Normal Service Is Resumed

[silverfox]

Haha.....love the idea of these plans! Plans never seem to work on Symi.

Will it happen or will D&E change the plan?

All I can confirm is that food, drink, rest and enjoyment will take place!

Enjoy your day!

[D and E]

Saturday 19th

There is still some residual cloud from Friday and the temperature has dropped but only slightly to 34 C at 09:00 as we have breakfast on the balcony, so we set off with confidence that it is a good kind of day to walk to Nimborio.

We notice from the balcony that the bus is stuck half way up towards Sevastis. It is broken down.

We head down the Kali Strata and hear a shout from our right and this is Maria the dried herb seller but no “hard sell” today, only a warm welcome. Our first refreshment stop is in Cafe Aiglios, or the Comfy Chairs as it is known to so many, and we have frappe and fresh orange juice and watch the taxi boats go out. Poseidon is not going out until Sunday.

We walk through the back streets and notice yet again that the jeweller George - Alexandros is closed and rumour has it he has opened a shop in the Scottish Borders so with an overdue visit to D’s homeland later in the year we may try and track him down. We see the new bakery, just off the square, and a peep in the door tells us this is a must visit when we stay down in September. Just over the bridge we bump into a couple who came over with us and are staying at the Pedi Beach Hotel. They are very pleased they have visited Symi.

We are tempted into the Stellar Bar by the look of the chilled lager and so take a seat and watch the second day boat arrive. The cloud is disappearing fast and we head round by the Hinari boatyard seeing Tza Tze starting to get ready for the season and then find a new cafe just beyond. We decide to walk up the hill behind Odyssia Restaurant and through the church. Looking down, Nos Beach is doing well with the day visitors.

From The Church Above Nos Beach

The clouds have cleared, the temperature has gone back up to the high thirties and the walk to Nimborio is hot. As the shack below the Niredes Hotel is not yet open we just soldiered on till we reached our destination.

Panagiota and her fiancé are looking after a small number of diners and the area for the sun beds appears to have been extended outwards and there are far more beds that we recall. They do seem to be a bit cheek by jowl but hey, this family need to earn a living. The Taverna is now called Metapontis.

Sunbeds at Nimborio

We always like the small portion size here as it is perfect for a light lunch and we share a well made Greek salad, tuna salad that is light on the mayo which we like and the perfect sized piece of a very fine moussaka.

Light Lunch a la Taverna Metapontis

The walk back is even hotter so we avoid going over the top where there is no shade and stick to the coast road. A beer stop under the fans of the Nireus Hotel watching the day visitors return to the Panagia Skiadeni felt wonderful. From there we could see that the bus was still out of service so we hoped that the taxis were making hay and thankfully the taxi driven by the bus driver previous to Lakis nipped us up the hill.

As we walked up to Yannis we met Janine and chatted over how the celebration of the Royal Wedding to raise funds for the school had gone. Her and Tina has done an amazing job decorating the Olive Tree.

The Olive Tree Royal Wedding Style

Hotel Fiona - Quite A Difference

Whilst having our usual ouzo & retsina J and then H joined us and we exchanged stories of our day. Then L&S stopped for a chat before L went onto enjoy her birthday and S entertained her and a good crowd in Lefteris with his electric guitar. His opening rendition of the theme from Game of Thrones set the scene and as we headed for Zoë’s, there being no bus to our knowledge thus preventing us from going down (phew), he was knocking out the Rolling Stones - quite a guy.

Our friends D&G were the only other diners in Zoë’s. Having had lunch we had a light starter of plain beetroot and a portion of imam. D followed this with one of his top dishes - Symi lamb which is cooked slowly on the bones which gives it that really deep lamb flavour with carrot and the waxy potatoes he was one happy boy. E had the soutzoukakia in the tomato sauce perfectly accompanied by plain rice. With a complimentary piece of cakes and a glass of wine to end it was beyond the witching hour when we left.

Soutzoukakia a la Zoë

Symi Lamb a la Zoë

We could still hear the sounds of music drifting down on our short walk home and so quite exhausted we headed to the land of nod

[D and E]

What a wonderful start Who is the Olympic Symi rep this year? Glad to hear that Anastasia is doing well and looking forward to seeing her again in 4 months time Really looking forward to your next instalment.

Hi Gemma,

This is the Olympic Symi Rep this year - Nancy.

Nancy

[Andy W]

The taverna at Nimborio has always been called Metapontis, as far back as I can remember (over 20 years). There was and probably still is a painted sign on the wall. Looks like this year they are actually promoting the name. It may be a changing generations thing, or that nowadays there are far more self-catering apartments in Nimborio than ever before, or both I suppose.

[D and E]

Haha.....love the idea of these plans! Plans never seem to work on Symi.

Will it happen or will D&E change the plan?

All I can confirm is that food, drink, rest and enjoyment will take place!

Enjoy your day!

You know us too well Silverfox.
Whilst yesterday, as you will read, we stuck to our plan at least until the evening, today is totally the opposite !
Hot & humid and the bus is waiting for parts from Athens we hear, so one has to be adaptable
Pedi through the valley walk - maybe.

[D and E]

The taverna at Nimborio has always been called Metapontis, as far back as I can remember (over 20 years). There was and probably still is a painted sign on the wall. Looks like this year they are actually promoting the name. It may be a changing generations thing, or that nowadays there are far more self-catering apartments in Nimborio than ever before, or both I suppose.

We need to take more notice and stop “christening” places with names of our choice
We always referred to it as Maria’s.
But you are right Andy - we see more and more people staying out that way.

[D and E]

Welcome back D & E, we have been longing for this week of daily blogs and without fail you have started were you left off. Surprised to hear how hot it is for May. I am sure you will enjoy your time on Symi.

Hi Pollychops,

The weather could be described as changeable. Woke to 32 C and blue skies at around 08:30 and now that cloudiness has returned but it remains hot & very humid.

[Lisa B]

What a great start to the day! You've really made us laugh We imagined you bagatelling your way around the cafes/ bars of Symi and all before lunch!! Sounds like exactly the type of holiday we enjoy. Looking forward to the next installment

[Gemma1]

What a wonderful start Who is the Olympic Symi rep this year? Glad to hear that Anastasia is doing well and looking forward to seeing her again in 4 months time Really looking forward to your next instalment.

Hi Gemma,

This is the Olympic Symi Rep this year - Nancy.

C3AB2EA4-D8C2-4885-8586-BD2C2A3AF866.jpeg

Thank you, I'll look forward to meeting Nancy in September

[Gemma1]

The taverna at Nimborio has always been called Metapontis, as far back as I can remember (over 20 years). There was and probably still is a painted sign on the wall. Looks like this year they are actually promoting the name. It may be a changing generations thing, or that nowadays there are far more self-catering apartments in Nimborio than ever before, or both I suppose.

We need to take more notice and stop “christening” places with names of our choice
We always referred to it as Maria’s.
But you are right Andy - we see more and more people staying out that way.

I always thought it was called Maria's too.

[D and E]

Sunday 20th

Outside the Appartment

Sun and blue skies at 08:30 and 32 C on the balcony. As the baker in Chorio doesn’t open on a Sunday it gives us good reason to visit the Olive Tree for our usual breakfast which Tina knows off by heart now. The only thing that changes is D’s choice of juice and this time it is the blush - and very refreshing it is too.

We had planned to head down early and have breakfast in Cafe Aiglios and then catch a taxi boat to St. Nicks but as we were a bit late rising, and as is often the way on Symi as Silverfox pointed out, the thought is “avrio”.

So we pick up a pack of water from the supermarket and return to Anastasia’s and pack the beach bag. As we head out, that cloudiness has returned but it remains warm and humid. We take the path through the valley to Pedi and pass all the small holdings which are full of livestock including one that has a cow. On this route you pass the football pitch which was devastated by the floods.

We reach Katsaras and have a small beer which is gone in seconds so we have another and are surprised and delighted to see the Symi Bus come along. Clearly the rumours about parts from Athens, etc. are unfounded and the repairs have been completed. This throws us into complete disarray and we need to reconsider our plans for the evening. We find a suitable sun bed for a few hours and E has a dip whilst D snoozes.

From Katsaras Beach Bar

Our Swedish Friends ? Alas No

As there is not a 15:30 bus we walk up and find our leaving instructions under the door. This new Rep is ultra efficient and we have to be at the bins at 04:30 on Wednesday morning for the 05:50 Blue Star sailing.

We are ready to head to Yannis at 6pm - an hour earlier than usual as we plan to head down to Trata.

Cheesy Popcorn a la Yannis - big hit with D

We wander down the Kali Strata and notice a darkening of the skies. With the very humid weather and cloudiness we could be done with something to clear the air. We decide to have an ouzo & retsina in Cafe Aiglios which is quite busy. D being bald has an early warning system and feels a drop of rain first. It is followed by what we counted to be around at least another 20 to 25 drops yet as a precaution the cafe owner had the canopy up in seconds. As expected these few drops of moisture came to nothing but this did not prevent another ouzo & retsina appear as if by magic. Symi generosity.

We walk the short distance to Trata where they have extended into what was the cafe next door and there is a whole new look and feel due to the colour coordinated tables and chairs and even the new menus have the same tones. Our waiter, who have we see heading off for work from his house just below our apartments for many years, takes our order and we catch up on his winter. This very traditional and well established restaurant never fails to deliver on taste and so it was when we started with imam and the stuffed mushrooms. Imam is one of those dishes that varies from cook to cook and so even though we order it quite often the different herbs and spices can make the dish quite unique to the restaurant. The stuffed mushrooms are a firm favourite and are always on the “must have” list. We followed this with liver for D and moussaka for E and shared portion of horta which we always describe as a vegetable that is somewhere between spinach and a spring green. With a complimentary plate of water melon to end on we are in plenty of time for the last bus up.

Imam a la Trata

Stuffed Mushrooms a la Trata

We get off at the windmills and pick our way carefully through the back lanes which can be steep in places so having the torch on the iPhone is always handy. For once we don’t hear the eleven bells.

[Pollychops]

Reading this made me laugh so much this morning. You have a temp,wind and humidity gauge now you have your own personal rain early warning system. Fantastic, it doesn't get any better than this.
Can you please point out were the path is to walk through the Pedi valley, we normally just walk down the road. We would be leaving Taxiarchis if this helps.

I cant believe its Monday already and looking forward to checking in for the next installment tomorrow.

Great blog

[D and E]

Monday 21st

The plan is Nos for lunch and an afternoon swim.

D is woken by the cheerful sound of bells announcing a Name Day and sets off on his bread run. It is a clear morning and the temperature on the balcony at 26.5 C is far more like the May we are used to. That is until around 08:30 when the briefest showers of rain passes down the Pedi Valley.

After a leisurely breakfast that more or less wipes out our fridge stocks (it will have to be the Olive Tree on our last full day on the island) we head down the School / Lazy steps and are in Yialos just after 10 am where it is bright and the chemist clock shows 29 C. We have a frappe and fresh orange juice and then move to the Corner Cafe as we have been slightly remiss in not visiting. Papa has headed over to Rhodes on the first Monday Blue Star service so the lads and mama are holding the fort. We catch up on their news over a couple of small beers and then head for Nos - amazingly the plan is happening.

A View From The Corner Cafe

We pass an empty Odyssia Restaurant and have a brief chat with Manolis and Katholiki who will see much more of us when we visit in September and stay down.

Nos Beach is quite quiet, for a short while, although the restaurant area is doing a brisk trade. Beds are €5. A pump needs to be put into the sea to get water into the waterfall system for the decorative gardens that have been so well developed over the years. The poor guy sent to do the job does not meet the owners high standards so there is one of his legendary outburst but it only lasts a few minutes, he is getting on a bit, and Natasha restores peace and order - Nos would not be Nos without this.

We have lunch in the restaurant and the same cook is there which is always reassuring as in our opinion she makes the best keftedes on the island. We have tuna salad which is quite different here. Although it is quite creamy the infusion of fresh herbs and capers balances this out. We of course have the keftedes which are served plain with a squeeze of lemon and also the grilled vegetables with skordalia. We are so pleased to be given the complimentary semolina cake. The spare bread is tossed into the sea and we watch the young silver bream devour it - we regard this as an investment for our September / October trip.

Tuna Salad & Olive Paste for Bread a la Nos

Grilled Veg & Skordalia a la Nos

Complimentary Cake a la Nos

Feed The Fish At Nos

The sea at Nos is even warmer than at Pedi which is again very unusual in our experience but it is wonderful to swim in.

“Ships” That Pass In The Day

We are quite nervous having been invited for early evening drinks to a local house to celebrate the Name Day of someone who we have known since our very early visits. There are many traditions and we would hate to detract from his special day but we regard ourselves as honoured by being invited. We therefore make our way back round via Patisserie Nicholas to buy some cakes and chocolates as a small gift. We were 30 minutes early for the bus and there was a taxi waiting we jumped in. At €4 from Yialos to the Village Hotel this is only 60 cents more than the bus when there is two of you - three or four people and the taxi is cheaper.

Whilst E has a siesta D is now in the habit of sitting out on the balcony drafting the day section of the blog and then completes the evening session & photos next morning. It has clouded over and a light breeze has developed and it would not be surprising if we encounter another few drops of precipitation this evening - the house opposite has taken in her washing !!

But the weather does not change until later when there is a pleasant cooling breeze. We rendezvous at 7pm as requested and are taken through the back lanes to the house where the warmest of welcomes really puts us at ease. The family’s perfect English and the international language of football makes for a very pleasant early evening. We are given drinks accompanied by spinach, sausage and cheese pies and a superb piece of cake. Greek hospitality is heartfelt and generous but not wishing to outstay our welcome and to give the family and their local friends time to enjoy their evening we head off.

Where to ? Yannis of course - we need to keep up the 100% attendance record. Both Yannis and Lefteris are almost empty at around 8:30pm with just the few locals who sit with Yannis each evening enjoying their usual putting the world to right. A few people start arriving presumably post dinner and we head to Giorgios where we are the only two people eating. For once we skip the starters and decide against a mezes as we had been well fed earlier. D had a plain and simple spaghetti bolognese whilst E had the meatballs in tomato sauce and she could hardly make inroads into the perfect chips that come with that.

We headed home after quite a day and our heads hit the pillow just as eleven bells sounded.

[D and E]

Reading this made me laugh so much this morning. You have a temp,wind and humidity gauge now you have your own personal rain early warning system. Fantastic, it doesn't get any better than this.
Can you please point out were the path is to walk through the Pedi valley, we normally just walk down the road. We would be leaving Taxiarchis if this helps.

I cant believe its Monday already and looking forward to checking in for the next installment tomorrow.

Great blog

Thanks for the very kind comments Pollychops.

I have just popped down to the Pedi Road and take these two pics so hope this helps.

Take your normal route from Frank’s and go past the turning in the main road that the bus takes to the port and just beyond that turning on the Pedi Road you will see this church on your left -

Directly opposite you will see this path heading off to your right -

Pedi Valley Walk

Now just follow that keeping left mostly until you reach the football stadium on your left and head right and then left - there was a blue dot there. It is difficult to go wrong as you know you are heading towards the sea.

It’s a very pleasant way of getting to Pedi.

[Gemma1]

I can't believe that today is your last day - a week on Symi just isn't long enough (but better than no Symi )

Those stuffed mushrooms do look delicious. Another thing to try in September - I need to make a list

Hope you have a wonderful last day on Symi and thanks for another great blog

[Lisa B]

How long do we have to wait til we can follow your antics again??

[Fina]

Hope you have a lovely evening Dand E, thanks for the alternative route to Pedi, we are also staying at the Taxicharis. Don't know if we will be there the same time as Pollychops. We are there for 3 weeks from 20th June 'till 11th July. 1st visit to Symi and really looking forward to it.

Fina

[Pollychops]

Hi D&E, thanks for the info on the walk to Pedi we will seek that one out when we visit in September.
Another great blog and it goes so quick.

Hi Fina, our visit is in September, you will have a great stay at Taxiarchis, Frank and Eva are great hosts. Being your first visit to Symi it won't be your last.

[D and E]

I can't believe that today is your last day - a week on Symi just isn't long enough (but better than no Symi )

Those stuffed mushrooms do look delicious. Another thing to try in September - I need to make a list

Hope you have a wonderful last day on Symi and thanks for another great blog

Many thanks for the very kind comments - I am about to post about our “wonderful” last day as we have just landed back in the UK.

[D and E]

:o How long do we have to wait til we can follow your antics again??

We will be back on Symi being our usual daft and greedy selves on 20th September