Symi Saturday Photos from Neil
Today’s photos were taken in the last week or so, on one of the sunny days we have been having between storms. Have a good weekend.
All posts by James Collins
Blackout and showers
Blackout and showers
I heard the ‘bing bongs’ from the town hall on Wednesday, but didn’t hear the announcement, because the shutters were closed, and I was working. That’s why I had no idea the power was going off on in our part of the village on Thursday. I assume that’s what the announcement was. Luckily my laptop has a four-hour battery so I could carry on doing some work.
So that’s what I am doing now (Thursday), sitting in the semi-gloom with the shutters by the desk open so I can see to write. The sea is blue-grey with white caps, and the clouds are grey and varied, being blown about in wind that’s forecast to get up to force seven later this morning. As soon as I open the shutters, I can feel the drop in temperature as the wind blows through the closed window. It fits well enough, but the glass lets through the chill, not that it’s that cold.
We had a spare gas canister that we bought for just this kind of event and went to change out the old, empty one so that we could boil water. The canisters are easy to manage, you simply put them in the plastic base of the camping stove and twist the base back to the top and burner. Only, this one must have been faulty. As soon as the tin was pierced by the burner, there was an enthusiastic escape of gas, followed by a great outpouring of liquid gas and the accompanying smell. A quick dash outside with a leaking gas can followed by opening windows and doors and everything was back to normal except without a hot drink.
Ah well, a trip to the shop later may be needed. It’s raining now, with a hint of hail, though Harani below is well lit, so there is also some sun, and I’m going to save this and then upload it later when the power comes back on. Meanwhile. It’s back to that good old fashioned way of writing; pen and paper.
Later: just back from a visit to the corner shop and discovered that the power will be out in a line from the windmills to just up the lane from us, until 1pm. The laptop has two and a half hours battery left so I might be able to get something written before…
A Walk Up The Road
A Walk Up The Road
I found some of Neil’s photos, again from last week, when he walked up the main road from Yialos to Horio. This is a decent stroll and not as difficult or as far as you might think when you see the road from Yialos. It’s an easy one to find too.
The harbour morphs into the main road around the bus stop area, on the south side of Yialos, though the ‘main’ road actually runs all the way around the harbour, narrowing to become a quayside road before widening again on the way to Nimborio, but we are going in the wrong direction. If you wander to the taxi rank, and then the bus stop and keep going, you’ll find it narrows in places, which can be quite thrilling when on the bus or watching a lorry come down. Keep on keeping on, and you’ll pass Petalo, the new beach area on the way to the petrol station and new jetty. The steepest part of the hill climb starts there but don’t last long.
You will find great views from the path, but watch out for the trees that grow right in the middle of it – the path, I mean. You occasionally have to sidestep into the road to avoid them, and the path’s paving can be a bit uneven underfoot, to say the least. There is also one blind corner crossing if you want to stay on the path, but it’s best to keep to the left all the way to the hairpin bend and then cross when the coast (road) is clear. After that, you can stay on the righthand side for the better views.
Before you know it, you’re at the windmills where you can walk left to reach the Pontikokastro (the round monument beyond the windmills) and beyond to Agia Marina, or you can carry on down to Pedi. You can also turn right and descend into the village arriving at the Village Hotel a little while later. From then on, the world is your oyster, or the village is your clamshell, or whatever. Walking from up here at Syllogos Square to Yialos via the Kali Strata, and then back up the road takes me about 45 minutes, the road part taking roughly 30 minutes depending on where you start from and how fast you walk.
That’s it, I’m now walking back to happiness (writing) and staying out of the rain. The most recent shower has just passed, but I’m still not risking putting the washing out to dry.
Symi: Horio
Symi: Horio
Today I thought I would upload some more photos, taken by Neil on a walk around Horio last week. Those who have been to Symi will know Horio… Well, not everyone who comes here will. I am guessing wildly and probably widely, but I reckon that only a small percent of day visitors to the island make it to Horio. Lets’ say around 2%. Why?
Well, mainly, I guess, for a couple of reasons. 1) They don’t have time, being herded from boat to umbrella to craft demonstration to lunch to coffee to boat, and off we go again. 2) They only see photos of Yialos and, although the guides probably tell them about the village, they can’t find it. That’s been helped by new signage towards the end of last year. 3) They may get lost on the way up, or see the steps and think, ‘No way!’ and turn back. 4) other reasons I’ve not thought of.
It’s a shame that more people don’t make the trip up. You can come by foot if you like a good walk (about 10 minutes at a slow pace up 370 + steps depending on route), but there’s also the hourly bus and the taxi services. Once here, many who do make it ask for directions to the church. I assume they mean either the Lemonitisa or Castro churches that you can see from the harbour and not any of the other 13 + parish churches and chapels. It’s always a dilemma. When you see a sweating, puffing tourist who has made the journey by foot (and bravo to them), should you direct them, but tell them that the church is unlikely to be open? Or do you tell them and witness the disappointment? I just show them the way, and usually point them along the road past our house because, I figure, even if they miss the church, they will at least get a rewarding view of Yialos and the hills.
Anyway, that was that and here are the photos. You can find all of these places by delving deeper into the village than just ‘the church’, but that’s an adventure for another day.
Bits and Pieces
Bits and Pieces
A few bits and pieces, snippets of what we’ve been up to over the past few days, and photos taken on Sunday by Neil.
We had more rain over the weekend, and the harbour again suffered some damage as more debris was washed down from the hills. Parts of the village also had some minor damage. There are some photos online showing the water gushing over the bridge which lies at the bottom of a riverbed. Some of the roads in Yialos have new or worsened potholes, but luckily no-one was hurt. As far as I know, the damage is not too bad. I am guessing that rubble and thrown-away rubbish clogged up the damns which are designed to regulate such flows of water, and that loose topsoil was more easily washed away thanks to the huge storm last November.
In more cheerful and personal news, I spent a little time on Friday sewing a badge on my godson’s scout uniform. (With a little pride, I should add and not pride in my sewing skills, of which I have none.) I don’t very often get so domestic but sitting in the kitchen with a chilli bubbling on the stove and looking over the top of my glasses to thread the needle, well, I felt very homely. And also a little old. I have to take my glasses off to see things close up these days. I can look through the bottom of my fairy vocals (meant to write that and you were meant to snigger), but then have to hold things at a distance to get the focus. Another eye test is on the cards when I have saved up. The test is only €20.00, it’s the glasses that cost the cash.
Yiannis is back, and the Rainbow is open, as I might have mentioned, and we popped in for a couple of drinks on Sunday night. The bar began to busy up as there was an AEK football match due to start, but we headed into Georgio’s for a Sunday dinner; chips, meatballs and, for me, one of Noufris’ red bean stews. Perfect, and a good price too.
Meanwhile, I’ve been taping away and now have ‘The Witchling’ in a shape where I can soon send it to my beta readers. I just need to format it – though it will eventually be formatted properly by my layout artist – and I can send it off. I also need to arrange a cover, and I am hoping that it can be constructed and prepared while I am away in March. If you are interested, ‘The Witchling’ follows on from ‘The Saddling’, and although you don’t need to, you’re better off reading ‘Saddling’ first. I’ve used more dialect in this second book so Saddling will ease you into the dialogue and style. The Witchling hits the ground running, and you might want to get to know the characters and the location before you join the race to the thrilling climax. Well, it thrilled me. Anyway, more about that in time as we prepare for publication.
