First time for August

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Re: First time for August

Postby D and E » 06 Sep 2017, 11:17

Taxiarchis was our first ever stay on Symi all those many years ago.

We have been back several times, once for three weeks, and Frank & Eva never failed to look after us but like yourselves we have got into the habit of "if it ain't broke ... " so now its Anastasia's (normally up May) and Margarita's (normally down in September) although it has changed his year :o

Having whetted our appetite for Mythos you are now also shaming us :D into getting down those steps more often in the evenings - its dragging D away from his ouzo's in Yannis Rainbow Bar that seems to be the issue - but we love Thollos (and Oddysia) and La Vapporetta is a nice change in cuisine as you say.

This time next week will be on our way with all our good intentions ;)
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Re: First time for August

Postby Pollychops » 08 Sep 2017, 08:00

Wednesday.
Windy today...very windy. We decide to have a morning in the harbour and treat ourselves to breakfast/brunch at The Olive Tree. Kim choose the breakfast special and I opted for the homemade muffins with 2 soft poached eggs and a flat white. Nice relaxed time we had sitting there enjoying the views. Off down the stairs to wander around the shops, on route we take a small detour down steps we have never used before and see some great properties and views over the harbour, when we eventually get to sea level we are at the quay were Symi Dreams docks. It is just approaching so off we go to get ahead of the 'tourists'. Not being a keen shopper myself I find the shops here a lot easier to wander through and do see some very nice pieces and we don't get any hassle from the shopkeepers. Kim has eyed up a few pieces so possibly she will make a purchase or two. After a raid from the ATM we stop off at Nireus and have a beer/frappe break sitting at a table by the waters edge people watching. What we did notice was the groups of tourists being marched round to the Nireus and the staff there had set up tables and they were having lunch. It seemed strange that they had only been off the boat no more than 45 mins to stop so soon. Anyway what to do next as the wind was certainly strong we decided not to go to the beach, we had noticed earlier this week the lights that were on in the evening over beside the petrol station and new harbour, I remembered someone saying that it was sun beds and a bar. So like two moths being mesmerised by the bright lightbulb off we trotted to seek what it was. It took us quite some time to get there but when we did we found a rather nice decking area backed up against the wall which is at the start of the hill when going up to Chorio, it has a 'cafe del mar' Ibiza feel to it with chill out music gently playing and very large and comfortable sun beds with a frame canopy above to protect you from the sun. The views are terrific and the waitresses were lovely and very attentive. No charge for the beds or deckchairs if you spend €10. No brainer with the wind now very gusty we decided to spend some time here watching all of the boats coming in and out of the harbour, the two Dodeks and the Blue Star came and went with some great waves crashing into the new decking. We were the only ones there and we stayed until 5 then made our way back to base. This evening we returned to Mythos and had another terrific meal. Kim had the seafood filo parcel, coquelles st Mythos for me both packed full of seafood and bags of flavour. For mains we had Pork fillets in a rich herb sauce and Sea Bass fillets in fennel and ouzo. This was washed down by a small house wine. Again another fantastic meal and for the standard of food, location and ambience for under €60 we'll worth the visit and would recommend this to any visitor. Caught the 11 o'clock and back upstairs. We felt we didn't do much today but thoroughly enjoyed it. The wind was still howling when our heads hit the pillow. Tomorrow it off to Toli beach.
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Re: First time for August

Postby Pollychops » 08 Sep 2017, 17:08

Thursday.
The strong winds are now gone and its back to normal, following breakfast we meet the Symi Tours bus at the kiosk and off we go. There are 9 on board and all of them have been before. What a surprise when we have to sit on the back of a pick up and the driver decides to go at it full pelt. Very exillerating and being at the back it was like being on a roller coaster. Once there we set up on the beach and I investigate the Taverna, its such a lovely setting and drooled over the menu. There was a lot of sea grass on the beach and not too sure if this was the aftermath of the strong winds or its like this all the time, the water was lovely and whilst in the water we met Sparticus and had a good chat and a laugh. After the swim we sunbathed for a wee while then sat down for lunch at 1.30. We choose the Dapne salad, aubergine salad, courgette balls and the grilled squid. The first three were delightful and well worth the visit however, the grilled squid.....it turned up complete and whole and was cooked to perfection with a drizzling of olive oil and lemon. The knife cut through it like butter and was soft, juicy and full of flavour. We have ate in many high class establishments however, this squid goes to the top of the list, it was fresh, simply grilled with no fancy sauces and was a delight to enjoy. It was that good I could have had another and combined with the terrace views over the bay it was simplicity on a plate. After lunch we had a quick swim, sunbathe and caught the pick up and bus back to Town. We decided to go all the way into town and be like a couple of beach bums. We headed off to Petalo the chill out bar as the waitress yesterday told us the sunset was good to see. So we grabbed a bed, couple of drinks and enjoyed the views till 7.30. The sunset didn't disappoint and we then walked off to do a quick shop, grabbed a meal in Maraklis then off to bed. Another great day.
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Re: First time for August

Postby silverfox » 08 Sep 2017, 21:27

Sounds so nice....

Thanks for your updates on this wonderful island.
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Re: First time for August

Postby Pollychops » 09 Sep 2017, 04:47

Friday.
Today is our last full day so I walk down to the harbour whilst Kim trots off down to Pedi as she would like to spend the day on St Nicks. The weather is back to how it should be, lovely and warm in the late twenties early thirties with a little breeze. I stop off at Elphidas for a beer and some snacks then catch a taxi boat at midday and head out to meet up with Kim. More 'tourists' to negotiate walking to the boat. What I have noticed this time round there are more frequent visitors who have been visiting for years and having some conversations with them September/October is the preferred time to visit. We spend our last afternoon catching some sun and finally have our last swim in the lovely warm waters, and it is warmer than when we normally visit in June. We decide to walk back and leave at 6 to catch the bus at 6.30. We say our goodbyes to George and head off home. Tonight we decide to pack in the morning and walk down to Thollos and are seated on the upper level at the waters edge with a terrific view over the harbour, we again see the Blue Star arrive and it still amazes me to see this huge vessel glide in and dock. Seeing it with the clock tower dwarfed below is a grand site, it gives Kim an idea of maybe one year traveling from Athens via some other islands and ending here in Symi but that will have to wait. We start with Fava, tomato and cucumber salad and delicious stuffed peppers with feta. I go with the Symi goat and Kim opts for the grilled sea bass. We have complimentry ice cream with a sesame paste topping, I think it's called tahini, this was washed down with a Greek rose. Another fantastic meal and a great last evening to end our holiday. We say our goodbyes for another year and slowly walk back towards the bus and up off to bed. Another early rise this morning with the help of the wildlife surrounding Taxiarchis and see another beautiful dawn and sunrise. I have taken photos on our trip and will try and upload them when we return home. Today we will pack and intend to have brunch in the Olive Tree then meander down to the harbour, possibly sit in the sunshades at Petalo before catching the 4.30 to Rhodes for our 9.20 flight.
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Re: First time for August

Postby Gemma1 » 09 Sep 2017, 08:46

A great read on a wet and miserable morning in the UK :D I have really enjoyed reading about your trip - and all the delicious meals you've had.

Hope you have a good journey home, thank you for sharing your holiday with us :) I've got 54 weeks to wait for my next Symi fix :( , though will be in Crete in 2 weeks so should get some Greek sunshine then :)
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Re: First time for August

Postby Val » 10 Sep 2017, 11:39

Lovely read. Hope you have arrived home safely. Have really enjoyed sharing your holiday on the lovely Symi each day and much appreciate you doing so. Thank you.
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Re: First time for August

Postby Pollychops » 10 Sep 2017, 17:44

Last day.

After packing we say our goodbyes to Frank and Eva and leave our bags with Frank who will take them down to the harbour for our departure. We stop off for brunch at the Olive Tree and enjoy a good bit of banter and an enjoyable meal of scrambled eggs on toast with toasted muffins with lemon curd. We then walk down to the harbour and decide to sit and lounge around the Petalo, its a very nice place to have a lazy day enjoying the view and we had a couple of drinks. Whilst there I had a walk around the new harbour as being Saturday there were no work going on. It appears to be near completion with most of the crazing paving down along with all of the street lights, it could be ready for arrivals by next year. We left there at 3.30 and has a slow walk around the harbour, collected our bags then boarded, departed on time at 4.30. Plain sailing and grabbed a cab when docked, straight to the airport. Our plane was 20 mins late but boarded quickly and arrived back at Gatwick only 10 mins behind. It was a breeze through passport control, collected our bags fairly quickly and were back home within an hour.

As this was our first visit in August we feel as we only visit once a year we will opt to make early September our preferred choice. We felt it was not as hot, the water was warmer than when we normally visit in June, also for both of us with work we are busiest in July and most of August so having a holiday after the mad season is more beneficial to get some compete rest. We have had a wonderful holiday and if asked to highlight one event, the highlight for me was the grilled squid in Taverna Dafne on Tolis beach.

Whilst entering this post I am sitting at the window looking at the dark, damp Sunday afternoon we are having here in Epping and thinking about next years visit to magical Symi.

We hope you have enjoyed our blog as much as we have writing it.
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Re: First time for August

Postby D and E » 11 Sep 2017, 09:44

We have thoroughly enjoyed your blog and will aim to reciprocate as we start our adventure tomorrow by heading down from the coast of Mid Wales to Gatwick to stop overnight before our Wednesday morning flight.

Tolis, Daphne and Squid - the perfect trio - great to read how much you enjoyed that part of the holiday.

We had better get the cases down from the loft now and start packing.
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Re: First time for August

Postby Pollychops » 11 Sep 2017, 17:07

Thanks, we look forward to your blog, enjoy your holiday.
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Re: First time for August

Postby silverfox » 17 Sep 2017, 14:40

Thank you pollychops for sharing your visit to Symi with us. A great addition of a blog to the addicted Symi lovers!

Now off the read D&E's blog.

:)
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