Wednesday
Weather Report at 09:00
Baro Pressure 1000
Humidity 50%
Wind Speed 0.0 mph
Temp Shade 28 C
Temp Sun 34 C
It seems strange to think that we only have today and tomorrow as our last two full days on the island but as we said to each other last night the journey is worth it even to spend just a few days on Symi.
We had thought today would be St.Nikolas on George’s boat but that is going to have to be avrio as it is a lazy start to the day - we both seem to be running 30 minutes later than our usual routine but ciga ciga.
Having had a beach day in Pedi the day before we decide to have a port day again. So after breakfast we head up by Yannis and along the road that affords those wonderful views down through the cedar trees to the harbour. This takes us to the back steps more worthy of donkeys than humans. E, as always, says to be careful as these steps are uneven and rough. It is therefore ironically funny that she then slips but no damage done except to pride.
We arrive in Yialos just as the crowds of day trippers are being herded around by the various guides. They will be freed later to do their own thing for a while and hopefully make many purchases from the various Symi shops. We arrive in Cafe Aiglios and the very helpful waitress gives D some paper towels as the humidity is up and he is perspiring like a tap. The water taxis are doing good business with departures right up until 1pm and returning at 6pm. We have our frappe and freshly squeezed orange whilst D posts the blog with some pics.
E then heads back to see George of Alexandros Jewellers. Those news Apostolos pieces he has in has caught her eye and there is every chance they will be added to her Symi “collection”. D wanders around the back streets and sees that Spagos on the square is yet another business that has closed down. D finally settles in Stella for a small beer and counts 5 day boats in altogether.
E arrives in the Stella and the jewellery transaction is discussed - D visits the ATM
We then head for Elpida’s for an ouzo & retsina and before we know it the Sea Dreams day boat is heading back to Rodos so it must be around 2:30pm. E has the shopping bug and pops in to negotiate with Takis and comes back with those new design bags. We are certainly trying our best to do our bit for the Symi economy.
Our timings are a bit out and so we have half an hour until the bus and we stop in Cafe Alegrito for the first time this visit. The mezes of sweet cherry tomato, creamy feta, cucumber and cooked smoked sausage that accompanies our ouzo & retsina is just wonderful. We then head for the bus but passing the cafe just in front of Trata Restaurant we see that a small but enthusiastic crowd has gathered and the Andy Murray game at Wimbledon is showing live on TV and it is one set all. We therefore decide to watch the match - thankfully Querrey finishes Murray off just in time for us to walk the short distance and get the 6pm bus up.
No siesta today and we are in Yiannis maintaining our 100% record by just after 7:30pm. We get chatting to a very pleasant couple from Bolton who have come up to sample “village life”. As we are about to head to Zoe’s, friends who we have known many years come out of Giorgios so we settle back down and hear all about how S&L have finally made the big move to live on Symi. We are so pleased their dream has come true.
We are much later eating than expected. We start with those wonderfully earthy dolmades with a yoghurt dip and some skodalia and also the imam. D then has the King Fish which is beautifully presented with shaped vegetables, those excellent slightly roasted potatoes and a very fine fish sauce. E has the succulent chicken in a cashew sauce with rice. It has been a long day - D blames Andy Murray ! So we politely refuse the sweet and drinks that Zoe so generously offers and head home to bed.