It is Thursday, but evening as the usual morning post had to be postponed because Symi Tours brought forward the departure time for our second visit to Tolis to 9am. Fair play - they called us on our mobile twice and phoned Margarita to get the message to us.
So we are on the balcony washing out today's swimming gear catching that beautiful light that catches Symi as the sun starts to set - one of the best times of day on this wonderful island.
So working through from yesterday morning : having had a busy day on Tuesday with our farewells to our Swedish friends D had a bit of a lie in and didn't do a bread run. We toasted what was left from the previous day and had that with boiled eggs for breakfast. We then walked to Nimborio. The shack looked closed as it did on Sunday but when we reached that point in the walk it was open so we had a frappe each. We then had a beer in a very quiet taverna, read a bit and just relaxed by the sea. We then had lunch of Greek salad, beautiful sardines and stuffed tomato & pepper with retsina and water it came to €30 including the beers and tip. We walked back around 3pm and fell asleep - it's hard work out here
. We woke in time to do a supermarket run. A very large liner docked at the clock tower and visitors, mainly American, were flooding off so here's hoping they spent loads. We sat and had a frappe watching all the activity which included the early evening Dodec ferry to Rhodes which many Symi visitors were leaving on. It was about 15 minutes late arriving and there was quite a crowd catching the boat. Then there seemed to be an issue with some passengers, and luggage was unloaded and then loaded again after a lot of waving of arms and intense chatter. Then there looked like someone who needed medical attention on Rhodes being brought down and all in all it must have been about 18:30 before they finally sailed - some 45 minutes late. There were a lot of anxious faces and it decided for us that we will take the early morning Blue Star and spend next Wednesday in Rhodes, even though our EasyJet flight to Liverpool is not until the evening - D is easily stressed believe it or not
It was then home, shower and change and to Elpida's for an aperitif, watching the last of the cruise liner passengers embark. Last night our ouzo and retsina (s) were accompanied by firstly samosa; then a small plate of olives, cheese and ham; and finally a hot chicken stew. She is just amazing and this is an amazing little bar as so many who visit Symi Chat know.
We then returned to Odyssia where we started with an amazing piece of octopus grilled to perfection and served in the most delicate of lemon dressings - truly stunning. We also had the Gruyere saganaki again, which has a saltiness that went well with the octopus. For mains D had to have his pasta fix so went for the Spaghetti Arabiata which was perfect in every way whilst E had possibly the lightest and most flavoursome moussaka she can recall. The complimentary sweet was a filo based tart with a very light custard, almost Creme Englais, with figs on top. Once again top class cooking and at €40 including tip (the retsina & water being so generously provided by Manolis's daughter) we will be there again before we leave.
So this morning we had an early start with a cheese pie on the move. D is always punctual to the point of being everywhere too early
But that did allow time for a frappe before the Symi Tours bus picked us up just by their offices. We had a full bus and at €7 a head to get you to and from Tolis it is no wonder that this is a popular way of spending a day. The place was much busier than on Saturday with a large group of walkers meeting with some of the people who were on our bus. Great to see this so late in the season although it made the trip up from the beach in the back of the pick-up to where the bus meets you memorable to say the least
Although we did not have it today we took special note of the Daphne salad for Sootyandsweep - from the menu and we quote - it is cabbage red & green, lettuce, carrot, balsamic vinegar, honey and walnuts (and ours on Saturday came with thinly sliced apple on top) - it is large as Gemma pointed out and that why it comes in at €9. Today we had the Greek salad, the grilled squid which was a whole squid with the meat being just as tender as could be and tzatziki. With water and retsina and a couple of frappe and a couple of beers we had during the day we paid with tip €45. This is a great place to visit and now a firm favourite on our "Symi Schedule". We arrived back in Yialos at 17:30 and walked back round to our apartment.
Now it's time to shower and head for Elpida's to decide where dinner is tonight - a second visit to Tholos is currently in pole position but it won't be the first time a rank outsider has crept up during our aperitifs.
(I still hear water running so time to put up a few pics up next)
Kalispera.