Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 10 Jun 2019, 08:12

silverfox wrote:What a great first day you have all had! (Don't think we could have such a long day with that sea air!) So good to see you doing what you do best....enjoying all Symi has to offer.

Is that a printed Itinerary? Now that is a plan! :D

Just wondering if D has his Fitbit? If so I may be shown up this summer as my back has gone and struggling to walk with less than 2 weeks to go!

Never mind the Itinerary should cheer me up as we walk your steps in our minds!

Great start to the blog as usual and looking forward to all your updates!


Thank you all for your encouraging remarks & yes Silverfox it is a Printed Itinerary :D
Now the problem with that is it is all go & that has impacted the timing of the daily blog & so we must apologise for the delays.
However we are currently having Monday’s breakfast in the Olive Tree and taking the opportunity of catching up.
It is all going swimmingly - lots of swimmingly :D
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 10 Jun 2019, 08:35

Saturday : The Plan Changes :shock:

No surprise that the itinerary changed when we woke up to a temperature still in the mid 30’s. We had planned to walk over to Nimborio completing the journey beyond the shack but a democratic vote placed that on hold and we agreed that a more sedate village walk would be better.

D had already had a short stroll up by the windmills and had his moment of contemplation looking down on one of the greatest views there is. He returned via the bakery just up beyond Lefteris Cafenion.

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What A View

After a leisurely breakfast we set off up the main road to the point where the bus turns for Sevasti and then walked through the network of lanes gaining height so we came out just below below the big church. Continuing through the labyrinth we finally came out at the top of the old steps / donkey steps and made our way along the road to Yannis for a much needed cold beer. There is nothing better than working up a thirst in the heat and then quenching it with a tall cold lager in a chilled glass.

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G with Pedi below

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Village Walk

The plan for the following day was to go on the Round The Island with Capt. Yannis on the Poseidon so we walked down the Kali encountering Maria “Herbs” on the way. Refreshments in Cafe Aiglios (Comfy Chairs) was followed with each of us heading off for a walk - G returned with a hat, E with rather swish trousers and D had just wandered to the Clock Tower and the secured a seat in the very, very busy Stellar Bar where remarking on there being no Vasilis learned that he was in Rhodes due to his father being rather unwell and in hospital.

We watched the hordes return to the various day boats and that late afternoon serenity was savoured before we caught a taxi up.

We rendezvoused in the Secret Garden and then headed to Yannis Rainbow Bar. The plan had been to head down to Yialos and try the new Mythos Restaurant but with no let up in the temperature we took the lazy option and slipped next door to Giorgios where we had the green beans and the sweetest of imam as a shared starter and then G had the meatballs, E the papoujaksi and D the goat which he confirmed as melt in the mouth flavoursome.

We returned to our rooms and were sound asleep before the bells struck 12
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 10 Jun 2019, 08:42

Sunday : Poseidon - possibly the best day out in Symi

This would be a first for G so we were up and down in Cafe Aiglios by just after 9am where we had breakfast, after securing our favourite seats on the upper deck, but only when the canopy is up to provide much needed shade. The temperature was 30C at 9am so we knew it would be a hot one and being at sea proved to be the best place.

We set sail at the scheduled 10:30 and headed through the channel between Symi and Nimos where very welcome breezes were keeping us cool. There were maybe 30 people on board with only 4 people joining us on the upper deck - this was superb. Our friends S&L were on board and it was good to catch up on their news.

The first of our swimming stops was at Maroni Bay where the inviting sea was crystal clear. We then headed to the Seal Cave where without the sun the water was more “refreshing”. By now the ouzo, retsina, red & white wine and coffee were in full flow.

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Seal Cave

We had a two hour stop for swimming and the bbq at Sasklia. As ever the perfectly cooked chicken was accompanied by beetroot salad, beans gigantes, rice, spaghetti in a tomato sauce, Greek salad, potato salad, tzatziki and green beans. Eating under the trees by the water with great company to chat with is one of the visit’s highlights.

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BBQ

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Poseidon

We were back in Yialos by about 5pm and before heading back up had a quick Mythos in Alegrito watching the other boats return.

Although several ouzo and retsina had been had during the day we were determined to keep our 100% record going so a quick shower and change and were in a very busy Yannis around 7pm - the pace is relentless :-) The place was so busy that we were sat at the “local’s table”. Around 9 we once again took the easy option and went to a busy Giorgios where the imam and the green beans formed our shared starter and this was followed by D having spaghetti bolognese, he is after all a pasta-head, G having the papoujaksi which he had tasted for the first time the previous evening and E going for the glorious meatballs on tomato sauce.

A Poseidon day can be quite energetic so as we walked back to the apartments with the temperature hardly falling at all we decided that we would have a later start the next day and even agreed that an Olive Tree breakfast was deserved
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby Gemma1 » 11 Jun 2019, 06:11

More wonderful reports :)
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 11 Jun 2019, 06:29

Monday : Our Pedi Day

A holiday on Symi wouldn’t feel right without a day on Pedi Beach. When we first came in the early 90’s that was our place of choice for many years and we can even recall holidays where we never went anywhere else during the day.

D’s Itinerary had scheduled this in as being the restful day after the exertions of the Poseidon adventure. An unscheduled Olive Tree Breakfast was hastily agreed the previous night. D did not stir until around 7:30 and because he was behind with the blog “sacrificed” his early morning walk - hero :-)

It was around 9:30 that we sauntered up to the Olive Tree and the temperature was still 30C+. The usual lovely breakfast was savoured and the backlog blog posted before we returned to the apartments to pick up our beach bags and some old bread to feed the wildlife on the walk down. We took the path through the smallholdings, past the football stadium and down into Pedi just beyond Katsaras.

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Olive Tree Coffee

It was a warm one and so beers in the Katsaras beach bar were essential before taking a sun bed for the rest of the day. This season they are charging €5 per bed but that does give you access to the very attentive Abi whose table service is second to none.

With the temperature holding at just over 30C all day the thought of walking up was dismissed by a unanimous vote and so we caught the 16:30 bus to the kiosk in Chorio and the short stroll back to the apartments.

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Bus Stop Pedi

We had decided to go down so we had Yiannis Rainbow Bar to ourselves at 6:30pm before we walked down the Kali and round to Elpida’s via the ATM and a browse in a couple of shops. The light in the harbour is stunning at this time and the perfect backdrop for ouzo, retsina and a G&T to savour the mouthwatering mezes that this Taverna is renowned for.

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Early Evening Yialos

A final aperitif in Cafe Alegrito set us up for our regular visit to Trata which was as busy as ever. We followed a shared starter of imam and stuffed mushrooms with grilled liver with horta (D), chicken stuffed with cheese and wrapped in ham (G) and stuffed squid (E). And just as we were about to leave and catch the 11pm bus another miso kilo of retsina appeared courtesy of our waiter who we have known for years. So whilst we drank that we learned of his house that he is building at Tolis where we have booked to go the following day.

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Trata Dinner & Elpida’s Mezes

After paying the very reasonable bill for such quality food we hoped that there would be a taxi and yes - three waiting for us. The increased availability of taxis is certainly noticeable.

We walked the short distance from the Village Hotel and remarked on how there was a welcome drop in temperature. And so another wonderful day on Symi ended.

(Tuesday Morning 07:30 and that change in temperature to around 25C has seen humidity levels soar to 73% and clouds rolling in over the Vigla).
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Humidity Rolling In Over The Vigla
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby silverfox » 11 Jun 2019, 18:02

Awesome reports as usual with some great pictures!

You are certainly getting about a bit and sampling so much food, don't know how you can eat so much.

So looking forward to all the rest of your adventures.

Please don't complain about the weather....never stopped raining for days back here!

:D :D :D
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 12 Jun 2019, 07:13

Tuesday : Our Tolis Day

Amazing though this may sound we had booked the Symi Tours Tuesday Trip To Tolis on Day 1 of our visit - we have never been this organised. So after D did his bread-walk and we had had our breakfast on the balcony we met a people carrier at the kiosk in Chorio and he was spot on 09:30. There were only 7 of us on the trip and this allowed the vehicle to take us all the way to the gates of Tolis. We had expected the excitement of the minibus and the trip down the final section of track in the 4x4.

The hazy clouds that we saw over the Vigla were taken care of by the sun and then replaced by more clouds. However the climate over in Tolis was much fresher with a welcome breeze that kept us cool. The temperature was around 25C and the sea was perfect for swimming. We were told that it had remained hot and humid in Chorio.

The Maria Boat was doing its tour and pulled into the bay for a swimming stop during the morning and then the taxi boat Eleni came in and moored in the bay. It seemed to be an organised event with a party of around 20 people being brought ashore in small motor boats so that must have been welcome lunch custom for the Taverna.

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Tolis Bay

We waited until we estimated that the Eleni party were getting ready to leave before sitting down to one of our favourite lunches on the island. Of course Daphne Salad was ordered along with courgette fritters that were as light as a feather; tzatziki that went brilliantly with the sumptuous butterflied and boned grilled chicken; herby meatballs a sumptuous complimentary baclava. All this in that perfect setting which was enhanced with the display of oleander in full bloom. This is the first time we have been to Tolis in June and so we have never seen the place looking so beautiful.

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Tolis In Full Bloom

The Symi Tours bus returned to pick us up not long after 5pm and with a stop en route to help a broken down 4x4 and squeeze the driver on board the already full people carrier we returned home and got ready for the evening.

Yannis Rainbow Bar was our first stop followed by Mojitos in Cafe Alegrito. G had declared the Dolphin’s linguini carbonara the best he had tasted so we returned there. On the way we had a chat with Capt. Yannis and met his charming young daughter. The Dolphin was doing a good trade in home delivered pizza possibly due to the European Qualifiers being on TV. With G on the carbonara, E went a bit off piste and ordered chicken caesar salad which was a substantial plateful. D went with penne but this time with chicken in a tomato sauce. D never stops remarking how well the pasta is cooked and G agrees.

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Mojitos Cafe Alegrito

Although our faith in taxi availability is now well founded we still have the tiny doubt that we could be faced with a late night climb so we still head for the last bus, currently at 11pm, and if there is a taxi that’s a bonus. By the way the bus is still €1.75 and a taxi to the Village is €4.

We are back in the apartments by just after 11pm after yet another wonderful day.

And the Itinerary is holding up well :-)
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby katy » 12 Jun 2019, 16:23

It all sounds wonderful as usual! Can I ask if you noticed any changes in Pedi this year?
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby Mille » 12 Jun 2019, 16:37

Katy, I was in Pedi until Sunday 9th of June and the only thing I noticed was Tolis Taverna was not open yet.
Otherwise it looked the same as last year and the year before.
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 13 Jun 2019, 06:19

katy wrote:It all sounds wonderful as usual! Can I ask if you noticed any changes in Pedi this year?


The small bar at Katsaras has had a bit of a make-over with a new awning to keep patrons cool. D took a walk along past Tolis Taverna yesterday and there was painting work going on so not long before it opens it seems. Alas probably not whilst we are here - their moussaka is to die for and not only us that think so. Talking to George’s (the boat) nephew yesterday - he now collects the money for the boat trips - he agreed.

But as Mille says Pedi remains what we regard as a constant haven of serenity.
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 13 Jun 2019, 08:07

Wednesday : Our Agia Marina Day

The plan was to have breakfast and head down into Yialos and get the taxi boat to Ag.Marina. D did the bread walk and a supermarket sweep to top up on some breakfast essentials and somewhere along the way lost some time so undeterred we simply headed down the Pedi Road and jumped onboard George’s boat that just beat the 10am Yialos boat by seconds - George had the inside line :-)

The temperature had dropped from being between 30 and 35 to between 25 and 30 but the humidity stayed relatively high. We got our sun beds (€3.50) and settled down. The water was lovely and whilst the regular arrival of the taxi boats deposited more and more people it wasn’t truly busy.

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Agia Marina

We had a mid-morning beer stop in the beautifully manicured garden area and E took the opportunity of reserving one of the seaward tables for lunch.

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Beer Garden

A simple lunch of really good spaghetti with pesto for D&G with E having the almost tempura like fried baby calamari with ice cold retsina, and red wine for D, looking out over the small bay is always another favourite idyllic settings.

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Ag.Marina Lunch

Sleeping off lunch and before we knew it, it was time to pack up and return at 4pm. Whilst the speed of the Yialos boats is exhilarating the putt-putt across to St.Nicks and then back to Pedi has ageless charm.

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The Boys On Holiday

As Silverfox has forensically concluded from our focus on food, by this time in the visit there is a bit more weight to carry up the Pedi Road and so reminding ourselves that this is a holiday and not some kind of fitness boot-camp it’s ice creams and Lakis Bus :-)

We had decided to visit the new Stavros at Mythos restaurant but every evening starts in Yannis Rainbow Bar. We then walked down the Kali Strata with the sun starting to go down and in doing so it creates wonderful colours and shades. We decided to push the boat out a bit and have a cocktail in Los - certainly couldn’t do that every night. A very charming Albanian waiter made polite conversation and through that we discovered that his ambition is to come and live in Swansea no less - sensible “boyo”.

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We All Know This View

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Three Go Down The Kali Again

We were still a bit early for dinner so we had a final aperitif in a busy Elpida’s with yet another fantastic mezes before the short walk to Mythos which is now in the premises adjoining Manos Fish where Aris used to be. By now it was around 9:30 and there was only one other table occupied. They staff are using mobile devices to take orders and the menu is numbered to assist this - feels a little Chinese Carry-Out’ish but this appears to be progress. There is also some dishes written on a blackboard that runs along the front of a counter. The menu is extensive - perhaps too extensive - and several of the dishes that Stavros is famed for appeared to be missing or perhaps we just couldn’t spot them. Anyway we started with a 35, followed by a 55 .... Let’s start again. We started with a shared plate of vine leaves stuffed with rice - not described as dolmades - and this was due to the fact that four good sized vine leaves with a very flavoursome filling had been cooked almost dim-sum like. This was the kind of inventive twist that one would expect from Stavros - a very Greek tasting dish but quirky and very good. D then had the moussaka which was perfectly acceptable but not as stand-out as say Apostolis. E had what was described as beef stew which was stiffado that came in good sauce with nicely oven-cooked waxy potatoes but again Zoë does this dish better. G had the most disappointing of dishes which was a grilled chicken that came with chips, cauliflower and broccoli. The chicken was over cooked and dry to a point where the waiter had to be given the feedback. A complimentary piece of semolina cake and a glass of raki ended the meal.

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Elpida’s Mezes

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Stavros at Mythos Dinner

Perhaps because we have experienced such highs on the few occasions that we have had Stavros’ food or the fact that he is such a well regarded chef but we were left rather disappointed. Clearly this new venture is finding its feet and it is early days so it must be given a chance and we hope that other Symi Visitors will give it a try and report back.

We walked around the harbour and with three taxis waiting Konstantinos nipped us up the hill in no time at all and so ended another superb day on the rock
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby katy » 13 Jun 2019, 08:27

Ah thank you Mille and D & E, I just wondered if the proposed restaurant by the far bus stop at Pedi had happened.
We are really looking forward to our annual visit.
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 13 Jun 2019, 09:10

katy wrote:Ah thank you Mille and D & E, I just wondered if the proposed restaurant by the far bus stop at Pedi had happened.
We are really looking forward to our annual visit.


We think Lefteris of Zylygos fame had designs on that place that used to be a restaurant but he is still in his shop at the bottom of the Kali Strata.
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby katy » 13 Jun 2019, 10:14

Oh thanks for the information, it seems to have been a rumour for a year or two. There are plenty of places to keep us occupied :)
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby Gemma1 » 13 Jun 2019, 17:20

Another great blog and love the photos of Tolis in June. One year I must go to Symi at the start of the season instead of the end. Your food sounds delicious as always and makes the several chicken gyros I've eaten this week seem boring in comparison :oops:
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby silverfox » 13 Jun 2019, 22:52

"it’s ice creams and Lakis Bus"

Now if Liz did the blog this would be a great title for ours which will start soon! :D

Love the Kali Strata pics, the best showing Georgios and the sea beyond.

I've been waiting, and hoping, for your take on the new Mythos but may ask a few on the island before deciding to take a plunge. Is Stavros now working for Manos or is he the owner?

You are packing a lot in to this trip and we are looking forward to you not running out of steam! :D
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 14 Jun 2019, 06:58

Thursday : Our Port Day

With back to back beach days out, as in out out, D’s itinerary provided for a later start to the day and an opportunity for some retail therapy should that be desired.

The bread walk and breakfast over the plan was to rendezvous in Cafe Aiglios which we did late morning for refreshments. It was then a day of each of us heading to wherever they wanted to go and rendezvousing at our usual watering holes - Corner Bar, Elpida’s and Cafe Alegrito.

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Morning Bread Walk

We fitted in a pitta giros lunch at the long established place next door to the herb stall opposite the Custom House. The guy who runs the place has relentlessly stood outside his little gyros “bar” trying to capture the passing trade for as long as we can remember. For €2.50 it is difficult to beat this delicacy in terms of taste and value for money.

Our final rendezvous was in Alegrito where purchases were compared with D coming a very poor third :-)

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D’s Only Purchase on E’s Finger

Then after some hilarious musical chairs in Alegrito,% as we tried to fit in the growing number of people meeting up with friends and relatives, the trusty taxi service took us up the hill and we were showered and changed and in Yannis by around 8pm.

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Another Fan Of Yannis Rainbow Bar

Having been down the night before and all day we had decided that we would bring Zoë’s forward by a night and so off we trotted. Thankfully the Taverna was not as packed as the previous week and so there was time to catch up on family news and enjoy a fine dinner of dolmades and beetroot to start. This was followed by bream cooked on the bbq for D and a very nice piece of fish this proved to be; G went for the chicken with cashew and as it came with rice had a portion of the real chips that are so good; and E had perfectly made moussaka. This was followed by a a sumptuous piece of semolina cake with fruit through it - very nice indeed.

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BBQ’d Silver Bream

BBQ’d Bream

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Dinner in Zoë’s

We had been given our returning orders earlier so we wandered home under the growing moon thinking that we only have two days left in this magical place.
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby silverfox » 14 Jun 2019, 13:50

We always try to have a giros pitta and as you say it's great value. The fish at Zoes' looks awesome!

Would love to hear what G thought after so many years missing Symi.

Enjoy the time you have left...we know you will! :)
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby Lisa B » 14 Jun 2019, 19:37

Hi, what a feeling! Love reading about your days & nights on Symi, thank you for sharing with us and giving us little tips/ideas. Can I ask about bakeries, want to visit more than just the one this year. Happy Symi time to you :D
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Re: Three Go On Holiday In Chorio

Postby D and E » 15 Jun 2019, 07:34

Friday : Our Marathounda Day

It was our last full day on Symi and as friends of G had mentioned that their favourite beach was Marathounda it was only right that this be built into the itinerary.

After the bread walk, where an anxious baker was desperately trying to connect his new 1000 litre water tank in time to capture the supply for the day, we had our final breakfast on the balcony. Over the years E has become an expert with the ham & cheese management that always sees the supplies run out on the penultimate day so regular readers will know where breakfast will be tomorrow.

We set off down the lazy steps and it was already 33C on the Pharmacy Display. Although the Irini and Loukas taxi boat to Marathounda doesn't go until 11am we decided to take the 10am boat to Nanou for a frappe stop and then Loukas picked us up at around 11:30. By the way it’s €14 for the trip to Marathounda.

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Nanou

We arrived in the beautiful bay and had a cooling beer in the Taverna before sorting ourselves out with free sun beds.

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Fanta & Fix Mix

There is a new small bar just along from the established Taverna that does just drinks and ice-creams and this is particularly handy as the Taverna does get busy. It was between 35 and 40C on the beach so after swimming in the perfect water we tried out the new bar which E described very aptly as shabby-chic.

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The New Bar

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Shabby Chic

Lunch in the Taverna was up to the usual high standard and the staff were rushed off their feet. We had Greek salad, keftedes, courgette fritters and excellent stuffed peppers. Another swim and hour in the beach and we needed to visit the new bar again before Loukas got us all back on board for the 4:45 return journey. Outside the bay there was a good wind blowing so regular blasts of spray added to the fun of the ride on his powerful boat.

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Marathounda Goats Of Course

A “rest” in Alegrito where we said farewell to Dawn’s mum & dad who are the most lovely couple and must be sick of the sight of us three as we always appear to be where they are :-)

We taxied up again and achieved our 100% attendance at Yiannis Ouzo, Retsina and G&T classes. We had decided for our last evening to have dinner in the amazing setting of Katsaras in Pedi. Not wanting to walk down and arrive all sweaty and dishevelled we thought we would get the bus but then there would be time for a second round in Yannis so, believe it or not, for the first time ever E phones for a taxi and the ever reliable Konstantinos picked us up from the Village Hotel and deposited at the door of Katsaras. This cannot become a regular occurrence as there are only so many X’s that D can have in his shirts size :-)

The restaurant was very busy so we sat and had a drink in the beach bar - what a stunning location.

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Location, Location, Location

We then had a waterside table and ordered Prawns Saganaki which D&E shared and G went for the meatballs. As often happens when things are busy a very sad looking plate of saganaki cheese arrived and had to be sent back before four good sized prawns in an excellent saganaki sauce arrived. The sauce was soon mopped up with the garlic pitta bread that we had ordered. G then went onto have pork schnitzel with the fabulous chips that Katsaras does. D had the seafood linguini served with four giant mussels and another two of those big prawns in a fine tomato sauce. E had ordered soutzakakia but this didn’t arrive which was just as well as the portions that we had were huge and even by sharing we three couldn’t finish everything. We were then given a pallet cleansing watermelon and just then along with the logariasmos came a chunk of very chocolate, chocolate cake and ice cream.

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Chocolate Cake & Ice Cream

We are used to service being a bit hit and miss especially when places are busy so we always take it in our stride and the Greek food at Katsaras is excellent - the location is just stunning. So a very fine last night.

We caught the 10:30 bus with only us, Lakis and the guy from the corner supermarket who had just locked up. The supermarket had provided some surplus food which we discovered Lakis uses to feed a dog that has been left alone half way up the Pedi Road. His long service and the hours he does on that bus has always made him a hero of ours but the compassion for the abandoned dog ...... well.

On that note we walked back from the Kiosk for the last time and concluded that our 10 nights had been full of laughs, fun, drinks and a lot of food. G says that it has been so simple to rekindle his love affair with Symi which essentially has changed little since his last visit.

We hit the sack quite early as the next day will be a long one in view of our flight times. Around 2am E was looking for her phone which she uses to monitor her blood sugars. Won’t explain how this works but the technology is amazing. No phone. Panic. D used the Find My Phone App which suggests it is somewhere up past the windmills ! Pointless doing anything at that time of night so we got more shuteye. D got up at 7 and checked the location again - no change. Before taking further action and it being of a reasonable time that anyone who may have found the phone could be expected to answer he sends the Ring Request that exists in the Find App and would you believe it - we here the tone. E’s phone had somehow got in between the mattress and the bed slats. Some technology like the Find App’s location finding is less amazing but hey - phew !!
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D and E
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