Yamas Yialos

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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 16 Oct 2019, 08:48

Gemma1 wrote:Sounds like a lovely day at Pedi - followed by an excellent dinner at Zoe's (my favourite place for stifado - though I've never had hare) and plenty of liquid refreshment in between ;)


Pedi has alway been one of our favourite places & staying there for a week last year was idyllic. May well be our aim for one of the 2020 visits. As for the liquid refreshments :shock:
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 17 Oct 2019, 08:29

Wednesday - Shack Attack

E’s ears, nose & throat bug is still with her and so she was catching up with zzzz’s whilst D got on with the blog.

The storm from the previous night had left some clouds for Symi to think about but as D looked down into the harbour he could see that this had not deterred the day trippers from Rhodes who were assembling in the church yard for their history lessons. The day trippers are a vital source of income for Symi and we always hope that a few, having experienced this magical little island even for a day, will return and stay longer.

We had breakfast with juicy sweet pears from Taxas joining the yoghurt & honey and then spent the morning just doing the usual mundane things. The next thing we knew it is was gone 11am. Time on Symi just disappears so easily. D also thinks Symi has a shrinking affect on shirts and shorts :shock:

E said she was feeling up for a walk so we headed down our steps, took a left and then a right at Iapetos and headed up the steep hill. As we just about reached the top Captain Yannis with his wife slowed down in his car to say Kalimera and possibly to check on D who was sweating profusely :-) Alas the Poseidon has stopped for the season and so we will miss one of our favourite days out but there’s always next year.

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Captain Yannis Was In Another Car !

We stopped at the church high above Nimborios Bay and took in the glorious views that, no matter how many times we have been there, never cease to give us so much pleasure.

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An Everlasting View

We zigzagged down and were delighted to find the small shack just below the Niredes Hotel open.

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The Shack

This is one of our favourite places on Symi. Such a peaceful setting looking out across the sea where we mixed beer with Fanta lemon and just chilled.

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The View From The Shack

From there we headed back by the coast road.

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Wrecked

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Potted

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Guard Dog

Nos Beach was busy as was Tholos but having just read our friends blog we did not spot them. Manolis was power washing the frontage of Odyssia as it starts the process of packing up for the winter.

We landed in a busy Elpida’s where the salad mezes was accompanied by a small plate of lovely mussels saganaki. By now it was around 3pm and we had to decide between a siesta or a visit to Alegrito.

Alegrito won !

Dawn was chatting with Dimitris and we were soon joined by Faye from Tolis who is real character and had us all laughing. We only had a couple of drinks but somehow (possibly size related) they were quite powerful and after the short shower of rain it was soon 5pm and time to go home and get ready for the evening.

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Symi Evening In October

We had our ouzo & retsina in Cafe Aiglios - just the one after the 3 to 5 “session”. We then went to Vasilis by the bridge which is a firm favourite. The bread came with three amazing dips and we followed that with a mezes of peppers stuffed with feta, keftedes that came with quality chips, the lightest of courgette fritters and just for a change :-) prawns saganaki.

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Vasilis By The Bridge

We then made it back up the steps after one of those disappearing Symi days. Tomorrow may be a boat day.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Gemma1 » 17 Oct 2019, 08:48

D and E wrote:
Gemma1 wrote:Sounds like a lovely day at Pedi - followed by an excellent dinner at Zoe's (my favourite place for stifado - though I've never had hare) and plenty of liquid refreshment in between ;)


Pedi has alway been one of our favourite places & staying there for a week last year was idyllic. May well be our aim for one of the 2020 visits. As for the liquid refreshments :shock:


I'd be very happy to stay in Pedi as I love it down there and it is somewhere to consider if I ever travel to Symi independently as you are limited to the Pedi Beach Hotel with Olympic - which I'm sure is very nice but I prefer SC. I have seen several properties in Pedi that I'd be happy to stay in so maybe one day... For now at least it's only a short walk down the hill from Chorio and of course there is always the bus :)

Another lovely report and I'm very impressed by the luggage ramp up to the Irini - definitely worth reconsidering if a cheap week every pops up there ;)

I think Harris may have been the first taverna that I ever ate at on Symi as I remember eating in that area a couple of times. I haven't eaten there for years though. Another favourite from those early days was Catherinettes - before the gallery was there.

Glad you made it home before the rain got too heavy and hope that E's throat is feeling better today.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Gemma1 » 17 Oct 2019, 08:56

Playing catch up here and when I read your latest blog at first I thought it said 'shark attack' :shock: Relieved to hear there weren't any sharks lurking by Nos beach and giggling at D thinking Symi has a shrinking affect on shirts and shorts :P

More stunning photos and sounds like another lovely day and I'm glad the rain stayed away :D
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 17 Oct 2019, 16:16

A few extra “live”photos from the balcony as the sun kisses Yialos Kali Nichta, courtesy of E.

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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby silverfox » 17 Oct 2019, 17:21

Great photos!

What is strange is that we were sat at the comfy chairs reading this morning post from you two and then you turned up too!

Thanks for the little gift....hope we can bump into you again before we go home!

:)
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby rockbottom » 17 Oct 2019, 19:05

We also enjoy the little shack cafe on the way to nimborio. Last visit (when we met you both) a car drew up and two people got out, sat on the beach, cross legged (I was impressed!) and started to play guitars with amazing ability! Then they just got back into the car and drove off - most surreal! Still loving both blogs!
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 18 Oct 2019, 06:45

Thursday - Nos

Although the previous night was early to bed D is well into holiday mode when it comes to getting up and it is around 8 when he surfaces. As the part writing of the blog had been unavoidably detained the previous afternoon due to the appointment with ouzo & retsina he was starting from scratch.

The plan for the day had been to go down and see firstly if the taxi boats were running and secondly, where to.

But before that there was the little chore of a bread run and as the baker by the bridge had no croissants a cheese pie was purchased along with the usual small bread.

Clearly normal service had been restored on the weather front with the early morning shroud of mist over the Vigla quickly burning off and blue skies and sun lighting up Symi.

We headed down to “Comfy Chairs” but by that time any taxi boats would have sailed. Silverfox & Liz were there and so we were able to have a coffee and a chat with them and then with Neil & James who joined us. Silverfox had already logged an impressive step count and taken more of his fabulous snaps and Liz was just chilled.

We had decided that a swim at Nos Beach was in order so said farewell and as we headed round we had the usual chat with Takis that turned into E browsing, that turned into a bit of negotiation, that turned into a purchase :-)

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Another Added To E’s Takis Collection

We had a beer stop on the jetty of the Nireus and Takis must have eyes everywhere as when we came to pay we were told it had been taken care of - again !

We hadn’t walked far and thought Cafe Carnagio at Hirani boatyard would provide a cheese & ham toastie. This place hadn’t been going long when we first visited the previous year and it was really only serving drinks but he always put out a simple but nice mezes. He now has a more substantial menu which was tempting but the toastie and his complimentary mezes consisting of very fine pickled anchovies, a couple of hot dolmades and hot chickpeas in a very nice tomato sauce was sufficient. The place has a lovely feel to it and the guy who runs it lights up the place with his smile and charm. Do not be surprised to see Maria “Herbs” from the Kali Strata trying to woo you in.

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Carnagio Cafe

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Mezes At Carnagio Cafe

We finally made it to Nos where the day trippers had taken over. €5 for a sun bed and at least there was calm at this time of the year. We were told that Dimitris had had a health scare and that he has been told to calm down his exertions - watch this space :-)

E swam and D read and then snored and as the sun goes down there at around 4pm we headed back, picking up the purchases from Takis, had one final beer & Fanta mix stop with the boys in the Corner Cafe and picked up a six-pack of water on the way home.

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Just A Nice Pic

Sitting out on the balcony of our apartment looking down into the harbour and watching the changing colours of Yialos has been a great pleasure this holiday.

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Once The Maritime Museum

We are soon back out and sitting in Elpida’s where they are setting up for a music evening. The usual small carafes of ouzo and retsina are accompanied by a mezes of tomato & cucumber, cheese & salami, chick peas in tomato sauce, a beautiful pork dish, spetzofai, cheese pie and a fish risotto. This amazing array of small but of adequate proportions of totally delightful home made food is always very much appreciated and it did cover two rounds of drinks we should add.
As our host was leaving for basketball practice - the Symi Team have a game in Rodos the next day - another round of drinks magically appeared - efheristo boli.

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The View From Elpida’s Of An Evening

By then it was around 9pm and the very accomplished traditional musicians started up as we were finishing our drinks. We had thought about eating at Cavos but had spent slightly longer than planned in Elpida’s so D got to visit one of his favourites - the Dolphin Pizza & Pasta Restaurant - where we shared a pizza fungi and spaghetti in a plain tomato sauce which is simple and all the better for it.

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Dolphin Pizza & Pasta

We were home and sound asleep by 10:30 after another wonderful day doing very little.

Will we get up and get on a boat the next day ?

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Early Saturday Mist Over The Vigla
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Gemma1 » 18 Oct 2019, 08:13

Another great read and dinner at another of my favourites. I love the Dolphin and it's a great place for people watching as well as serving excellent pizzas and pasta. I enjoy watching the local children playing and the delivery driver coming and going with his pizza deliveries.

The views of the harbour from the Irini certainly take some beating and I missed those views the first time I stayed in Chorio - though the view of the Pedi valley is pretty wonderful too :D

Good luck with getting that boat today ;)
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 19 Oct 2019, 08:10

Friday - Boat Day

D was up around 7 and knew that if we were to go on a boat, breakfast might be in Cafe Aiglios so he just finished off the blog with the photos and then packed the beach bags.

We did not know if or even when a taxi boat might go out - it’s like that now the island is heading towards its slumbers so we erred on the side of caution and had breakfast just after 9 in Comfy Chairs. The usual frappe, with a shared fresh orange, and a shared ham omelette - perfect.

We then discovered that our luck was in and Lucas & Irini were running one boat and it would be the last of the season. It would stop at St.Nicks and Marathounda so we chose the latter. As it departed at 11am we wandered round to the Clocktower and back to see what was occurring and fill in some time after breakfast.

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The Morning Catch

Unbeknown to us that intrepid walker and photographer, Silverfox, had spotted us on the prow of the taxi boat - well D isn’t that hard to spot especially after 9 days on Symi :shock: It was only when E was reviewing Facebook later in the day that we knew the Sheffield paparazzi had caught us :D

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Best Seat In The House

There must have been about 20 people on board and 2 got off at a very deserted looking St.Nicks where all the canopies had been taken down and stored inside the Taverna. We could not tell if the Taverna was even open.

From St.Nicks it was direct to Marathounda where the small cafe bar was closed but the Taverna was open. After getting our free sun beds we had a small beer each and then had a swim in the slightly colder but still lovely water.

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Taxi

Unfortunately for the ever efficient waitress at the Taverna everyone seemed to decide to eat at the same time but the team coped brilliantly as they always do. We had our first Greek Salad of the holiday alongside delicious grilled octopus and great courgette fritters with the obligatory goat looking on, who then decided to munch our paper tablecloth.

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Greek Salad Marathounda

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Courgette Fritters Marathounda

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Grilled Octopus Marathounda

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Goaty McGoatface Marathounda

We dozed on the sunbed after lunch and it was soon time to pack up and head back to Yialos. We arrived at 16:20 and once we all disembarked, the boat was immediately taken to Hirani boatyard.

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Thank You Irini, Luca & Co.

We had a drink in Cafe Aiglios and watched first the Skiadeni and then the Sebeco and finally the Dodecanese Express all depart for Rhodes and the island feels very quiet indeed.

We decided to keep the theme of a different restaurant every night going - can’t see us succeeding as there are at least three revisits that we want to do. Now where would those be ?

Elpida’s has the same magnetic effect that Yiannis does when we are “up” and as we arrived one half of the Taverna was being decked out in helium balloons and birthday related decorations. The great lady herself was front of house chatting to a friend before she headed off for the evening. We took our usual front table and the ever pleasant waitress didn’t even take the order as she now knows us. Our ouzo & retsina came with the usual mezes plate and with spetzofai and a light chicken curry this time.

We had decided to go round and see if Cavos was open and did not want to leave it too late at this time of year as you cannot blame restaurants for shutting up shop if they haven’t seen anyone by say 9pm. So we only had the one in Elpida’s and walked round by the Clocktower and took a sea side table looking over to the ever-busy Tholos and the illuminated church above. We were the only people between the Clocktower and Tholos - that’s how quiet it is now.

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Cavos Restaurant

We think it was last year that we thought Cavos had improved immeasurably and it is great to report that it is keeping up these fine standards. Being confirmed prawnaholics we had to have the garlic prawns as a shared starter and this came as six fair sized prawns semi-deshelled in garlic butter with a small salad - wow. The toasted bread is essential to savour the garlic.

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Retsina

Between courses the Blue Star docked opposite and its is so clear to see how this is the island’s lifeline. It made us think again about doing the Athens run to Symi as Allan has described on this forum and James has mentioned several times on the excellent Symi Dream site.

Back to food. E adores chicken with prunes ever since she had it in the days of Zylygos in Chorio and a lovely oven baked piece of chicken on the bone with real potato chips and rice & peas was declared delicious. D was surprised to find that there was still Symi goat on the menu and a good chunk of oven baked goat with a lemon sauce, again with chips and rice & peas almost floored him - note the word “almost” :-) After a complimentary glass of mastika we said our farewells and good winters to the super friendly family who run this excellent restaurant.

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Cavos Dinner

We walked back around the port where the birthday party in Elpida’s was just getting going around 9:45pm and E was just in time to catch the new mini-market situated between Manos Fish and the bank by the bridge. She needed to get her life-saving tea bags and milk.

We were home by just after 10pm and as D sat with his nightly square of chocolate out on the balcony listening to the much quieter sounds of Yialos E had a Eureka moment ! D has been mumbling on about the inadequacy of the aircon unit. E decided to do a bit of DIY and opened up a vent and wow - a much cooler room and a much cooler D.

And so another wonderful day was given to us by magical Symi.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Gemma1 » 19 Oct 2019, 09:10

Glad you managed to fit in a boat trip before the boats finished for the season :D Those goats at Marathounda must miss the the visitors when the tourist season ends. Just as well they weren't aware that D was going to be eating one of their relatives for dinner :P

Glad that Cavos didn't disappoint as I thoroughly enjoyed my meal there last September and it is a lovely setting - but then there are plenty of lovely settings to chose from on Symi ;) It sounds as though things are really starting to wind down for the winter now - glad the weather is still great :D
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 20 Oct 2019, 07:46

Saturday - Diverted to Nos

The secret of an early morning came to D - less ouzo and early to bed - it’s not rocket science :?

He was awake around 6:45 and listened to our neighbour packing as it was his last day.

As there were no provisions in the apartment D made E the obligatory first cup of tea of the day and set off down to Taxas where he bought enough to see us through. Early Saturday is clearly a popular time with locals to do the shopping. D even got nice fresh rye bread from Taxas.

With breakfast finished, the dishes done and the blog posted we took our usual route down through the churchyard to Cafe Aiglios and had just ordered the daily frappe when Silverfox and Liz, who regularly have their coffee there, arrived. It was their last day so we had a chat and said our farewells as they went to do some last minute shopping and we set off to walk over to Pedi.

We did think the Yacht Cafe might be showing the Rugby World Cup as we have watched The Open and Wimbledon there in the past and so it was. That was our first diversion - we are easily diverted. Quite a crowd of English people cheered on their side to victory over Australia. We can see us being there again tomorrow if the Wales game is being shown.

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View From The Yacht Cafe

We started to move on and bumped into Frank of Taxiarchis who always used to like a political chat with D so we stood a while with him outside his boat before stopping a few yards up the road for another small beer with “Mr” Yiannis who always charms us with a wave into the popular cafe next door to the pharmacy. A second diversion.

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Another Yacht

By now the idea of walking or even bussing over to Pedi was fading and so we decided to walk to Nos and did that non-stop without diversion, hard to believe isn’t it :-) We passed Captain Yannis hard at work on the Poseidon for the second day - sanding down surfaces, painting, varnishing woodwork, etc.

E popped into one shop to check on closing date as we have seen a ceramic house to add to our own collection. This is a main topic of conversation wherever we go - “when will you stay open until ?”

Several shops are closed now and today only the Sebeco and the Skiadeni brought in day visitors and most of them seemed to be people visiting family rather than tourists.

Nos was much quieter than the other day. The sea was lovely and we just shared a cheese & ham toastie and a beer at our sunbed for lunch.

We timed our return with the departure of the Skiadeni and sat on the Nireus jetty with an ouzo & retsina to toast farewell to Silverfox & Liz who we saw waving from the back of the boat. Hopefully they saw us returning that wave.

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Farewell Silverfox & Liz

As we walked back there was even more people leaving on the Sebeco and then on the Dodekanisos Express and we wonder if we are the only tourists left :-)

E couldn’t resist an ice cream from Patiserie Nicolas on the way home where we said hi to the girl that has worked there for years. We picked up a 6-pack of water which we hope, with existing stocks, will see us through.

When we returned to our room the departure instructions were under the door and so we now know we will be on the Sebeco on Wednesday at the civilised departure time of 08:00 but that’s still four dinners away !

But that did focus the mind and so we decided where we wanted to go but not necessarily the order we will do them in. That needed more thought over an ouzo & retsina in Cafe Alegrito.

After three ! it was decided we would do the nearest of our return visits and went to the very traditional Trata where we shared their amazing mussels saganaki and balanced the richness of this with D having grilled liver and E having grilled chicken fillet. Both dishes perfectly cooked. Our waiter friend mentioned that he had seen us watching the rugby in the adjoining cafe and asked why D had looked rather subdued - we explained about D being Scottish :-)

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Mussels Saganaki at Trata

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Grilled Chicken Fillet at Trata

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Grilled Liver at Trata

And so we walked back up through the back streets stopping for a quick chat and Kali Nichta to Faye from Tolis and a lovely day of diversions ended on Symi.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Thomasdk » 20 Oct 2019, 09:32

Loving your blog and your beautiful photos. Please keep them coming. :)
Looks like you're always having a great stay, I'm very envious but it also motivates me to visit that gorgeous island soon.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Gemma1 » 20 Oct 2019, 09:33

Well done making it all the way to Nos without any further diversions :P

You've got your departure instructions early - though at least you know exactly how much time you've got left and how many meals you can fit in our course ;)

Enjoy your last few days and thanks again for being so dedicated and providing us with a great daily read :D
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby silverfox » 20 Oct 2019, 12:44

Another superb report of a typical day for D&E on Symi.

Loads of beer food and chats with friends.

I puposely didn't read the report from Friday until I was at the airport yesterday, I will do anything to extend that Symi fix!

Looking forward to the few more reports from this wonderful couple before the winter sets in.

PS D&E it's bloody cold back in the UK!

Enjoy your last few days(food).

:D
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 21 Oct 2019, 07:52

Sunday - Rugby & Pedi

We weren’t late home on Saturday night but neither of us would make the first move even though the bells, the bells, were ringing up from Yialos and down from Chorio.

It was gone 8 before D served E the wake-up cup of tea and we had planned to go and see if the Wales .v. France game was being streamed in the Yacht Cafe with kick-off at 10:15.

So the usual routine, of blog, breakfast & bags and off we went.

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The “Arty” Breakfast View

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Our Olive Tree Outside The Aapartment

The Yacht Cafe was deserted but as we were about to head over to Comfy Chairs and at least stream the commentary through the App, L of L&B, who we have regularly chatted with over many years on Symi, appeared and somehow got things going. The young man who knows how to stream to the outside TV was called and he arrived and had the whole thing up and running only 4 minutes into the game. And what a nail biter it was with a result that cheered E up immensely and of course D whose adopted country is Wales - just as well as his beloved Scotland weren’t up to it this time around.

After our frappe and a couple of small beers during the match we were a bit early for the 13:00 bus to Pedi so we stopped in Cafe Axinos which used to be Katoi Cafe where the ever present “Mr” Yiannis served us our usual very chilled small beers and despite it being the 20th October you need them as it is like a day in June with temperatures between 25 and 30C. Even the locals are commenting on how good the weather is for this time of year - we count ourselves very lucky. A slight downside is the weather is keeping the flying, biting things going and they still love D and even E has been forced to join the “Bite Club” which is very unusual.

Two day boats berthed whilst we were in Yialos and as we climbed the hill on the bus the Skiadeni was coming in so hopefully the weather is still attracting visitors, and money, onto Symi.

Pedi was quite busy for the time of year but then we have always found it is popular with locals on a Sunday. Abi took the sunbed money and served us an ouzo & retsina with a shared spinach pie. We had been denied this on our earlier visit as it had either run out or had not been made and we had made do with a very good cheese pie, but the Katsaras spinach pie is the real deal.

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Wonderful Pedi

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Pedi Boats

We swam and lazed until E went for a short walk round to the small church on the way to St.Nicks where she bumped into J&T of the Olive Tree and A who were out for a Sunday stroll.

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Side By Side

We all caught the 16:30 bus and we were back in Yialos just as the Sebeco was departing. The not-Lakis bus driver mentioned to us that if we wanted, the Maria Boat would be going out at 10:30 next day for a trip :?:

We came home via Taxas as we have a family of cats to keep feeding and one in particular who is the mother, but whose offspring always push in. We always make sure mum gets her fair share.

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Our Adopted Family

And so to the second of our repeat visits.

We first of all went to the ever popular Elpida’s where there was a good crowd and took our usual front facing seats. An impressive yacht was moored outside and it seemed to be serving only a small family who returned with many a shopping bag from the more up-market designer shops, of which there are a handful or so on Symi.

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Outside Elpida’s

Our ouzo & retsina arrived with the additional mezes being mussels risotto and that luscious pork dish. The second round of drinks came with chicken, in what tasted like a honey and chilli sauce which was superb, and the lightest of keftedes.

We then walked back past the yacht where they were having trouble getting the motor launch started - don’t know if we could cope with the trials of the super rich :D

We returned to the Dolphin which had a good Sunday crowd of locals in and shared the pizza with salami and the penne with tuna - both perfect. As we sat there finishing our retsina we reflected on the fact that we have only two days to go. We were hoping that 2020 could see us overlap with D’s sister and brother-in-law who, through our love of Symi, now visits when she can. But a text earlier in the day informed us that our respective dates may not be suitable - there is always 2021. E did a speculative search on bookings.com and we saw a very good price for Pedi and so we now have a cancelable booking for last week of May first week of June :shock:

We may only be able to do one visit next year as we want to spend Thanksgiving with D’s sister & b-i-l at their place in Florida but if we are frugal who knows - a “cheeky week” may be possible somewhere along the line.

We walked back round the square at about 10pm quite excited about 2020 already - that’s how this place gets into your blood.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby Gemma1 » 21 Oct 2019, 08:41

More great photos and a good result for Wales in the rugby - OH recorded it and watched it when he finished work yesterday morning.

A lovely relaxing Sunday in Pedi with more great food - though I'm not sure I'd need any dinner after mezes in Elpida's :P

Good luck with getting things fixed up for 2020, Pedi at the end of May / early June sounds wonderful - you just need some flights to go with that accommodation ;)

Enjoy your last 2 days and thanks for brightening up this dull and chilly Monday morning :)
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 22 Oct 2019, 08:34

Monday - Nos Lunch

The shutters opened around 07:30 to what was clearly going to be another beautiful day on Symi. Not a cloud in the sky and the glow of the sun behind Chorio was accompanied by a lovely freshness in the air.

D left E with the first cup of tea of the day and went on a bread run. He walked out to the Clocktower and from the seats looking out to Turkey watched as the two army ribs set off on their relentless patrols for refugees. There has been a constant small stream of these unfortunate people whilst we have been here and the Symi authorities do ever so well to deal with the issue whilst still protecting its main economic activity of tourism.

He returned with a small bread and one of those lovely croissants from the bakery by the bridge and with breakfast and blogging done we headed down to Cafe Aiglios for our morning frappe. There was one other person there and the harbour was completely empty of visiting vessels.

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The Harbour 21 Oct 2019

But then the first day boat arrived and those who escaped the managed tours started filtering into the cafe and it was time for us to move on.

E popped into one of her regular shops to purchase a dress as there are good end of seasons bargains to be had. We rendezvoused at the Clocktower and had a small beer on the jetty of the Nireus which was doing well out of the day visitors having lunch.

We had decided to have a Nos Lunch.

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Nos Kitchen

This was something we regularly did in years gone by as we highly regard the cooking. We saw during our earlier visit this holiday that it is the same woman cooking as has been cooking as far back as we can remember so we knew it would be good. We even had the same dishes as we often had in the past - Greek Salad, possibly the best keftedes on Symi although it would be a photo-finish with Elpida, and grilled vegetables with skordalia; the vegetables being trompette mushrooms, aubergine, yellow pepper and courgette. We were not disappointed and we do recommend that anyone who hasn’t eaten in this place do so if they get a chance. We finished with a complimentary semolina cake with cinnamon and a dribble of chocolate sauce - which hasn’t changed in all the years, except for the addition of the chocolate sauce which we estimate was introduced perhaps five or six years ago. And of course we had the disposal of the uneaten bread into the sea where the shoals of bream congregate to devour every morsel. It never fails to amuse.

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Nos Lunch

When we arrived on Nos Beach it was like the old days with Dimitris in full flow and the guys taking down the sun canopies. He had his small tractor going back and fore and was shouting orders at the guys who have worked there for years. Any first timers would be astounded but then we just think - it’s Nos Beach.

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End Of Season - Nos Man At Work

We stayed until around 4pm and then walked back seeing Cavos hard at work cleaning all the tables and kitchen equipment; you wouldn’t think there was ever a restaurant called Vaperetto as it has disappeared completely and many of the shops down the harbour side now close as soon as the day boats return to Rodos.

This is the latest we have ever visited and it is an experience. One we realised we would encounter and have been looking forward to. What we did not expect was this magnificent weather which was once again between 25 and 30C.

Now any regular reader of our blog will know by working through where we have eaten so far that there is one major omission and that had to be put right.

After watching from the shared balcony side of our apartment, the $35,000,000 super yacht, Erica, owned by a Swedish guy whose personal wealth is estimated at $60 Billion, tie up near the Clocktower we headed out and spent a more modest €5 on a taxi up to the Village Hotel. D asked after our good friend Konstantinos whom we have not seen this visit and was informed that his car needed “major surgery” over in Rhodes so that answered that.

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What $35,000,000 Gets You

We sat in a very quiet Yannis. In fact after about an hour it was only us and Yannis. We had our usual quota of ouzo & retsina when Yannis offered a last one and it would have been rude to say no. We then, as planned, went next door to Giorgios.

We had a simple mezes of beetroot with walnut salad, green beans, fried cod with skodalia and courgette fritters. The fritters were substantial with their cheese filling and the cod quite salty which was excellent when we added vinegar. Before more alcohol could be offered D went through to pay what was very little for such wonderful food. It is no wonder that when we stay “up” we hardly ever venture “down”.

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Giorgios Mezes

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How Can You Resist Feeding Them A Morsel

We took it easy down the Kali Strata and as we passed through the back lanes encountered “Jeweller” George and his wife who were over ensuring their house was in good order. He said the business in Scotland is going well but he doesn’t cope well with the weather :-) we agreed to meet them for a drink and proper catch up the following day.

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Last Day In Irini’s

So now it is Tuesday morning and D has done the bread run and taken a closer look at the super yacht. Breakfast is over and the blog posted so now we must start the packing and then go out for a walk and perhaps a final swim. Then a saunter round saying our farewells. As we have an 8am sailing tomorrow there will be no blog and readers will be kept in suspense :-) about our Last Night Dinner and the journey home until sometime on Thursday.
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby D and E » 22 Oct 2019, 15:41

Told Off :shock:

Our bears, who always come on holiday, were not best pleased when they read the blog and found no photo of them so this has been rectified immediately -

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The Bears
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Re: Yamas Yialos

Postby silverfox » 22 Oct 2019, 18:33

Great blogging you two extending the season to the limit.

It does seem ages since we were there already.

I've had 2 days back at work and I now need another holiday!

Hope you have enjoyed your last day!
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