Symi visitor numbers, boats and refugee thoughts
There were a lot of fun things to watch from up here on Wednesday as the harbour was the busiest I’ve seen it for a long while.

It started with the Panagia Skiadeni going out at 7.00 and the Blue Star Paros coming in at around 7.35. Later in the day a cruise ship called in and took up the far side of the harbour so when the Panagia came back it had to moor up where the Sea Dreams usually goes; that had to wait out at sea while the Panagia got its passengers off and then that went out so the Sea Dreams could come in. Somewhere in all of that the Nikolaos came in and let its passengers off before going back out to wait in the bay. Later, the Sea Dreams went, the Panagia came back, the Nikolaos came back, picked people up and went, and the Panagia went, and all the while the cruise ship, the ‘Salamis Filozenia’ was still there with its passengers enjoying a day on Symi, and that finally went in the evening. Not sure it was all in that order but it was certainly a complicated dance of swapsies. Bravo to the harbour crews!

We went down to Yialos in the evening and had a drink at Mediteranio as the sun set. Then we walked along to Haris taverna by the taxi rank for dinner: beans, garlic bread, beef, seafood risotto, lamb kleftiko, all for a very nice price thank you. The harbour was busy and in these days of fewer visitor numbers that was good to see. There were also the sailing boats in and a few larger yachts.

I heard a story (and this may not be true) that one of the reasons for fewer charter boats and large ships, like the ‘gin palace’ yachts and gullets, is to do with insurance. Apparently the companies are having to pay higher insurance in case their boats get used for people trafficking. I can see what the insurance companies mean; if they lease a boat and then it gets used and impounded and there are insurance implications. But there have been no refugees coming to Symi for months now, not since last year really. There have been no impounded boats since last year and it looks like the people traffickers of Turkey have been put off, certainly in our waters. I’m not sure what’s happening further north, but here, even the local charity is turning its attention to Symi needs, as there has been no need to shelter and help poor refugees for a long time. Now if the insurance companies (if that rumour is true) could get wind of that and lower their caution and rates, then perhaps we will see a return of more gullets – we have had quite a few still – and other pleasure yachts for the rest of the summer.

Up in the village the square continues to be the centre of attention, particularly in the late afternoon and evening, as is usually the case. It’s a great place for a quiet coffee in the morning, at either Rainbow of Lefteris’, there is breakfast to be had at various places including the Olive Tree and Mandeios, and there are the shops to looks around. After lunch, and after the beach, Rainbow has proved popular with visitors from 3pm onwards – I assume Neil’s presence has something to do with that! And then later, both bars become busy for the pre and post dinner socialising session, and football when it’s on, oh, and that tennis thing in the afternoons – not sure what that’s all about but it has something to do with purple and green and rain, usually.

So, good to see Symi busy on Wednesday (and other days when I am not around) and let’s hope that the customers customise the other bars and tavernas and shops while they are here too. I know, customise is not the right word there but it sounds like it should be. I don’t like ‘patronise’, though it’s probably correct, it sounds like people are talking down to the shops and business. But there you go; some photos from Wednesday and some good news about visitor numbers.

Never say no to Greeks bearing gifts
Neil was the recipient of classic Greek hospitality while on Rhodes on Monday. He was waiting for his brother at the Plaza bar when someone started buying drinks for everyone in there. Not sure if he’d won the lottery, finally got his first pension payment after waiting four years, or was just an eccentric rich-person, but he was buying all the drinks. Neil only wanted one of those small bottles of red wine, just enough for one glass. But the chap insisted on buying him a €70.00 bottle instead. He tried to refuse but you simply can’t when a Greek person wants to buy you a drink, it’s not the done thing. Lefteris the barman guided him through the acceptance speech and, like it or not, you just have to thank and accept and then get on with it. I think the two whisky chasers the guy bought everyone afterwards probably made for the shaky start on Tuesday morning.

The Cyprus cruise ship has been in, bringing more much needed visitors to the island; the day boats were also doing their usual visits. We had a good old breeze on Monday but that’s dropped again now and things are once more warmer, perfect for relaxing by the sea or hanging out in a café watching the world go by; the best entertainment around – sitting at a café viewing the visitors and checking out the variations in costume, hats and languages.

I am not as rushed today, though I still have little news. We think we got to the bottom of the recent Tannoy outbreak; Neil heard the news in Rhodes. You might know, there are speakers across Symi all wired up to the Town Hall. These are used to make announcements about what and who is appearing when in the Symi Festival, and they are also used for public service announcements such as: ‘Mrs Farmakidis has lost her purse, if anyone finds it please hand it in.’ News about power cuts and the water supply is also broadcast from them from time to time. And, I guess, they would also be used in times of crisis or emergency such as when Pacho’s runs out of beer or when there is no ouzo left in the shop. (Both unlikely occurrences, I should add.)

The thing is, they have not been working recently, I don’t remember hearing an announcement up here for over a year now, at least. And so they are being repaired. Instead of subjecting us all to the hiss and crackle and feedback while the repairs are going on, they made them silently and then started testing each set of speakers, one per night – or something like that. That’s why you might have heard Zorba’s Dance coming from the police station, or ‘Ena, thio, tria,’ coming from near Agia Triada (which means the Holy Trinity – see what I did there?) or the rock version of some piece of traditional Greek bouzouki music hailing from H Lemonitisa area. And so it is now all explained.

At least it is if what we heard is true. You never know. Without the Tannoy system to tell us, how are we to know? And so: onwards with another great day on ‘the rock’, aka Symi. Have a good one yourself.

Recent photos from Symi
Rushing around a bit today, Tuesday, so a very quick post this morning (yesterday – you know what I mean). I’ll share some Symi images with you quickly before I go and do the housework ahead of the brother-in-law arriving in… oops, one hour’s time and I am meant to be meeting him in the harbour, so best dash. Sorry – will try harder tomorrow (today… you still know what I mean.)

Views from the balcony
Sunday went well, I got some writing done, another first draft chapter, I tidied up and sent off my next assignment for my scriptwriting course, and I proof read a couple more chapters of ‘Remotely.’ We’re getting there! The weather was good too, a little cooler than of late and Monday was also slightly cooler. We’ve had some cloud in the mornings but they soon go away as the sun comes through; it’s still rather humid though.

I’ve been lazy again with my photos and so today’s are from the balcony. It’s amazing what you can see from up here: the boats coming and going, a hydrofoil from, I assume, Turkey on a day trip on Saturday, the barge and tugs working on the new jetty, people having fun on jet-skis and water skiing from Nos Beach, Neil on the Panagia heading to Rhodes for his appointments and to meet his brother, ‘Old Bruiser’ the ancient stray who hangs around below the house, the kestrels, Martin (the swallow) has brought his family to see us on the line outside, there are three young’uns and a couple of older swallows, there are the Pattersons, the pigeons, and all the folk going about their days in the harbour. Oh, and the train too!

We’ve still been having the strange, rather robotic, Tannoy checks going on at night and in the late afternoons. I still don’t know what it’s all about but I expect I’ll find out in time. The neighbour has been working on his house, from six in the morning (quietly) to get roofing work done before the sun gets too hot, there’s always some kind of kafuffle going on over the road in the morning though it doesn’t disturb us at all. I’ve got the house vaguely ready for this week’s guest and we’ve been feeding the stray cats with Jack’s leftovers and some cat food we’ve bought specially for them. So, all is carrying on as per normal here and here are a few more images to show you views from the balcony.

Symi sunrise for a new week
Today, to start your new week, we have photos and two videos taken just after sunrise on Saturday morning. This post is being written on Saturday morning ready for Monday as I am planning a day at the desk on the novel for Sunday and, if I start fiddling around with posts and things I will distract myself and miss some writing time. So, if any other ground-coffee breaking news happens on Symi it will have to wait until Tuesday’s post. But I do have some news for you…

Found this out by accident. Neil went down to buy boat tickets for Monday as he’s off to Rhodes to meet his brother, coming back on Tuesday. (I’ll be on bar cover on Monday afternoon.) He booked on the Panagia Skiadeni leaving at 07:00 on Monday morning and booked to come back on the Tuesday crossing, on the same boat, at 09:30 – a sensible time as you can still get your hotel breakfast down your screech before heading to the boat. This one, the Panagia again, comes directly to Yialos on a Tuesday, so they will be here by 11:15 or so (watch out Pacho’s, James II is coming to town). So what’s the news? Well, Symi Tours, where he went for these tickets, told him he didn’t have to pay his return fare. It seems that there’s an offer on and if you go and come back on the same boat, you get the return fare for free, saving you €13.50 I think it is. That certainly applies to the Panagia Skiadeni, I’m not sure if it applies to the others in the fleet but you can check the website and the discounts page. THey also have a day cruise offers page.

What this means for you, dear Symi holidayer, is that if you are here and fancy a day-trip, you can get on this boat early, at 07:00, spend a day in Rhodes, see the Old Town, the museums, the Grand Masters’ Palace, the 9D Cinema, the beaches, and probably even get to Lindos as back, or other places, and still come back to Symi in the evening (or the next day) on the same boat. And all for only €13.50 – while the offer lasts.

‘Yeah, but I come to Symi to holiday on Symi!’
‘Well, yes, understood. I’m only saying…’

There are more and more folk coming for longer and longer periods of time, two, three even four weeks or more and this might be an idea for them, or anyone interested to see other islands. You can also do a day trip to Kos or Kalymnos with the faster catamarans, and still get back to Symi the same day. Thing is, the further you travel, the less time you have on those other islands unless you stay overnight. Something else you could do. I’m not trying to send people away from Symi, I’m just being helpful, I hope, and pointing out that Dodekanisos Seaways have this offer on. It’s also a good one for doing a day’s shopping in Rhodes, if you don’t mind a fairly long day, or for seeing to appointments and other necessities.

I am sure there as some other news I was going to tell you but I can’t remember what it is now. It will have to wait. But, if you are heading this way you might like to know that the forecasts are still showing hot hot hot, but with slightly stronger winds, which will be a help. Mind you, around here when it’s windy in hot weather it’s like having some giant hairdryer blasting at you, not that I’ve not felt the need for a hairdryer since 1980-something. The sites are showing high 20s, but we all know it’s more like mid-30s over here; it’s 34 degrees in the shadiest part of our courtyard today.

So, plenty of sunshine coming your way and a free return trip to Rhodes should you want a day out while on holiday on Symi!

And here are two videos if you have a minute to enjoy the sight. Camera-movement sound is included I’m afraid, but so are the natural sounds of the morning chorus.