Symi Light

That’s Symi Light, not Lite as in sugar-free and chemical-packed. I was trying to get some shots of the changing early morning light as seen from the house and came up with a few photos, shown here today.

I was out on the balcony at six in the morning when it was still dark and could see the stars. I’ve still not worked out how to get good night sky images, so maybe that’s a project for the winter. Later, the sun came up over the Pedi hills, as seen through the cables and poles. As the dawn continues, the light changes and casts on different places which, after sunrise, fall into their usual colour scheme and lighting pattern.

At certain times of the day, you can see things in the rocks… Did you know that if you stand on St Nicholas beach at the right time of day and year, you can see a sleeping dragon? The headland opposite, around to Agia Marina, ends with a dragon’s snout in the water. If you use your imagination, you can see a closed eye and the top of its head, all the way back to a humped body and closed wings. Honest. I have seen it, and I had not even been on the ouzo at the time.

And, if you are in Nimborio at a certain time of day (evening is best) you can see a sleeping Titan on Nimos. You can, again with some imagination, make him out from across the bay in Horio. See the image below and look for his chin, which extends just beyond the left of the frame. To the right of it you can make out a closed mouth and a nose, and one closed eye above the water; the rest of his face is under the sea, so maybe this is Poseidon having a kip. He has a parting in his hair, and he is moulded into the rocks behind him. Again, no ouzo involved, just a bit of imagination.

Anyway, that’s what I was doing yesterday morning before going to work.

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That Cold North Wind

On Monday I was reminded of a song by Chris De Burgh, ‘Lonely Sky’, and its opening lines: ‘That cold north wind they call “La Bise” is swirling round about my knees…” I’m not sure if there is a name in Greek for the cold north wind that was swirling around about not just my knees on Monday, but it’s gone now.

I was just sitting on the balcony (Wednesday) watching the Blue Star come in, and later the Dodecanese Express, and marvelled at how warm it was now that the wind had dropped. Maybe we are in for a warmer autumn that first expected. I did look back on some notes and posts from years before, and a few years ago we were playing at an outdoor gig at Mandeios -Mike, Susan and I. That night I was wearing two jumpers, a coat and a pair of gloves. (And trousers, of course.) It was freezing, and that was October 10^th. On other days around this time we were deluged, and four years ago on 11^th October, we started filming ‘The 13^th‘ as it’s now called. We only had one day of cloudy, mildly damp weather during that two-week shoot, and I don’t remember being cold.

Anyway, that’s enough about the weather. Mind you, there’s not a lot else to tell you. More and more visitors are heading off at the end of their holiday, the season is slowing down but the other day we still had five day boats and a cruise ship in the harbour, so it’s not over yet. I was chatting to some visitors the other night and they, and others I know of, have already secured their boking for next year’s trip. That’s a good idea if you want to stay in a popular place or come with a cheap package holiday company. You can also go independent, and it’s not as costly as you might think. But still, it’s a good idea now to book early. I also heard that EasyJet had put their return flights to the UK up to around the £400 mark for the coming weeks. The closer you get to leaving, the more expensive it gets, so another reason for early booking.

And talking of books, kind of, I have a couple to write. My editor for ‘Symi, Stuff and Nonsense’ is back from holiday today, and I said I’d have all the texts finished by then. I haven’t, so I must get on with it.

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Highlights

Highlights from my Monday. Closing shutters against the wind, battling with the leaf fall in the courtyard compounded with the acacia tree pollen/stuff that snows down on us at this time of year. A lie in until 7 am. A visit to Sotiris supermarket – the highlight of any day; fun, madness, mayhem, friendly, bonkers, cheap, a little bit naughty at times. Otherwise, a day at home writing – a couple more scenes done for a screenplay, a few ideas for a book, a bit of draft three reading on ‘the Witchling’. Some episodes on Netflix (Have you seen ‘Big Mouth’? Outrageously wonderful, but we can’t think of anyone else who might like it. If you’re easily offended, don’t watch it.) And an early night.

Highlights of Tuesday’s morning: opening the shutters as the wind had died somewhat. Watching a cruise ship come in, the Salami Filopastry, or whatever it’s called. Watching swallows overhead and seeing the sea calm down after its wind-beating and a couple of book sales on Kindle. Not many, not enough, I should say, but something to go towards paying for the next book cover. That will be ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ which will be out in November. Watch this space.

Things to look forward to for the rest of the week? A small concert at home (must dust the piano), a trip to get the rent money from the harbour – preferably by legal means at the bank. Perhaps picking up a Chrome Cast if any have come in – due Tuesday – and playing with that. Buying that special paint for the flat roof (can’t remember the name, will have to look it up) so the bathroom doesn’t leak next time it rains. More writing, less sitting at the bar in the afternoon now things are quieter, and the wind is chilly, more time at home.

There may not have been many highlights, but at least there were no lowlights.

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Symi Watching

The village square on a windy evening in October. A few people sitting at Lefteris kafenion, a few at the Rainbow Bar, some on their way to eat at Georgio’s, or Taverna Zoi, but it’s still a bit early for dining, so a quick G&T first. Friends meet up for a chat, pulling fleeces and cardigans around their shoulders. These are the ones who have been on Symi for the summer and feel the difference in temperature more than those who have just arrived from even colder climes. Not that it is actually that cold, still in the 20s, but it feels it now that the wind has moved around to come in from the north.

Later, in Yialos, more friends meeting, locals greeting, wine poured and some in shorts wondering if they should pop home and change. Now it is dinner time, and some tavernas are doing as well as to be expected as the season slows down. Others are strangely quiet; some across the bay shine their lights in the hope that more guests will arrive. It might be even windier down by the water, and maybe not the best place to sit should that rain come back. Tavernas with inside seating fare better.

Watching the street life pass by as starters and mains are ordered and the wine jug filled. Shopkeepers going about their business, tourists wrapping up in pashminas, others braving the cooling air, still in their shorts. Conversations in various languages, the sky now dark. Laughter rings through the lanes hot on the heels of a chugging moped. A bicycle or two. It must be ten to the hour as there’s the bus driver heading home for a quick turnaround before getting back to his driving seat at more or less the top of the hour. Life has a timetable.

And then, the next day. The wind has died down but what there is of it is still from the north. The sea is ruffled and white in places, but not overly so. The Sea Dreams comes to harbour blasting its horn in an unusual rhythm, and a taxi boat hums out towards Nimborio. In the village square, the neighbours meet for their coffee and chat. Laughter from the Olive Tree, the smell of herbs wafts up the Kali Strata. The supermarket is not yet busy, but fresh vegetables have arrived. What can’t be found at the supermarket can be found at the green grocer’s, the Fruit Boutique. The corner shop is open, and Michaels stalwartly guards his empty peripteron, as he must.

Life is here, and life goes on.

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Symi Weekend – in brief

I did manage to get out and about with the camera on Friday. Well, I went to Yialos with it to post a package and find some bits and pieces. It was fairly busy down there, with four day-trip boats coming in and groups still being shown around the harbour on their tours. The train was running – cue sound of happy clapping, Zorba’s Dance and the bell – and people were taking photos of each other lying on the anchors or under the Fisherboy statue. It all felt quite festive and holiday-like.

I spent the day at home on Saturday, apart from doing some shopping. I was cooking for a small dinner in the evening, and avoiding the wind. (Not that kind of wind. Where’s your mind at?) The day we plan the last courtyard meal of the season, and we get high winds and the threat of rain. It didn’t rain, but the wind was blowing dust everywhere, and the pollen was raining down from the tree next door, so we set everything up inside the house, and, in the evening, had a very pleasant time with our guests around the table in the living room.

It did rain on Sunday morning, though, giving the plants a good old watering. When I hear the rain, I immediately think ‘free water’, and open up the tap to the sterna (once enough rain has washed the dust from the roof). The wind has dropped, and the army guys have been to do their parade at the War Memorial as they do every Sunday. I notice that of the five-day boats that came in on Saturday, only four have left. This Sunday morning, the boat that comes in from Turkey is still there. I wonder what happened? Must have broken down, but how did they get their passengers home again? Perhaps they had arranged a long weekend on Symi, in which case, all is well. Perhaps it’s none of my business.

So, off into the week will nothing planned apart from working and then a couple of social functions at the weekend. Plenty to look forward to – well, plenty of typing to look forward to, and maybe some more rain (forecast shows it clearing up again from Monday).

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