Friday 1st July
Kalo Mina (Good Month)
For those that don’t know it’s a traditional Greek greeting on the first day of every month to family, friends and people they meet.
I’m awake at 7.30am and up and around trying to think of something interesting to say before publishing Thursdays blog. Liz wakes with a bad headache even though I did warn her she was drinking far too much water while I was on the beer yesterday. She will never learn!
She decides on a lazy morning reading and I’m off up the road past the Kantino Panorama and off on the track to the left. And 45 minutes after leaving the apartment I’m up at the Pighi Monastery.
As soon as you get off the road you get the strong aroma of the Oregano and the views are just incredible. The sort you can never really capture using a camera.
I spend 10 0r 15 minutes to get my breath, although the walk is in stages with a few fairly level bits as well as the steep bits.
Coming back down is obviously easier and you get the views of the village all in front of you but I’m also on the look out for the snakes. I keep looking each year and I can never capture them on camera which annoys me but the David Attenborough kick in and I find, or think I find, recent evidence in the dust.
I’m back at the road now and cut through by Savesti Apartments (a fantastic place and great family) and walk a very familiar path down past the museum and turn right at Zoe’s Taverna and back to number 20. We have had very good reports from a few folk saying how good the museum is now with the Mansion House complete saying it’s well worth an hour of your time and good value at €4.00 each.
I find Liz reading, well snoozing, on the terrace with coffee. Well into holiday mode it seems.
I have yet another shower, you know the type as when you are out and dry yourself you are soon wetter than when in the actual shower. Yes the temperatures are on the way up and the Cicada season is in full swing and in noise. Well a very nice noise as I like it.
The plan is a light meal at Scena followed by a few beers at The Rainbow and back for a nap before catching the bus for a night on the town. Plans…..
The first bit started reasonably well as Scena is open and only doing the snack type meals so I choose the Burger and Liz plumps for the Club Sandwich. The nice young girl explains the full menu starts at 4pm. Well just look at the pictures. The portion sizes are far more than expected but I have to say great quality and nice tasting but I only just managed to finish and Liz gave up.
- Scena Club Sandwich
- Scena Burger
The bar has the Greek locals as usual and we are slowly joined by numerous others both known and a couple of new people who we meet for the first time. Neil takes a tumble which I’ll not describe in full but left some in fits of laughter and me covered in wine!
Plans...So we stay too long in this very strange time warp of fun and laughter and now it’s too late for a nap etc….
We say our fond goodbyes to James, Neils brother, who will be on the boat tomorrow after such a fleeting visit and he’s a good bloke who is great fun to be with and we are now friends for life no doubt. John, who also goes tomorrow, and we have only met for the first time buys Liz a bunch of flowers which brings a tear to her eyes. More about that tomorrow.
The plan changes and we are welcomed again by Zoe of Zoe’s Taverna up above the bars and are encouraged to take table number one right at the front.
- Tzatziki
The Tzatziki starter with bread is very creamy and full of Garlic but not overpowering like some and Liz follows this with the Chicken in Sauce and I’ve gone for the Chicken in Orange and Lemon.
- Chicken in sauce
- Chicken in Orange and Lemon
A nice on the house cake finished the meal.
- Complimentary Cake
We have to say this was one of the best meals we have ever had on Symi, the sauces were just incredible with so much taste, and we will surely have another visit this time.
We know all Symi days like this must end but it’s been one of those you want to go on forever.