Suddenly It's Summer

The view from above - looking from the bend in the Kali Strata, across to the clock tower in Yialos and Harani.  Note the large sailing yacht moored stern-to on the quay.  There are lots more yachts coming in every day.

The best dolmades are made with tender young vine leaves, picked before they wilt in the heat of the day.

The view from the Symi Visitor Accommodation office at 9 this morning.  There was a lot more yachting activity in the harbour than we have seen in a long time.

A few hours later these appeared - hence the increase in the number of bikes parked on the pavement on our side of the road. We observe this little ritual every year as the municipality tries to implement parking restrictions. As we don't actually have traffic wardens it is something of a futile gesture. Last year the chap had barely finished when someone parked a truck on top of them.  I wonder how long they will survive this year...

Today is the first day of Big Week, the run up to Greek Easter, a week of solemn fasting, family get togethers and the beginning of the tourist season.  As Greek Easter is so late this year and the 1 May holiday coincides with Easter Sunday, both Monday and Tuesday next week are bank holidays in Greece. This means that the banks and many other offices will be closed from Friday 28 April, reopening on Wednesday 4 May. The schools are closed for 2 weeks, the weather is fine and sunny and there is a definite holiday buzz in the air.

More places are opening up every day.  Hatzipetros supermarket opposite Symi Flower and the Cultural Centre in Yialos has reopened in its beautiful newly renovated premises, complete with polished stone floors and gleaming new fridges and fittings.  The staff were busy, unpacking boxes when I went past this morning.  Most shops on Symi are small family businesses, not part of big chains, so each shop is unique and the staff are usually family members, making for a friendly shopping experience, all part of the reason why so many people come back to Symi for their holidays year after year.

If  you are on Symi over the next couple of weeks, don't miss the Soy Cuba exhibition at the Symi Cultural Centre from 25 April until 9 May.

As part of the exhibition there is also a free film show, Chico and Rita, on at the same venue tomorrow evening, 26 April.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana