Rainy Day Postcards from Symi

The view from the Symi Visitor Accommodation office this morning.  We have had a succession of showers, downpours and thunder since early on Tuesday morning.  The heaviest rain passed Symi by, hitting Rhodes and Turkey instead. As you can see, the water taxis have packed up and the Poseidon is preparing for the winter haul out at Harani.

Shutters are closing around the island as holiday home owners pack up and head for home.  Unlike many Greek islands, Symi has a permanent population of around 2500, including many children and students.  People live here all year round but their needs are different to those of the summer visitors and the main community actually lives in the old upper town, Chorio.  Yialos becomes very quiet in the winter months.

You know the summer is over when even the Noddy train is waiting to board the ferry!

Spotted sheltering from the rain on my way to work this morning.

Go with the flow... there are little drifts of leaves, twigs, pine cones and acorns sketching out the routes where the rainwater flows.

Even the ants are preparing for the winter.  This huge nest has been on our path for at least 25 years that we know of so it may well be Homeric for all we know!

Everything looks brighter and greener after the dust of summer has been washed away.

The first wild cyclamens are coming up in my garden.