Symi Saturday Random Photos
A random collection of photos today, taken from my file of random Symi photos to post one weekend.
All posts by James Collins
Possibly Athens
Possibly Athens
What I mean is, I have heard that there will be an awards ceremony in Athens for the London Greek Film festival. I’m not sure when yet, and neither are they, but one is planned. This means I could be taking a trip to Athens and if I do, I will use the ferries. If the awards are to be on a Saturday night, for example, I could go up on the Friday night boat, spend one night in Athens and then get the boat back that will dock at Symi on the Monday morning. I’ve not looked at times yet, but with the new Blue Star visit, it should be perfectly possible.
Or, I could stay for longer and take the boat on a Tuesday that arrives here on the Wednesday. Not only does this new boat (due to start shortly) give you the chance for a short cruise, a night in Athens and a cruise back over a weekend, it also means you can be more flexible with your dates. I could always fly up, but when you factor in ferry, taxi/bus, possible hotel etc., the boat can work out the same price (and be more fun) or even less.
I’m looking forward to finding out the date of this possible visit as I enjoyed our trip on the Patmos in March when we came back from Athens by boat. Search the site (the search box is over there somewhere >>) and you should find posts that relate to that journey if you want more details.
Symi Tours News
Symi Tours News
Here’s a note from Symi Tours about the Blue Star Ferry timetable. Roughly translated, it reads:
“Announcement:
We inform you that from Monday 21/5/18 and every Monday Symi will have another Blue Star ferry arriving. The Blue Star-1 will come into the new ‘port’ of Symi – the new jetty.
The programme will be as follows: Monday from Symi to Rhodes at 08:20 and from Rhodes on 16:00 for Symi subsequently for Kos-Santorini and Piraeus.
Information at the Central Office Blue Star Ferries-SYMI TOURS. 22460 71307 – 22460 71689.”
So, on a Monday afternoon, you could travel from Symi to Santorini, now that’s a first. (For me at least, not that I shall be doing it, why visit Santorini when you can stay on Symi?) It’s going to be handy having another early morning Rhodes ferry as well. At the moment we have the Patmos on a Wednesday morning (around 5.30) and a Friday morning (around 7.45). So, three-day excursion to Rhodes with a vehicle or on foot will be possible without having to stay overnight. That could be very handy.
Girl Gone Greek Wins Best Screenplay
Girl Gone Greek Wins Best Screenplay
Great news on Monday. I was just flicking through Facebook after work, enjoying the shade of the courtyard at 28 + degrees) when I noticed a post from the London Greek Film Festival, showing photos from their awards ceremony. I wondered if Rebecca Hall was there and then realised that she wouldn’t have been as she was on Symi last weekend compiling a travel article for a British newspaper. You may remember that Rebecca wrote the book, Girl Gone Greek about her experiences of moving to Greece as a teacher of English…
Last year, she commissioned me to write a screenplay version of the book for her, which I did in close collaboration. That script was entered into the competition by Rebecca, who is what’s known as the property owner (Hollywood/film term). I went to the LGFF website to check out who had won what and discovered that we had one the ‘Best Screenplay’ in their Odysseus screenwriting awards. Obviously, I told her the news and then went to celebrate.
We’re waiting to hear when the festival will hold its award ceremony in Athens, as they hold one in London in May, and another later, for those from Greece who couldn’t make it. I can see another overnight on the Blue Star coming up (any excuse). Meanwhile, if you’ve not read the book, you can find it on your country’s Amazon, or by clicking this link to Amazon.co.uk: Girl Gone Greek.
So, congratulations to Rebecca. Let’s hope that this causes further interest in the project. It has already received a special mention at a film festival awards in Los Angeles, so you never know…
Rebecca’s travel blog can be found here: Life Beyond Borders
Personal Delivery
Personal Delivery
Here’s how it works around here. You’ve got an important document that needs stamping and signing by a solicitor. You get in touch and describe what you need, the solicitor (mine is in Rhodes) says, ‘No trouble, I’ll do that…’ (for free) ‘but I’m not sure about posting it. Better to collect, or maybe someone is coming over who can pick it up for you?’ I’m not planning to be over there myself for a while, but it’s not that urgent. All the same, it’s best to have it here as soon as I can. So… (Random Symi photo breaks up the text)
A friend from Symi is going to Rhodes, and if the solicitor can leave it at their hotel, friend will bring it back. As it turns out, solicitor was unable to deliver on Saturday, and I thought friend was leaving the hotel early Sunday. Solicitor rings me very early on Sunday (I am up at 5.30 as usual so no problem), and I say not to worry, I’ll pick it up sometime. ‘Ah, hang on,’ she says. ‘My neighbours are going to Symi today…’ Bit of a pause in proceedings while she pops next door… Calls back. Yes, they are coming on the 10.00 o’clock boat… But going to Panormitis first and then driving to pick up the boat in Yialos in the afternoon…
A sudden decision is needed: meet them at the boat at 4.30 pm, or… Could they drop it off at Takis Leather for me? It’s on the way to the boat. No problem. So, that’s arranged, I tell the friend at the hotel to stand down and discover she was staying another night (I’d got that wrong) but that’s fine, she knows not to expect the delivery. Then contact Takis to ask if it’s okay for these people I don’t know to leave a document for me with him. I knew it wouldn’t be a problem because he’s a good friend, and indeed, it is no problem…
Solicitor’s friends, not on Symi, call me at about three-thirty to double check where to leave it, and instructions are given. The next morning, I get a message from Takis to say he has my papers and all is well.
The point being that I had I gone to collect it from Rhodes, it would have cost me the boat tickets and a day off work just to get a signature on a document. So, connections are important and very handy around these parts. All I need to do now is get myself to Yialos and collect it, which I will do the next time I am down there. Unless anyone is passing Takis’ shop and can pick it up and bring it up and… No, that’s just being lazy. I just thought you’d like to know.