Various Thoughts

Just to clear up a few things on last week’s minutes, as it were: Saturday’s post was written in a hurry and not checked, so ignore those typos, and, re the Plaza Hotel, yes you’re welcome to use it to drop luggage if you ask (mention your Symi connection), but you really ought to have a drink and use the facilities in return. And now to drop in something completely non-Symi related, mainly to complete a discussion I was having with Basschick: “Louis VIII the Lion (French: Louis VIII le Lion; 5 September 1187 – 8 November 1226) was King of France from 1223 to 1226. He also claimed the title King of England from 1216 to 1217. Louis VIII was born in Paris, the son of King Philip II of France and Isabelle of Hainaut, from whom he inherited the County of Artois.”

Claimed, not crowned, so not really, and probably nothing to do with the next royal baby, and there we are. Back to normal service…

Just looking from the balcony yesterday morning and I was able to see several private yachts coming and going, catamarans and those white ‘Sunsail’ ones. Neil, having been to Yialos and back, reported that the cafés were fairly busy with morning coffee drinkers, and there had been only the Spanos boat in so far that day. I also noticed a large group of people coming off it on Sunday and Saturday, but then there was a wedding or baptism or something taking place over the weekend, at least one. Georgio’s was busy on Saturday night when we were treated to a meal out at the Trawler – who gave us a wonderful meal at an excellent price, plus an extra jug of wine.

It made me think, there are two ways of eating here in Greece (probably many more, but for the purpose of this…) The three of us, on Saturday, opted for a meze meal, six small dishes between us. That’s a fair way of doing it, as we chose two each and shared, thus giving us all the chance to try a bit of everything. You can also go for the more British format which is to have a starter and then a main and maybe be a little Italian afterwards and go for a dessert elsewhere, though many restaurants also serve desserts; depends where you are. After having a starter, I find it hard to cram in a main course, so it’s one or the other for me, especially if going for a pork chop from a grill. Have you seen the size of the ‘dino-burgers’ we have here on Symi, and elsewhere in Greece? I swear they come from some pretty huge pigs. One of those and I’m fed for the next 24 hours, and how some folk manage starters and such a main is enviable.

At the moment, the bus is running until nine pm, which means we walked up on Saturday night as the taxis also tend to stop early in the evening at this time of year. It’s only May 1^st today (kalo mina!) although it feels like it should be later in the season already because Easter feels like it was months ago, and the weather has been rather June for April. That could change in May because April to early June can be variable, but if it has indeed settled into its summer pattern, we’re in for a long hot summer and, I hope, lots more dining out, but not on this chap.

Symi update

Rhodes was a success, at least my trip there was. Did some business, had a consultation with a specialist (part of my annual health-check MOT, nothing to worry about folks), had our wedding rings engraved (nearly got them the wrong way around), wandered the Old Town, had lunch in the new town, had a rest by a swimming pool, wandered some more… When you have 10 hours before your boat back, and your appointments take only three, and you’ve not got a car to go and explore the island, you need to think of things to do to amuse yourself. I managed, and the boat trip back seemed to be over in a flash.

Meanwhile, back on Symi… It’s early Sunday morning as I write and there are two clean-up initiatives going on today. The Poseidon is doing its annual ‘clean up Sesklia’ trip for any volunteers who want to go along. I believe that this is free, includes lunch and in return, you help clear the flotsam and jetsam from the beach. A bit late to tell you this now as it happened yesterday, but I only found out about it late on Saturday night. Also on Sunday, the scouts are organising a task force to clean up the village playground at Kampos, and paint the equipment etc.

Down in the harbour, I’d say that most businesses were now open and ready; a few may still be putting finishing touches. We’ve had dayboats and day-trippers coming over, and a few regulars have started to return for their summer stays here. It is only April, I keep reminding myself when I see that harbour quiet, it feels like it should be June because Easter seems so long again, but no, it’s still very early season. I have to say, the businesses are looking good, cleaned up and repaired after the storm. Newly painted and ready to welcome punters.

That goes for the village too where everything is now open, apart from Taverna Zoi which will be open soon, no doubt. So, if you want a village wander of an evening, you can take in the whole route: The Secret Garden, Sunrise Kafeneion, The Olive Tree (open soon), Georgio’s taverna, the Rainbow, Lefteris’ kafeneion, the Jean and Tonic, (Taverna Zoi) and Ringo’s bar at Kampos. On the way you can ‘do’ three supermarkets, the Chinese Emporium, a couple of clothes shops, a toy shop, a couple of household stores, shoe shop, greengrocers, bakery x 2, and ‘B&Q’ the ironmongers – and anyone else I’ve missed out. Oh, a couple of hairdressers, another household shop, the herb shop… But no butcher, not at the moment. George the butcher is joining the priesthood, and I heard a rumour that one of Zoi’s boys is training and preparing to open a new butcher shop in the village. Excellent.

So, it’s all go, and I’m also going. Have a good week!

I go0t back later light night, and had a lie in this morning so it’s a hurried collection of random photos for today.

Symi, Stuff & Nonsense

I just wanted to update you… You might remember that my latest travel book, Symi Stuff & Nonsense, came out around the time of last November’s storm. Since then, I have been collecting a percentage of the sales to put towards the island’s high school. We’re not talking much, but we are talking helpful. We’ve passed on a couple of things to the school, maps for the geography classes so far to replace ones ruined in the flood, and I’m going to keep doing it because every little helps. So, if you do buy a paperback copy of SS&N or a Kindle, or even read it on Kindle Unlimited, you are also contributing to things that the school needs. Or at least to some extras that they might not have or otherwise be able to get hold of. The link to the book is over there in the righthand column. >>

On a different subject — and I don’t know why it’s come into my head — I just remembered something from years ago when I worked for a while at the Windmill. That’s the restaurant on Symi, you understand, not the revue theatre in Soho. (I did briefly work at Madame Jo-Jo’s, but that’s another story.) I was probably the world’s worst waiter and still could be, but one night, as we were saying farewell to a couple of guests, chatting at the door as you do, the man surreptitiously handed me a €50.00 note. You know, in the manner of someone passing on 10p to a waiter, with a sympathetic, secret smile as if to say, ‘Don’t tell the wife, but here you go,’ as if 10p was going to pay the waiter through college or something. Well…

The chap handed me the money in a way that I knew it was a tip and there was no darker intent behind it. He carried on chatting to Rhiannon without leaving me a space in which to interject. Not until he had done that, ‘What’s it like in the winter?’ questioning and was about to leave. Then I was able to leap in with, ‘I think you gave me this by mistake,’ as I handed back the €50.00.
He squinted at it (your first clue to the mistake) and then snatched it back in horror.
‘Oh!’ he exclaimed. ‘You’re quite right… I meant… Here…’ He passed me €2.00, adding, ‘You, Sir, are a gentleman.’
To which I replied, ‘And for a minute there I thought you were too.’

It just slipped out, but he saw the funny side of it, and there is a funny side to it, though you may have had to have been there to see it.

Anyway, no idea where that anecdote came from, but I know where I am going to. Off to do some writing. Have a good day.

Symi Is Waiting For You

As you can see from the chairs, there’s plenty of space for you at the moment, but don’t delay, these will soon be full. They were actually, a couple of hours later. I took these photos during the siesta shift at the bar, that time of day when everyone has gone home for lunch or a sleep. That time of day is busier later in the season, a season which hasn’t really started yet, it just feels like it has because Easter was a while ago now.

Having said that, there are visitors here enjoying the warm but not too hot weather, there are some yachts in and walking groups. Not long now until the chairs will be occupied by people relaxing after a hard day on the beach, or a long, peaceful trek through the hills and the forest. Of course, on some nights things might get a bit wild, and you may have to sit on the steps, which you can do at both kafeneion in the village square if there are no vacant seats.

We were invited to dinner on Monday evening (thank you R and L – the time went so quickly, but we did make the bus), and I was able to take a couple of snaps of the Blue Star coming in. I’m planning to be on it on Friday for a day in Rhodes. Not as exciting as it sounds, but I am still looking forward to it. I always like travelling on the Patmos, well, I always like traveling. I’ll be back in the evening having seen to my appointments and maybe had the wedding rings engraved at last, and after a wander about the Old Town, the New Town, the beach and my usual route when killing time after the duties have been seen to. I shall wear my Fitbit which, for a reason known only to itself, started working again last week after taking 11 months off. Can’t explain it, but there you go.

And here I go, off into another glorious day on Symi with the sun shining and the sea calm, the air is clear and… Well, you know the routine.