Yesterday was about journeys, kind of. I was putting together an outline for a new story and needed to know if it was possible, in 1889, for someone to leave London at the same time a White Star Line steamer left Liverpool, and reach Queenstown, Ireland in time to intercept the ship. (Many thanks again, AH, for your expertise.) You’ll be fascinated to know that it was. While that research was going on, a ship was pulling into Yialos below, as the King Saron made the first day trip crossing of the season. Neil was down at the dentist and took a few snaps which you can find on our Facebook page.
Apparently, shopkeepers, waiters, bar owners etc. are all wearing their masks, though many of the tourists aren’t, and some were not distancing. Just so you know what to expect if you’re heading this way on the newly opened routes to Rhodes from abroad. Meanwhile, back at the desk, my research trundled on with the windows open and the fan blasting while I recovered from celebrating a godson’s 17th birthday a little too zealously. No morning walk for me yesterday, but today, I am trying harder.
Perhaps we’ll see more afternoon people in the chairs soon, although the evenings are already becoming busier.
Another wander yesterday morning. Up the main road to the top cantina, which has now been expanded and has a more organised seating area. A great place to sit and watch the sun go down, as there aren’t many places on this side of the island where you can do that. I mean, you can, but the sun goes behind the hills rather than sinks into the sea and often, it’s behind the hills before the sky changes to those dramatic colours of a steamy, hot summer’s evening. Of course, I was there at dawn, or just after, and you have an equally beautiful view of the sun coming up over the hills and Pedi.
The wander down is always a relief, especially as I’ve not walked all the way to the cantina this year, and it’s a bit of an uphill trek. Luckily I have an excuse to stop and take photos now and then, which prevents me from passing out, but coming down offers a different challenge—namely, the use of steps as I went through the village. The road is all very well, but also flat, and by the time you’re coming down and have to bend knees to take steps, which is why I do it; to stop them seizing up. There are also the goats to negotiate.
But eventually, I made it to the path home, coming around the back of the village and looking down on the back of Yialos where, in a slightly blurred fashion, you can see the progress of the new amphitheatre.
A Monday morning walk to the hillside. I went up the hill as Neil went down to Pedi. I like peace and quiet at the start of the day to put my mind in order and plan the day’s work – when I can be bothered to get out and do the walk. Back home by seven and on with the work.
Animals were a feature of the weekend. Firstly, SNiP, the Symi Neutering Program was in, er, operation for two days, with people collecting stray cats and taking them to the visiting vet at the pet shop. The shop, at the bottom of the Kali Strata, is also a licenced vet premises, and a veterinary team come from Rhodes to see to the strays as part of an organised programme intent on keeping numbers down. The shop, Pet Island, can also be used as a port of call for animal owners who have concerns for their pets. In that case, Michaelis calls the vet in Rhodes for a discussion and, with his instruction, provides treatment (medicine, etc.). Then, during the monthly visit, the vet can see to any other treatment. This helps owners as it often makes a trip to Rhodes unnecessary. The SNiP programme is only for strays, collected with permission and by those willing to sign to take responsibility for the aftercare. If a domestic cat needs neutering, then that’s a service that must be paid for. As you can see from the photo, one cat can produce a large litter, and each kitten, in turn, can produce large litters of its own, and before long, the stray population becomes widespread and unhealthy.
At George & Maria taverna. Noufris requests visitors don’t feed the cats at the taverna. There are many on the nearby streets which are fed by shop owners, and he doesn’t want to encourage them to the restaurant.
Then, late on Friday night, we sat and watched a little owl on our telegraph pole. I tried for a photo, but it was too dark. The next day, a family of sparrows were being fed on the balcony rail three feet from where we sat, and on Saturday, I saw this bird on the house next door.
I thought it might be a thrush as it was about the right size, but it had a long beak and feet. I only caught it in silhouette, but it appeared dark brown when it flew closer and with its scraggy neck, looked like a seabird. But, I’m not sure what it was/is, and if I can get a better shot of it one day, I might be able to post that and ask around. We also had goats wandering the village, and that was on top of the usual chickens up at the bins who think they are stray cats and hang out with them, waiting for a free feed.
And so, off into a new week. For me. That means editing and laying out the next story ready for publication, and then moving straight onto the next, which is already a quarter drafted. I’m hoping to get myself into gear and the frame of mind to take a walk each morning and establish a new routine after all these months of laziness. If so, expect more pictures of sunrises and goats.
