Rumours of Rain

A marble profile of a Hellenic Hermes looks out on the Kali Strata.  Random fragments of Symi's antiquity have been recycled into all sorts of more recent structures.  The same areas of Symi have been in continuous occupation for centuries with the result that there are no perfectly preserved or abandoned ruined ancient sites as is the case in other areas where populations moved on to other locations.  Instead the stones were constantly reused and recreated, building new on top of old using whatever was to hand.

The view from the Symi Visitor Accommodation office as the Dodecanese Seaways catamaran passed through this morning, en route to Kos and points north.  Now that they have scaled back the schedule, this boat no longer comes through every day so always check the timetable in advance.  Otherwise you may find yourself in Halki instead of Symi!

A motor yacht pretending to be a trawler.  We have also seen motor yachts pretending to be battle ships and steamers.

Chorio cats.

The bougainvilleas are still putting on a brave show. 

Looking across towards Yialos from the clock tower, towards the bus stop and the Kastro (Acropolis) with Lemonitissa church looming over the harbour.  The famous Kali Strata steps start in the back of the harbour, a little to the right of the red-hulled yacht, and pass diagonally across that hillside. The point where I often stop to take my photographs of the harbour is just in front of the building on the top left side of the ridge in the photograph, where the Kali Strata makes a hard right turn, up towards the centre of Chorio.

Colour co-ordinated laundry in the harbour.

A luxury catamaran pretending to be a battle ship.

Pedi in the autumn sun.

Chorio chickens crossing the road.  What you can't see in these photographs are a rooster and a young tabby cat, both hiding in the bushes on the right.  The chickens joined the rooster in the bushes and the cat ignored them all.

It is a bright clear October day with a fresh breeze and lots of sunshine.  Temperatures are in the mid twenties and it is lovely in the sun.  This idyllic picture may be misleading because every forecast for the region is telling us that rain and thunderstorms are going to reach us at some point tonight and will only clear sometime on Sunday.  Even the BBC gave the Greek islands a mention in the weather bulletin this morning.

There is the happy buzz of conversation coming up from Pachos, the traditional Greek cafeneion downstairs.  It is has been a popular meeting place for decades, particularly if you prefer more traditional refreshments such as Greek coffee, frappes, Greek beer and wine by the carafe.  There are fancier establishments along the waterfront, with designer chairs and designer coffees but Pachos has served traditional drinks to Symiots and visitors since the war.

Have a good weekend.  You might be seeing some Symi rain photos on Monday!

Regards,
Adriana

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The Sun is Out

Autumn light and cloud shadows.

Pediment details on the Kali Strata.

On the Kali Strata there are many mansions, some restored, some ruined, some decaying with quiet neglect, waiting for absent or impecunious owners to one day find the money to restore them to their former glory.

The bell tower of St John's church at the back of Yialos.  

There's a cat posing among the pot plants near St John's courtyard in Yialos.  Can you see him?

An inscrutable cat pretending to be invisible.

Drying out wet deck cushions on the Poseidon on the right. The water taxi service is now finished for the year.

The bunting is up for tomorrow's Ochi Day Parade.  Tomorrow is a major public holiday in Greece so banks and government offices and many businesses will be closed. There's a lone late season megayacht on the quay but otherwise very little activity.

After a very wet weekend the sun is out and the harbour is ringing with the sound of excited children, practising for the Ochi Day Parade tomorrow.  As the wind is coming down from the north it is now quite chilly in the shade.  Temperatures will be around 20 degrees at midday this week although the nights will remain fairly mild with not much difference between day and night time temperatures.  More thundershowers and storms are forecast for later in the week and early next week.  At the moment there are no seriously strong winds forecast but the weather is so changeable at the moment there are no guarantees.

As the tourist season draws to a close many of the locals are busy with preparations for the Panormitis Festival at the other end of the island.  This takes place over the 7th and 8th of November and pilgrims come from all over Greece to stay at the monastery.  It is a very Greek event and is an opportunity to celebrate in a way that is totally divorced from mainstream tourism.  A bit of a travelling fair sets up around the monastery with hawkers setting up stalls to sell socks, oranges, Chinese power tools and freshly fried doughnuts plus anything else that can be loaded onto a pickup truck or sold from a market stall.  The ferry timetable is now available for the Panormitis festival period if you are going to be here at that time.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana

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New Exhibition Opening at the Symi Gallery Tonight 1 August 2104

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