Magical Margaritas

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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 04 Oct 2016, 07:31

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Taxi to Ag.Marina
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 04 Oct 2016, 07:33

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The "Boys"


The "Boys" always love a day out on Ag.Marina and a chance of a photoshoot.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 04 Oct 2016, 07:35

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Of all the bars .... Elpida's


Those marvellous mouthwatering Mezes.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 04 Oct 2016, 07:46

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Ag.Marina


D swam over and floated back :o
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 04 Oct 2016, 07:47

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Bream at Nimborios
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 04 Oct 2016, 07:48

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Gone Fishing - an E pic
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 05 Oct 2016, 06:44

Tuesday - Day 6 on Symi

The plan hatched the night before was to head into Yialos for our daily frappe and then head up by the cemetery and over towards Nimborio; have a beer stop at the shack and then perhaps lunch back at Nos Beach and spend the rest of the day there.

The first part of the plan worked although it was about 11:00 by the time we had our frappe. We put this down to the perfect views from our balcony that make leisurely breakfasts so appealing. We then popped in to say hi to George at Alexandra's jewellery shop and then Manolis at his shop and by the time we had caught up on their news our plan changed.

E had the shopping bug and D was thirsty so he headed to the Stellar Bar and E had a wander. By now it was about 2pm so we decided to have a bruschetta lunch at D's favourite spot - TzaTi - just along from the Nireus towards the boatyard. We had a tuna salad with the bruschetta - here it is tomato, cucumber, lettuce, tuna. Whilst having lunch our neighbours O&L were passing and seeing how delicious our fare looked decided to have the same. Chatting and drinking we then looked at our watches and found it was 5pm :o So we headed back to Margarita's for a short rest before we headed to Elpida's for our nightly apperitife. Once again we were treated to a small plate of risotto with mussels and small cheese dumplings to accompany our drinks.

We then headed left and E bought a bag from Takis that she had seen earlier in the day. We were heading for Meraklis but as we had heard good things about The International we stopped there. There was only one other table of 6 and us two but do not let this put you off if you are passing. This is a well established Symi restaurant that is so often packed with day trippers at lunchtime. We had excellent garlic mushrooms to start - these had been cooked slowly in garlic, tomato and onion and were quite a substantial portion. Thankfully we had only ordered a walnut, Parmesan and balsamic salad. In fact these two starters would have sufficed but we had also ordered the mixed grill which was a meat-fest of sausage, melt in the mouth grilled chicken, a lovely slice of pork, a small kofte with a nice yoghurt dip, and a pork souvlaki with chips and flat bread - well it beat D but only by about two pieces of the souvlaki :shock: E had the Mousaka and that was very nicely cooked. We were so full we had to refuse the complimentary sweet from the excellent waiter Andros and simply had some grapes. We have passed this restaurant so many time over our 20 years visiting Symi and were so glad we stopped on this occasion. It is traditional Greek cooking and we would recommend it to anyone.

And so we headed home after one of those perfectly lazy Symi days.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby Gemma1 » 05 Oct 2016, 07:10

More fantastic photos of all that delicious food - though I'm surprised you need to eat much with all the mezes that arrive with your drinks ;) Symi seems to be getting busier as the season draws to an end.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 05 Oct 2016, 17:02

Thanks Gemma.

You are not wrong - two drinks in Elpida's comes with the equivalent of a decent starter in any restaurant but as you know only too well the smells and look of the dishes on this island make them hard to resist. So we have have a blow out & then live a life of relative frugality on our return home until the notches on the belts return to sone semblance of normality.
Just back from the Poseidon trip - what a lunch.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 06 Oct 2016, 09:23

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Poseidon Anchored at Maroni Bay


Wednesday - Day 7 on Symi

After several visits where for one reason and another we have not made it we finally went on one of our favourite days out on Symi. A trip on the Posseidon.

D did the bread run and saw the crowds starting to assemble at the Clock Tower well in time for the 8:15 Blue Star ferry. Many visitors leaving and many locals using the service to have a day in Rodos.

After breakfast we headed down to the Posseidon and as the cover providing shade was up on the top deck decided that is where we would sit. There was still time for a frappe in one of our favourite cafes over the road before we sailed at 10:30. We were delighted to see old friends S&L boarding and caught up with their news during the trip.

It being change-over day the boat seemed to have the perfect number of people on board. The first stop was at the Cave with the inviting crystal clear water inviting you in. The water temperature was perfect. We then headed to St.Emelianos where we berthed at the jetty and had time to look in on the wonderfully ornate monastery before more swimming and the legendary barbecue. What they are able to prepare in a small galley and then a BBQ on the jetty is simply astonishing. A buffet of perfectly barbecued chicken accompanied by Greek salad, green beans, beans gigantes in tomato sauce, rice salad, spaghetti with pesto, beetroot, potato salad and enough to have seconds and even thirds but we resisted thirds :o

It was then onto Maroni Bay for another swim stop and a final short swim stop at a bay just round from Toli. Of course between swim stops there is what seems to be unlimited amounts of Restina, white wine, red wine, ouzo, coffee, chilled water, sliced apple, biscuits, ....

It doesn't matter if you don't fancy swimming - several people didn't - just the wonderful views and the fantastic lunch is well worth the €35 per head for a day out with the ever cheerful Captain Yannis.

So we were back in Yialos just after 5pm and had a Mythos in Alegriko with that amazing Mezes before heading back to Margarita's to shower and head for Elpida's for the nightly ouzo & retsina, again with lovely Mezes, before heading back to Tholos for dinner. Having been sensible at lunchtime and after all the swimming that certainly works up an appetite we had what is a light starter of ........ yes, you guessed it - grilled prawns. D then had pasta with a tomato sauce that had a wonderfully intense sweet flavour and E had the chicken with almonds which had a choice of rice or chips and decided rice. This dish had been recommend by O of O&L who by chance were returning home from their evening out and gave E's choice the thumbs up. It is indeed a fine combination of two succulently cooked pieces of chicken and a very good almond sauce that went very well with the rice and the portion size was good - not too big which is what we like.

And so exhausted after all the swimming we headed home under a starry sky after another perfect day in the seas around Symi.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 06 Oct 2016, 09:24

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Posseidon at St.Emelianos
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 06 Oct 2016, 09:25

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Meat-fest at The International
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 06 Oct 2016, 09:26

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Odyssia - a favourite restaurant
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby Robert » 06 Oct 2016, 16:27

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!
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby Gemma1 » 07 Oct 2016, 07:20

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

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....
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2016, 06:56

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.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2016, 06:58

Robert wrote: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.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2016, 08:07

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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 :D

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.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2016, 08:41

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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 :o

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.
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Re: Magical Margaritas

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2016, 08:46

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Blue Star Friday Morning Heading to Rhodes via Symi
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