Blue Star 1

The Blue Star 1 came in on Monday as promised, sounded its horn, turned a circle and backed to the new landing stage. It was there about five minutes and was then off again. Very quick and efficient. If you’re wondering how you get to and from this new landing stage, it’s simple. You can see from the photos that it’s on the south side of the harbour and a fair distance from where the other boats land, but… You can take a taxi there if you arrange it in advance and the drivers will also pick you up from the boat if you have arranged that too. You can also take the bus down from Horio and Lakis, or Thanasis will stop by the harbour entrance (Petalo taverna/beach) if you ask them, I’m sure. From there you walk down the slope and along the new quayside.

From Yialos, it’s a case of heading along the road out of town, passing the taxis and bus stop and no doubt if there’s a taxi free, you can take one from there. Instead of walking up the hill, you turn to the left at Petalo taverna/beach, towards the petrol station. It’s easy to find, but it is a bit of a walk from Harani, for example, so allow enough time.

Meanwhile, talking of walking, Neil was very energetic and went on a walk through the Pedi valley to the beach on Sunday, taking a couple of friends with him. He has loads more images on his camera for one day, but he also took a couple of quick snaps on mine, so I’d have some new photos for the next couple of days. I was at home supervising Sam-the-sander who is working on an old table we’ve been given for the courtyard. It’s looking nicely distressed now and is just waiting for next weekend when he will finish it off.

I was also booking my ferry tickets so I can attend the awards in Athens in three weeks. Two overnight trips on the Patmos; can’t wait. I couldn’t get the Blue Star 1 journey as that boat leaves Piraeus for Symi at 6pm on the evening of the awards, so I decided to stay in Athens for a couple of days and maybe to take a trip to Delphi and come back in style on the Patmos, rather than fly. Which, btw, would have been more expensive, even with me paying to have a two-berth cabin to myself. I opted for that as I’m no longer into random room sharing, not that I ever was.

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A lot going on

Well, there has been a lot going on around here over the past few days. On Saturday alone, The Olive Tree raised money for the high school with their Royal Wedding festivities. Meanwhile, the TV was also on outside Lefteris kafeneion, and later there was some important football match (not sure what happened there), and after that, also at Lefteris’, there was ‘Symi Rocks’, live guitar music from a local resident, Steve. Sunday night is when they show the world cinema that The Symi Gallery organises, so it’s still rocking and (the cameras are) rolling in the village.

Meanwhile, in my inner world as it were, I have been invited to the awards ceremony for the London Greek Film Festival which will be held in Athens at the end of June – so after I post this, I will be investigating boats and hotels. This will be to collect the award with Rebecca Hall, the author of ‘Girl Gone Greek’ on which we based the, now, award-winning screenplay. That’s exciting enough, but added to that is a trip to the yUK which, given my feeling towards the current state of the country, I’d usually be avoiding at all costs. However, a great friend from school will be in London at the end of July, and it could be the only time we get to see each other. He lives in New Zealand now but is coming over with his family to see relatives, and we’ve booked a day together in London. I just have to turn up which, from here, is never that easy.

So, I am also looking at boats to Athens Vs flights to Athens, and all that entails, to compare the cost, hotels in London for a couple of nights, and then, as I am there, a trip down to the marsh to see other old school friends, brother, nephew, old stomping ground and perhaps pick up some inspiration for another ‘Saddling’ episode with a couple of days ‘in marsh’, as they say. And while all that’s going on, I’ve also had to update our privacy policy for the site – there will be a page explaining it all soon, but as we don’t collect anyone’s information, it’s not that complicated a task – and while that’s going on, I’m sorting out my private pension and trying to sell books. Ah well. Here are a few more celebratory images from Saturday:

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Symi Saturday Random Photos

A random collection of photos today, taken from my file of random Symi photos to post one weekend.

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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.

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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.

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