Magical Margaritas

[D and E]

Odyssia - a favourite restaurant

[Robert]

We are so sorry we missed you, Sam is especially sad as she went to uni in Aber and was really looking forward to meeting you. We left on the 5.15pm on Sunday having been staying in Pitini (near Haritomeni) lovely, but it meant we did not go to our usual haunts over your way. We did have our Sunday lunch in Tholos though! All best - maybe next year!

[Gemma1]

Another great report and I must agree about the excellent lunch they prepare in such a small space.

We skipped dinner the day we went on the Poseidon and had corned beef sandwiches on the terrace . The Poseidon was quite full the day we went and there was no space left up top, it would have been nice to sit up there. It would be good to do the other itinerary another time as I've never been to St.Emelianos. I'm already starting to regret booking flights to Chania for next September....

[D and E]

Thanks Gemma - there's always 2018.

Sorry that there was no blog yesterday but we had an early start as will be explained in the next couple of posts covering Thursday and Friday.

It is now 09:00 on Saturday and there is a slight but welcome breeze here on the deserted balcony looking out over Nos. Our four neighbours have all gone home and we have Margarita's apartments to ourselves.

So whilst E is on breakfast duties - the bread having been deliver by D - to work on downloading & sizing photos and the writing of the blog.

[D and E]

We are so sorry we missed you, Sam is especially sad as she went to uni in Aber and was really looking forward to meeting you. We left on the 5.15pm on Sunday having been staying in Pitini (near Haritomeni) lovely, but it meant we did not go to our usual haunts over your way. We did have our Sunday lunch in Tholos though! All best - maybe next year!

Yes it would have been good to bump into each other and as you say there is always next year.
Do like the sound of where you stayed.

[D and E]

What can those be ?

Thursday - Day 8 on Symi

We knew when we woke up that after the Posseidon outing the day before it was unlikely that an early start to get over to Pedi and get George's boat to St.Nicks was a plan that required reviewing.

So after breakfast, after writing the blog, after washing out swimsuits etc. we headed round to Yialos for a frappe stop in our usual cafe Aiglios. We then called in past Symi Tours to see if and when they might be doing the next Tolis trip but the lone girl on duty was very busy on the phone so we decided to check later. We wandered up past Sophia Gallery & Jewellery shop where a necklace caught D's eye much to E's delight. Niki was very helpful, charming and the sale was made. This is a shop we have visited a few times and it has some very unique pieces and Niki cannot do enough to help - like George at Alexandra opposite - two great shops.

We then headed to the Corner Cafe for a couple of small draught beers and a shared cheese & ham toastie - even we can't do a full blown lunch every day. We then headed back to Margarita's, E went for a swim over the road and D got on with very dark and gripping novel - The Mercy Seat by Martyn Waites. D then went for a swim and thought that he did not need swim shoes so his exit at Nos beach was more Wendy Craig than Danial Craig

As this was our good friends and neighbours O&L's last night we went out together. Firstly to TzaTi for a bottle of fizz over olives and some prosciutto and then to Odyssia where we shared two portions of those fantastic prawns with the lemon dressed salad. Three of us then had the sea bass which O declared the best fish he has ever had on Symi and E had the Mousaka which was top notch. Manolis ensured the retsina kept flowing and after some delicious cake and water melon the four of us headed round the corner and to bed.

[D and E]

Lunch at St.Nicks

Friday - Day 9 on Symi

As we had had a relatively early night on Thursday and breakfast stocks were low we decided to head to St.Nicks via the Nireus for the walk-in breakfast and Pedi to catch George's boat - something we have never failed to do over all the years.

So after a heartfelt farewell to O&L who would be gone by the time we got back we headed off. Whilst having breakfast a couple who had been our neighbours the year before, G&T (yes !) surprised us - they are holidaying on Tilos and had caught the early morning Dodek boat over to do a bit of walking on Symi. So after catching up with their news we were between buses and in view of the amount of "stuff" we take to the beach, and wanting to get over to St.Nicks quite early, we made the decadent decision to jump into Konstantinos's taxi. We arrived Pedi 09:30, grabbed two frappe to-go from the supermarket and George took us over. We arrived just at the same time as D&G who we have seen on St.Nicks for many years now.

It seems that there has been a sudden reduction in visitors as we were told that a couple of days ago St.Nicks was very busy but there were only about 30 people all the time we were there and only about 10 having lunch in the taverna where they still had quite a full menu. Not enough people to make opening the cabin necessary but you can always get a beer from the restaurant area, which if course we did mid morning. Watching the water taxis drop people off seemed to confirm that there has been a sudden reduction in numbers.

After a swim and some snorkelling we headed for a traditional lunch of Greek salad, tzatziki & calamaris. Spent the afternoon reading and relaxing before heading back on George's brother's Aquarias boat in time to catch the 17:30 bus back over to Yialos. Whilst returning on Aquarias a couple who are regular Symi visitors mentioned the threat of Greek air traffic controllers strikes over the next four or five days which could impact our return

But no use worrying so we stopped at Cafe Alegriko for a retsina & ouzo and that wonderful Mezes that he throws together. Several known faces were in Medeteraneo next door. We got talking to L who we had seen when we were here in May and she, like us, is due to go back on Wednesday so many of us are in the same boat if this strike goes ahead - we will see.

Home showered and in Elpida's by 20:00 and the nightly feast of small Mezes continued. To put this in perspective E has a small carafe of retsina whilst D has one of those small carafes of ouzo (enough for two glasses) and then we share a second small carafe of retsina - that is the nightly apperitife. In the time we had our drinks we were presented with a filo cheese pie, a tangine with couscous, strips of spicy pork and sausage with potato - D is running out of notches on his belt.

We then headed home via Thollos where we shared the grilled prawns followed by E having soutzoukakia with rice and D had the pork cooked in mustard which was a significant piece of pork which had a very mustardy flavour but would have benefited if a light mustard sauce had accompanied it. With complimentary retsina and ice cream with cherries to end we headed off home after a long and pleasant Symi day.

[D and E]

Blue Star Friday Morning Heading to Rhodes via Symi

[D and E]

Blue Star Heading Back to Athens via Symi

[D and E]

The View from Dinner at Thollos

[D and E]

Towards Nimborio at Sunset

[Gemma1]

Your Wendy Craig comment made me laugh, you certainly know how to write a great blog I'm already planning in my head to return for 2 weeks in 2018 - we shall see if the plan comes to fruition

[silverfox]

You are getting so good at this D & E.

This blog should tempt so many people to visit this paradise!

We are so looking forward to next year already.

[D and E]

Gemma & Silverfix - you are both so kind with your comments. You may get a much more intriguing blog if this air traffic controller dispute isn't resolved but as they say here siga , siga - having an ouzo in Cafe Alegriko and replying on his wifi.

[D and E]

Fish from the Nireus Jetty - an E pic

Saturday - Day 10 on Symi

With only the hint of a plan to head to Ag.Marina we awoke to a fresher day and a hint of some clouds. D did the bread run and over breakfast of yoghurt & honey with fruit from the generous complimentary bowl that Margarita supplies we decided that we would walk as far as the shack on the road to Nimborio for frappe and then head over by St.George's Monastery. We took a different route back into Yialos by turning left towards the helicopter landing area and then taking a right fork and walking down through the houses found ourselves at the Clock Tower.

After the walk a cooling beer was called for in the Stella Bar where we watched the day trippers come off the Nicolas boat. The fist Mythos went down so well and we were so comfortable we decided to stay a while and watch the gathering clouds darken as they came over the Vigla - at around lunchtime it did seem that we might get rain but it came to nothing. Some time was spent on the iPhone making contingency plans in case the threatened air traffic controllers strike became a reality.

We then wandered around Yialos popping into one or two shops and the Symi Tours offices to enquire about the Tuesday Toils trip but found it was fully booked which surprised us a bit. We then had an ouzo in Alegriko and a retsina in Elpida's as a very tall Turkish gullet berthed and then we headed back to the apartment - one of those days where the time just slipped away.

After making ourselves presentable we headed back around the harbour to pay for and pick up something we had chosen in the afternoon. That saw us beside Alegriko so it would have been rude not to start our aperitif there. We then headed to Elpida's and were lucky to get a seat as it really is very popular with locals and it was very busy. We then headed for dinner at Odyssia again. D had a prawn fest with the shared prawn starter followed by spaghetti with prawns, although the spaghetti is really linguini but the sweet light tomato sauce is perfect with seafood. E had the sea bass again as this is a lovely dish.

After a chat with Katholika over the complimentary cake, Restina and water melon we headed round the corner and with a clear sky full of stars went to bed.

[D and E]

An Afternoon Retsina in Elpida's

[D and E]

A Majestic Turkish Gullet - an E pic

[D and E]

Perfect Properties in Pedi

Sunday - Day11 on Symi

After hearing from several sources, including the ever reliable AndyW on this Forum, that the air traffic controller's strike had been averted we decided to get our tickets for the return journey on the Blue Star at 08:15 this coming Wednesday. So after a leisurely breakfast we headed to the Symi Tours office where we bumped into the same couple who had first told us about the impending strike. Alas their flights had been cancelled on Saturday but they had been able to get Sunday flights and were rearranging their ferry tickets to head over to Rhodes in the evening - hope everything went smoothly for them.

Cafe Aiglios was closed so we had a frappe in the Corner Cafe before walking over to Pedi via the School / Lazy steps where the Symi Dream day boat was depositing load of visitors many jumping straight into the bus for Panormitis.

Pedi was positively quiet compared to our visit the week before. We had our sausage pie and chicken pie lunch from the supermarket, a beer from the sun bed guy, swam some, read some and walked back around 15:00. As we had decided to head "up" for dinner we didn't have any beer stops on the return walk

Anyway we were changed and back out and caught a taxi, as the difference between the bus and a taxi is only €1, to the Village Hotel and walked round to Yannis Rainbow where we had our "usual seats" . After watching some very "entertaining" characters we headed to Zoe's for dinner where we had a Mezes of beetroot with skadalia, courgette balls, dolmades, Mousaka and the wonderful saganaki prawns - all beautifully cooked and presented.

Our friends D&G were there and we all had a few laughs before we wished Zoe and her family a good winter and despite the offer of a taxi decided to walk home down the Kali Strata and past a very lively Vapori Bar at 23:00. George at Alexandra's was just closing up - they do have to work some very long hours to get the business - so after a good night to him we walked round the harbour under the stars and off to bed.

[D and E]

Monday - Day 12 on Symi

After what will be the last bread run (Tuesday will be our last Nireus walk-in breakfast) we decided to have a last away day returning to Ag.Marina on Irini & Luka's 10:00 taxi boat. They have reduced from three boats to two as the season starts to wind down.

When we arrived in Ag.Marina it is clear that preparations are being made to start the close up procedures. Many of the beds beside the jetty where the taxi boats drop you off have been removed. The restaurant area is closed and is being vigorously power washed. The awnings are being removed and are also subject to scrupulous cleaning. But tables have been set in the bar area and a full menu is still being provided. Our usual "timetable" is maintained with sun, beer break, swim, lunch, reading, sun, return on the last boat at 16:45.

Having omitted Ag.Marina from our last few visits we forgot how good it is there. For lunch we shared the freshest lightly fried calamari which was the best we have had in a long while with pesto spaghetti and a tomato salad. We had grilled pita bread instead of the usual bread and with a couple of glasses of retsina and a couple of glasses of the chilled and fruity house red (D has to have red with pasta for some strange reason) we had a wondfully leisurely lunch.

After returning to Yialos we popped into the Corner Cafe for a small beer and so say our farewells to the twins that we have had so many entertaining times with. Home, showered and out to Elpida's for the nightly apperitif which was accompanied by filo cheese pie and spicy sausage. We finally bought the clock that we saw in Anna's shop next door and asked them to wrap it well as we intend to send it to ourselves by post the next day.

Then we headed to Odyssia which was very busy (as was Tholos) where we shared his grilled prawns for the last time this visit, as we had decided to book Tholos for our last night, and D had his favourite amberjack which tastes of a cross between tuna and monk fish. E had a very simple chicken fillet which was one of the most perfectly grilled prieces of chicken either of us have ever tasted - it came with a baked potato (fries were also offered) and a tamarind / BBQ type sauce which certainly enhanced the dish. The complimentary sweet was a chocolate mousse with hazelnuts, served in a tall glass and enough for two spoons. This sweet would not be out of place on Professional Masterchef - a total delight.

And so at a relatively early hour we walked round the corner under clear skies and another wonderful day on this magical island ended.

[D and E]

Ag.Marina