inspired grey power yacht in the middle. This was the 8 a.m. rush hour departing!

No where on Symi is very far from anywhere else.  That is part of Chorio on the left and Pedi bay on the right.  It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the point where I was standing to take this photograph, around the head of the valley and down the motor road on the opposite side of the valley, which is marked by the edge of the trees, to the sea in Pedi.  There more direct old footpaths running through the valley but as they are fairly rough in places it can actually take longer going that way.

Afternoon storm clouds building up over Turkey. As the weather heats up we have had some splendid stormy skies, although the rain always seems to fall over Turkey rather than Symi.

This is the clinic in Yialos, adjoining St John's church. The buildings on the left are basic pensions.

Faces are a popular motif on the neo-classical buildings. This enigmatic face contemplates the view from a restored merchant house on the Kali Strata steps.

Perhaps she is wondering what to say to the gentleman on the facade next door.

It is a bright sunny day on Symi. The thermometer is hovering around 36 degrees centigrade.  The Symi, Panagia Skiadeni and Nikolaos X are tied up in the harbour and there are tourists browsing around, looking in shops and eating ice creams.  The patisserie round the corner is scenting the air with vanilla and orange flower water - the delicate aromas of traditional boutgatsa and baklava.

I was in the National Bank (Ethniki) this morning early as I needed to do some personal banking. There were two other customers apart from myself, one of whom was just leaving. There was no problem with my making a modest international bank transfer so no sign of capital controls kicking in just yet. There was someone else outside, using the ATM.  The weekly money supply has just arrived in an armoured delivery off the Panagia Skiadeni from Rhodes so the bank has been topped up with fresh cash supplies.  Business as usual, despite what the overseas press may be saying.

The island is getting busier, particularly with yachtsmen and gulets in the evenings and early mornings.  The restaurants and tavernas are seeing more traffic and it is becoming important to book a table at the more popular venues, particularly as there are lots of regular visitors to Symi on the island at the moment and they have their favourite locations.  There is a quiet hum of activity that is absent in the winter.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana