Back to Monday

And back to Monday… Over the weekend, a few more village businesses opened for the summer. Mariquita, the craft shop at the top of the Kali Strata (opposite Georgio’s) opened with its collection of clothes, handmade jewellery and other handicrafts. This shop is usually open late morning for a couple of hours and then the evening from about half-six onwards. Evangalia makes many of the items herself while looking after the stray cats and is always smiling and happy.

The Olive Tree has also opened, cakes have been baked, and homemade lemon juice prepared along with all the other healthy and homemade things they provide you with. The terrace is clean and painted, and everything is ready to roll – bacon rolls included.

Taverna Zoi has also opened. This, if you don’t know, is at the end of the main through-lane of the village, not far from the bus stop, so it’s easy to get to and from if you are in Yialos or Pedi. It has a roof terrace that looks down towards Pedi, is family run and always friendly. I recommend the chicken with cashews when it’s available.

Down in Yialos on Friday, the harbour was very busy with passengers from just one boat (later, more came in and they were also very busy with visitors). Guided tours, lone travellers, various nationalities and lots of bare legs and arms enjoying the warmth. Saturday was a little on the windy side, but Sunday has dawned less breezy and very clear. It looks like the season is now fully up and running.

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Symi Saturday Photos

A few random shots today as I watch the blue sky take over from Friday morning’s rain and brief thunderstorm. A bit more water in the sterna, no need to water the plants, and the air smells fresh. The sea is calm and, apart from a trip to Yialos later for the usual weekly business, I have a weekend of writing planned. Oh, and the Olive Tree is opening for the season on Sunday morning. Have a good weekend.

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Village Update

Here are a few more photos taken around and about recently. Meanwhile, I’m kind of celebrating the startling news that I can retire. Well, I can’t, but the point is, a private pension scheme got it touch after I contacted them because now I’m 55, I have options. It was just a bit shocking to see ‘Your retirement date’ as last March. It wasn’t because it showed March, it was because it suddenly made me feel ten years older. Anyway… That caused an on-going decision-making process for a while, and now I have made up my mind what I’m going to do.

I’m not actually retiring so the blog will continue, and so will the books, hopefully. Well, I know they will because that’s what I do every day for most of the day. Anyway, here in the real world, it’s good to see so many returning visitors arriving already, and so many day trippers. The other day there were five ferries in the harbour and a through catamaran visit. One of the ferries wasn’t actually carrying passengers, it was docking at the new dock when it was opened, but the Nikolaos X was pretty rammed and so, hopefully, were the other boats.

A quick village update: There’s talk of The Olive Tree opening this Saturday, so you have that to look forward to up in the village. It’s a great place to stop off after climbing the Kali Strata and stock up on your healthy juices and homemade cakes and salads. There’s also talk of Taverna Zoi opening soon, and I’ll let you know about that. Everywhere else is up and running or has been all winter, and The Secret Garden is now back to regular live music on a Friday – and other nights when they play Greek music, but on Fridays, it’s a mix of blues and rock western style. Not Country & Western, they’re not starting up a line dance group or anything (though it could be fun), but it’s western rock music as opposed to Greek rock music… You know what I mean.

Right, it’s back to the next creation now, a treasure hunt thriller based around ‘Dracula’ the novel, but with no vampires. Now, that’s got you thinking.

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Parades and Boats

Here are a few photos taken on Monday when the President visited Symi, the May 8^th parade took place, and the new landing stage was inaugurated. I’ll leave you alone to browse through.

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Greek President Visits Symi

Things are starting to happen in Yialos by the sound of it. Today (yesterday), I am, as usual, stuck up here working, but Neil may be able to get down to take some photos. If not, we have a stringer who has offered to share some photos with you, but they won’t be ready for a day or so. The Greek president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, is visiting the island as it’s the 70^th year anniversary of the Dodecanese being incorporated back into Greece following WWII. March 7th, 1948 was when King Pavlos and Queen Frederica arrived in Rhodes to celebrate the new independence, and it was here on Symi, at what is now Los, where the treaty was signed on May 8^th, 1945. “8 May 1945: The leader of the German occupying forces, General Wagener, signs in Simi the protocol of unconditional surrender of the Dodecanese to the British Allies Forces and the commander of the Ieros Lohos (a special Greek Army division), Colonel Christodoulos Tsigante.” Discover Rhodes.

May 8^th, 2018 is the day on which our new harbour will be opened.

It’s still early, yesterday, as I write but already we have heard the soldiers singing the national anthem at the war memorial, and we just had a blast of band music (possibly recorded) and more singing from below. I’ll watch out for the boats and see if I can nip out for some snaps from up here, and hopefully, give you some more info tomorrow. Meanwhile, there will be loads of pics and info on the Symi Facebook pages, and I’m sure other island bloggers and sites will be sharing images and news of his event. Apparently, there’s to be the usual May 8^th church service, parade and a function at the Opera House afterwards.

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