After two weeks’ holiday and then Easter (Happy Easter from Symi!) it’s time to return to the usual blogging – you know: Chatting about this and that (mainly that rather than the other), with a bit of something else, and usually a lot of weather, and much self-publicity and occasional bits of something interesting; that kind of thing. So, before we launch into the old routine on Monday (assuming I remember to prepare a post on Sunday), here are some photos taken over the last couple of days. These are lazy shots, really, taken from the desk (through the glass), or from the roof, but I wanted to give you an idea of the weather and how pleasant it is at the moment. It’s sunbathing weather actually, not that I’m doing any of that. Don’t want to scare anyone. Anyhow, enjoy the photos, and I’ll expect you here on Monday (don’t be late).
Today sees the funeral for Wendy who many people will know from Symi Visitor and her work with Solidarity Symi. The funeral will take place at one o’clock, Greek time, at St George’s church in Pedi, should you wish to take a pause at that time in your time zone wherever you are.
I will be back on Saturday with some of my usual Symi photos and return to my more usual blogging on Monday.
It is always difficult to get back into blogging after a holiday, and even more tricky following the death of a good friend and Symi ambassador. To talk about our recent holiday and what else is going on on Symi seems out of place, but it has to be done. So, today, to ease us back into Symi Dream normality, I’ll just mention a few things I noticed when out for an early morning walk yesterday.
Mandraki in rough weather (March)
I only walked through the village and up the road a while before turning back at Lavinia Studios (the place I first stayed back in 1996). Since returning last Friday and along the way yesterday, I noticed that the new Chinese Clothes shop is now fully open and being used and investigated by interested local customers; we wish the shop well, and I’m looking forward to taking a look around it soon. George the butcher has closed, and his old premises is up for rent. George is joining the priesthood, and one of Zoi’s sons is starting up a new butcher shop in the new buildings opposite the old pharmacy which is itself under repair, albeit slowly. The folklore museum has its sign-up advertising opening hours of 8.30 to 14.30 Tuesday to Sunday.
Wooden bikes for hire on Rhodes
The ‘American’ supermarket has undergone some changes during the winter and expanded again, offering more ready-made and unusual items along with its traditional offerings and stock, and Sotiris supermarket remains the same as ever, as does the one at Campos. Lefteris was at work yesterday at 6.30 sweeping and preparing his kafeneion in his time-traditional way, and Nikitas was already in his kiosk listening to his radio. So, everything seems to be either starting anew, continuing as usual or opening up (or preparing to) for the summer and that includes ourselves. Neil is starting back at work at the Rainbow Bar on Wednesday afternoon, three to five as usual, and I am, from today, back into my writing routine of at least eight hours per day on one thing or another.
Dinner at Mythos Symi, a new restaurant from Stavros and the couple who used to have Indigo, on Rhodes. It’s not far from the Plaza Hotel and well worth a visit.
There will be other shots from our recent trip in the days to come as I thought readers might be interested in, for example, what we did and how we travelled from Athens to Symi on the overnight Blue Star. For today, though, I simply found some random shots from the Rhodes part of our trip to whet your appetite.
Lunch at the Lebanese restaurant in the side street almost opposite Koukos (next to what was the China Burger). Wonderful food and really nice staff – and not expensive.
I expect many of you will know by now that Wendy, founder and leader of Symi Visitor, died suddenly last weekend. I thought it more appropriate that you should read the information and message from Adriana’s Symi Visitor blog rather than from me and so, today, I’m simply leaving you with a link to her blog so you can read the facts from their official spokesperson.
Just a quick note to say hello, we are back, but the blog won’t be up today. I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Thanks for staying with us over the last two weeks. There will be holidays snaps and stories and Symi news coming along very soon – just need a little more time to settle back in.
