Busy Day in Yialos
We were out and about in Yialos again yesterday, popping down in the later morning for a beer and then lunch. There were quite a few visitors, which is good to see late in September. Various day-trip boats were moored on the south side of the harbour to leave room for the cruise ship which came in, the tour operators’ buses were going back and forth ferrying passengers across to Panormitis (I am guessing), the taxis were doing the same. Meanwhile, the groups led by guides were pouring off the day boats and following umbrellas around, into the backstreets, from sponge shop to taverns, and other independent visitors and those who had broken from the herd milled around oohing and ahhing at the sights.
It’s good fun just to sit and people watch some days, you see all kinds of sights. Those who think they’ve come for a day at the beach in their bikinis and ‘smuggly budgers’ as Neil calls them, others who have dressed to attend the opera, more average folk who know how to dress for a day’s touring, and visitors of all nationalities and ages. We, rather Neil, had a brief chat with a young couple after lunch who were keen to see more than just the harbour front, and there were several ‘dayers’ up in the village when we arrived there later, something else that’s always good to see.
Among the visitors were many refugees, of course. Now that Turkey has again opened its gates or closed its eyes, we are seeing our fair share of people fleeing chemical warfare and other atrocities. Again, a mix of people, but mainly those who have found the means to pay for the hazardous crossing and who have walked the 1,400 miles from Syria (that’s a general route from an internet map from Syria generally to Marmaris by the main road, so not accurate, but you know what I mean). Most of these people are intelligent, young professionals, some are also that with families, and among them are older people and many children. The Mediterraneo café is doing a great job hosting them with no fuss, allowing them to charge vital communication devices and so on, and many other businesses are also helping out. Two port police officers left Georgio’s taverna after lunch carrying a massive pot of stew (or similar) prepared there, and I know other places are donating and doing the same. You can drop off cash with Yianni Taxas, enter the donation in the book and it will be used for basic food supplies. Also, look up ‘Next Stop Symi’ online where you can donate across the internet.
Oh, and as another piece of local info, Petalo is now closing for the season, at least in part. The chef told us that yesterday was his last day. Oh, and then there was the goat that followed someone all the way back from Roukouniotis to Horio and had to be persuaded to go with its carer to Sotiris at the supermarket because he’s the man when it comes to goats. As it turned out, she was called Sophia (the goat) and belonged to him anyway, so they were reunited. A happy ending.
