St John’s Church, Yialos

Here are some photos I took while waiting for Neil to see his accountant last week in Yialos. This is St John’s church. I have also heard it called the island’s cathedral. It has a bell tower separate from the church and a long courtyard. We have, in the past, sat here while the Symi Festival has been on and enjoyed a glass of something while sitting under the stars, in August, listening to talented musicians playing live. One year, we took our drinks from what was then the Meltemi Bar and heard piano and saxophone jazz being played. That dates us a bit, not the music but the bar which has not been open for some years now. Michaelis, who had it now has the Secret Garden in Horio where the music tradition continues with Greek and jazz, blues and more on particular nights through the summer.

The election canvassing and meetings have begun. I reckon there was a political meeting in Horio on Sunday, but I am only guessing that from seeing who was in the square at lunchtime. Other meetings have already been arranged or have taken place including one by a candidate who has a member of the foreign community working with him; more news on that once I have been given it. As I understand it, three teams are running this time, and the elections will be on the same day as the European elections in May. By a strange quirk of fate, me as a yUK passport holder may/may not be allowed to vote. I am on the register, but a) the yUK may or may not be in or out or even shaking it all about by then, and b) I will be in Tilos on the day, and I am not sure if I can vote by proxy or mail. I will have to investigate, but I think it’s unlikely.

As for the weather, expect it to be changeable over the next week or two. My forecast is showing rain for today and on and off for a couple more, but no rain or high winds on Friday when we are going to Rhodes. I was going to take a walk yesterday as I am still trying to get back into my old routine, but the weather is against me. It was overcast and threatening, and I didn’t want to reach the top of the hill sweaty and panting only to get rained upon, so once again, I will have to wait. Meanwhile, I will snatch opportunities to wander the mountains just as soon as I can.

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And back to the weather

Another storm is passing over us as I write (early Sunday morning). Saturday was all about being rained on, and the wind was up to force nine at times, according to my weather site. Judging by the rattling roof and the vibrations through the house which is exposed on its north side, force nine sounds about right. The door to the storeroom above the kitchen still lets some water seep in which then runs through the boards and drips on you as you enter the bathroom like a pre-swim shower at a municipal pool. The porch between our two buildings was a couple of inches deep too, but otherwise, we are quite dry inside. The weather is to continue a bit wet and cloudy, but with less wind, and by Friday, it should have gone completely, which is just as well as we are going to Rhodes for the day, possibly the night too, for our annual health MOTs.

We (Neil mainly) has been giving they inside of the house a paint up, and Thomas A Basket, the cat who lodges in our laundry has found the paint tray and thrown it upside down on the floor, just to give us something to clear up first thing on a Sunday morning. The huge cardboard box my office chair came in, which was waiting in the courtyard ready to go to the bins, is now a soggy mess. So, plenty of clearing up to be done when it stops raining.

There are more visitors back on the island, most of whom are house owners who have arrived to check their properties after the winter, and other long-stayers are coming back this week for the summer. Neil is expecting to start work this week or very soon after, and I have booked myself a writing retreat on Tilos for a week in May. I choose Tilos because a) I like it, and b) it’s easy to get there and back with the Blue Star on a Friday (and for only €10.00 each way). Other than that, I don’t think there is any great news.

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Symi Saturday Photos – random

Here are a few random shots to look at over the weekend. The weather forecast is currently showing a storm for Saturday and Sunday, up to force seven winds with rain. We’re out at the taverna tonight and have the godboys coming on Saturday, so it sounds like it might be a weekend for staying in with a good film or two. It’ll make a change; we’ve spent the last two days redecorating the sitting room, going up and down ladders and crawling around on all fours putting tape on skirting boards and other insane activities.

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Fly over Symi

If you come to Symi via Rhodes airport, you often get to look down on the island from above as the flight path takes you near the southern end of the island. On clear days, you can easily make out Panormitis bay, the zigzag road and other landmarks, but all you see from that height is an island and rock. You have no idea of the green valleys, the forest, the hidden monasteries and everything else the island has to offer. Well, now, thanks to Symi TV (Facebook link) you can fly over Symi at no cost and see all the incredible detail.

Today, instead of me babbling on about nothing in particular, I thought I’d hand over your next four minutes of blog-read time to Symi TV by embedding their latest video. It’s drone footage the likes of which I’ve never seen. In fact, there are parts of the island shown here that many people would not have seen before – especially a part where you fly over the top of St George’s cliffs which is a bit scary. I tried to identify all the churches, some in very remote locations, and the beaches which you might be more familiar with. It’s only four minutes, but it’s pure magic and, if you click through to the YouTube page, you will find more excellent videos from Symi TV.

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Walk and water

Another walk, another sunny day, and one that came with a couple of surprises. The first was answering the gate to Yiannis who had passed by to drop off two tubs of dinner he had made for us while cooking his own. Unexpected but well received. The second was when we were at Rainbow having an orange juice after shopping and enjoying the sunshine. I saw the water meter reader man. I’m not sure of the official title, but Michaelis is also our champion marathon runner, and I’m more used to seeing him on the news after some gruelling race he has just breezed through and, more than likely won. Now then…

Our water meter is in our courtyard, and it shouldn’t be. A few years ago, everyone was asked or told to move their meters outside, so they could be read on all properties and not just those where the occupier was at home. That was done at our old house, but it was never done here. Since we’ve been here, we have only had it read twice, and last time, the reading man (not Michaelis) didn’t seem to have it on his list. We were chatting to Yianni about this when I suggested I go home and let Michaelis in so he could read ours. He said he would come the next day. Meanwhile, Yiannis decided to phone the town hall and let them know the meter needs to be moved. I’m not sure what our landlord will say, but I expect he will be pleased; he’s mentioned its location before but never, it seems, got around to reporting it. I believe the water company are meant to come and move it, so now, hopefully, someone will. I must ask Yianni if the message got through. That’s just two examples of village life here on Symi.

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