A Jolly Jaunt in July

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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby Pollychops » 12 Jul 2017, 16:50

Yours days sound so effortless and relaxing which is just the ticket for a Symi holiday. I am not sure when we go that we could not dine down at Tholos or Odysia, we mostly stay up and really enjoy Georios and Zoes but then you will be back in September to go down. It will be interesting to see if temptation gets the better of you this week. Great blog.
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby Robert » 12 Jul 2017, 17:13

We always go to Tholos on our last day for lunch - its a ritual and I could not miss it! It will be interesting to see if you do get tempted down!
Great blog - I cant wait till August this is all so enticing
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby Pollychops » 12 Jul 2017, 19:28

D, I like your new toy. I have been looking at getting a new one as my old one hasn't got a wind speed reader. How good is yours and were did you get it?
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 13 Jul 2017, 13:52

Pollychops wrote:D, I like your new toy. I have been looking at getting a new one as my old one hasn't got a wind speed reader. How good is yours and were did you get it?


Hi Pollychops,

It's a AZ8909 - if you Google that it brings up the machine.
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 13 Jul 2017, 13:57

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 :D

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.

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That Well Known View from Aiglios Cafe


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A Day Boat We Don't Usually See


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The Zoom Working From The Stella Bar
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 13 Jul 2017, 14:00

Many thanks for all the kind comments on the blog so far.

Anyone on the Site just now will see it's a hot one at 41 C.

We are about to head down to Yialos - walk down bus back.
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby silverfox » 13 Jul 2017, 19:10

Thanks for all your "work" in the heat!

:D
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 14 Jul 2017, 09:23

Thursday

After yesterday's “long day” and the fact that we head back to Rodos tomorrow we decide it is not worth replenishing breakfast material and after a bit of a lie in we head to The Olive Tree and have poached eggs on toast with great coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice - we agree we will do the same tomorrow.

Janine is her ever cheerful self and the views out to sea on another perfect morning cannot be beaten. We watch the first couple of day boats arrive and then take a short stroll down the Kali Strata to the bend where we sit on the steps in the shade and just watch the comings and goings of Yialos. We will need to pop down later to catch the ATM (again) and pick up a necklace of E’s that is being restrung but that will wait until the midday heat goes down slightly - it is a warm one.

Weather Report at 12:00
Baro Pressure 995
Humidity 27%
Wind Speed 3.5 mph
Temp Shade 34 C
Temp Sun 40 C

So we head back to the apartment and read some in the comfort of the aircon. D steps out into the balcony around 14:30 and encounters a wall of heat - that heat that you can breathe in. It is now in the 40’s in the shadier part of the balcony.

We walk down the Kali Strata around 4pm keeping to the shadier bits as there is not a breath of wind. We take a right and go down through the houses coming out at the kiosk. We head for the fans and comfy chairs of Cafe Aiglios and have a frappe to start followed by a cold small beer and notice that the temperature read out on the Pharmacy Sign reads 45 C. By around 5pm it is showing 40. We watch the taxi boats and the Poseidon return and both seem to have had a good day. D gets to the bank and E collects her necklace and we head back up on the 6pm bus.

As usual we head to Yiannis. Easy to have a 100% record when only on Symi for 5 nights but then we find it easy when here for longer. We say our farewells, although it will only be for a short time as we return in mid September, and head to Zoe’s where we have dined every evening except the first.

We indulge in our favourites. We start with imam and order some creamy, garlic tzatziki with that. Then the barbecued prawns as a bit of an indulgence on our last night on Symi - regular readers of the previous blogs know our love affair with the prawns we get on Symi, probably more accurately described as langoustines. D has saved Beef Stifado for the last night and E returns to her soutzoukakia in the rich tomato sauce. Another wonderful meal served by Zoe’s son Kristos who gives us some water melon to cleanse the palette. We say our farewells and head home for the last time this visit. It is still hot and entering the air conditioned room is pure joy.

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Breakfast in The Olive Tree


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From George at Alexandros


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A New Symi Friend
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 15 Jul 2017, 08:11

Friday

The intense heat of the previous day has subsided at 08:30 and D is out on the balcony writing up the blog whilst E starts to pack. We are to be picked up from the bottom of the Secret Garden steps at 15:30 for the 16:30 sailing of the Panagia Skiadeni. We are then to be taken to the Sevastos Hotel which we are told is in Falaraki to then be picked up tomorrow at 11:45 for our 14:55 flight back to Manchester.

Weather Report at 09:00
Baro Pressure 994
Humidity 43%
Wind Speed 0.0 mph
Temp Shade 29 C
Temp Sun 34 C

We are more or less packed by 09:30 and head to The Olive Tree for breakfast. This is an excellent way to start the day and with a Pink Blush smoothie, the very best coffee, poached eggs on toast and D having some bacon we once again take in the stunning views from this excellent cafe / restaurant. We vow we must have lunch here in September.

We head back to the apartment to pick up bits and pieces and head down the school steps for a frappe in Cafe Aiglios and a small beer in the Corner Cafe. We then wander round towards the bus stop and as we have a bit of time on our hands stop for a drink and end up chatting with a couple of young day trippers who tell how blown away they are with the beauty of Symi. We get the 1pm bus up, finish packing and D takes the bags down the steps and leaves them outside the Secret Garden. We see Michelis and pop in and have a drink with him and Katia just before the Symi Tours bus picks us up at spot on 15:30. We are taken to the clock tower and our bags are taken on board the Skiadeni which gives us time for one last farewell to Elpida.

The boat is busy and 20 minutes out of Rhodes D decides he wants to stay in the town centre rather than out in Falaraki. A quick internet transaction and we get a good price for B&B at The Plaza through eBookers.com

D finds the Manchester couple that we been chatting to occasionally throughout our stay and they think he is crazy but will advise the Olympic Rep of our change in plans.

E does her racing start from the ferry and secures us a taxi and we are in a lovely air conditioned room overlooking the pool by 19:00. We have a drink in the bar whilst watching the first couple of sets of the Federer match at Wimbledon and then head towards the old town. We enter from the top end for a change and soon find Socratous Garden for a cocktail. On the way we spot a restaurant called Sissitio and check out a short but interesting menu and decide over our cocktail that we will give it a try.

We are not disappointed. Firstly we have to wait for a table in the lovely courtyard with its very atmospheric lighting and historic setting next to the minaret. This place isn't cheap and is on a par with a fine dining experience in the U.K. A nice variety of gins with selected tonics and good wines are available. We only have to wait about 15 minutes for a table. D has the most succulent of octopus, sous vide, and served on a bed of mashed broad beans which has the texture of velvet - a very fine dish indeed. E has the spinach in filo with a Cretan cream cheese dip which also hits the mark. D has been craving pasta so he has the penne with smoked salmon in a creamed vodka sauce and E has a beautifully roasted piece of pork tender loin. Both dishes were excellent but a bit over generous in terms of quantity. All in with aperitif, a couple of glasses of Merlot and Prosecco and tip we paid €80 and as we left around 11pm every table was taken.

We walked back to The Plaza in the buzz that is Rhodes on a Friday night.

(pics to follow)
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby Gemma1 » 15 Jul 2017, 08:56

As always I've really enjoyed reading your blog and don't blame you for swapping Falaraki for Rhodes Town. I can cope with starting the holiday with Falaraki, but I'm not sure I'd want to finish my Symi holiday there - especially in July!

I don't usually book my September holiday until I've returned from the previous year's, but after reading both yours and Silver Fox's excellent blogs, plus 2 friends moving out to Symi permanently, I couldn't wait any longer and have booked a 12 night stay at the Anastasia for next September. Olympic seem much more flexible next year and a 12 night stay from my local airport suits me very well and I'm hoping I will only have to spend the first night on Rhodes as the return flight doesn't leave Rhodes until 2340.

I hope you have a good flight back and look forward to reading your September blog :D
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby silverfox » 15 Jul 2017, 18:21

Such another great blog that makes you feel you are still on Symi.

Many thanks my friends!

:)
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby Pollychops » 15 Jul 2017, 22:15

Fantastic blog yet again and well done for not being tempted to go down for dinner. I am sure you will make the most of it when you return in September. Cant wait to be able to visit twice a year. We hope you have had an enjoyable and safe journey home. Looking forward to your September blog. We may have a go at one ourselves when we return at the end of August.
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 16 Jul 2017, 18:16

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King Fish in Zoe's


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Couldn't Agree More with the Olive Tree


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The Secret Garden Steps to Anastasia's
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby D and E » 16 Jul 2017, 18:37

Saturday

Although we have lost nights on Symi the advantage is that we can take our time over the excellent buffet breakfast that the Plaza Rodos provides - anything from continental to Full English.

After breakfast we repack and checkout around 10am - official checkout is anytime up to noon but the hotel is always happy to store bags. We walk along Mandraki where there always seems to be a breeze. We pass all the offers of trips to here, there and everywhere before having a frappe in the ever-reliable Yacht Club before returning to The Plaza and having another in the air conditioned bar area.

Reception books us a taxi for midday and we are at the airport and get to the front of the check-in queue as the main transfer buses arrive. We secure a window seat for D so he won't get too bored :D Security is a breeze and as soon as E mentions her insulin pump they take her around the x-ray and undertake the proper procedure - Manchester Airport could learn from Rodos. Thankfully Gate 14’s waiting area has the air conditioning going full blast. E gets some olive oil as a gift for our cattery and some Greek honey biscuits for her sweet toothed work colleagues.

We are bussed the 100 meters to the ASL flight and a full plane leaves on time. There are a couple of bar services and the very pleasant French crew are worthy of mention. We fly into Grey Britain and are on the tarmac at Manchester at 17:25 with the luggage starting to flow at 18:00 ! For a change we are not going to undertake the 3 hour journey home and have a booked another night at the Crowne Plaza so the courtesy bus takes us over and we have the luxury of a shower and change of clothes before dinner in Sampan’s again. A shared dinner of satay chicken, tempura prawns (there are always prawns), steamed prawn dumplings followed by a Thai chicken curry and prawns with mange tout with steamed rice and stir fried pak choi proves to be a light and fragrant meal.

Sunday & Reflections

After a great nights sleep and the buffet breakfast that is good but not even in the same league as The Plaza on Rhodes we head home on roads with very light traffic. Our boy Greyam is picked up from the cattery, the cases unpacked and we are in time to settle down and watch the majestic Rodger Federer make Wimbledon history.

Of course it was worth the long journey for a last minute decision that gave us 5 nights on Symi. Will we go in July again ? Unlikely. We are used to and prefer the temperatures of May and late September and that will continue to be our plans for the future. We only had one day in the 40’s whilst reading Silverfox’s Blog they had to endure days of this which we would not have welcomed.

It was quite sad to see so many businesses closed on the island but there is only so much wealth to go round and those who can survive will surely benefit. The island needs more visitors who stay over rather than just the day trippers. We were encouraged speaking to several newcomers and day visitors about their desire to return. It would certainly help if there was an evening ferry on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s but stopping on Rhodes on one’s own terms is not that bad a way to spend an evening.

Staying up and only having 5 nights curtailed the variety of our dining out but certainly not the quality as Giorgios and Zoe’s still produce some of the best food we taste on Symi and elsewhere. D is already hatching a scheme for September where he wants to dine in a different Symi restaurant every night but like many of his Symi Plans - we will see.

So that ends our short blog but for those who enjoy - and thanks to all those who read and comment it is really appreciated - there is only 8 weeks to go before we do it all again.

Yasou

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Just Says Symi To Us


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Socratous Garden


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A Real Find on Rodos


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From Inside Sissitio
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Re: A Jolly Jaunt in July

Postby Robert » 17 Jul 2017, 10:58

Such a wonderful blog - we are both sorry that we shall have been and gone by the time you return. But that you for your great descriptions and for your wonderful enthusiasm!
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