Margarita Time

[silverfox]

It's not very surprising that a sleep is needed after all the food you two consume.

Please carry on though as we love the pictures and reviews.

[D and E]

Day 8 : Sunday - Quick Visit To Pedi Day

Although the early morning bells from the church behind our apartment woke D around 7:15 neither of us surfaced until almost 9am !!! Unheard of really and can’t even blame ouzo or retsina.

D could not remember if the baker was open or not - well that is what he said anyway. Later we found it was open so perhaps it was a bout of selective memory

Morning Walk

In any case we headed to Cafe Aiglios for frappe, orange juice and a shared cheese & ham omelette - breakfast done.

Omelette Cafe Aiglios

We watched the taxi boats leave and the day boats arrive and still the day trippers are arriving in large numbers. The heat and it being a Sunday we suspect encourages people to come over.

E went to the chemist to see if we could get more Repel - the anti-mosquito spray but the shelves that had been full a few days ago were empty. This suggests we are not alone in our battle.

We sat by the harbour side watching more day boats arrive until the noon bus arrived and we hopped over to Pedi and had a couple of small beers in the bar area of Katsaras. The sunbeds were doing good trade with the exception of the “First Class” ones where only 2 were taken.

Pedi

Fishing

We jumped on the 2:30 bus back as there is no 3:30.

All the restaurants looked very busy as we made our way to Cafe Nicholas where we sat and had some ice cream - just what was needed as the temperature is again in the mid thirties.

Ice Cream Cafe Nicholas

We returned to the apartment and sat out watching the day boats depart and the taxi boats return one by one and started to look at times for next Sunday when we will be departing the island again for a night on Rhodes before our lunchtime flight back on the Monday.

We had already decided on tonight’s dinner venue over our beers in Pedi and had booked a table as we passed just to be on the safe side.

Before dinner we went to what has been our regular venue on this visit - the jetty of the Nireus hotel and looked on to what looks like a converted tug boat. Beautifully converted if that is what it is. Like a classic car it was a real head-turner.

Evening View From Nireus Jetty

“Tug Boat”

Normally our evenings are uneventful but this evening we were entertained by someone who was praising another island whilst pointing out ‘all’ the faults of Sými. D was on the brink of offering to pay for a ferry ticket to take her to the said island

We had decided to return to Kaboz and ordered their garlic prawns to share as a starter. Four large prawns arrived and had been deveined and left with just head and tail to remove which puts these into pole position. The garlic butter they came in was mopped clean.

Even Excuse The Spelling

Prawns Kaboz

Mousaka Kaboz

Stuffed Calamari Kaboz

E then had mousaka which was a generous portion and perfectly baked. D had the stuffed calamari. A whole squid stuffed with goats cheese, finely decided peppers and herbs. This was a memorable dish.

It is diffuser for us to choose between Kaboz and Tholos as the cooking is superb in both as are the staff. The waiter in Kaboz introduced himself as “Dim, short for Dimitri”. We giggled to ourselves as we first thought that he said his name was Jim!

We walked the short distance round to our apartment at around 10:30 where Odyssia and Tholos were still brining out dishes. This little corner of Sými is certainly hitting the gastronomic heights.


PS. As D finalises this on a beautiful and slightly cooler Monday morning, having returned from the bakery, his thoughts are with the group of around 50 refugees, ranging from babies to the elderly, all sat in the caged area beside the clock tower. They sit within 75 meters of the Orient Star super-yacht that must cost £ tens of millions. What a strange world we have created.

[D and E]

Day 9 : Monday - Nanou Day

Nothing to wake D today but his inner alarm had him on the bread stroll at 07:30. We must stop using the term bread run as that would suggest far too much activity.

D being the organised type has the beach bag prepared so that just the final bits and pieces are thrown in and off we go.

We arrived at a very busy harbour front and boarded the 10:00 to Nanou. The taxi boat was at full capacity when it departed five minutes later. A separate boat was doing the St.Nicks and Ag.Marina runs so we headed to St.George’s bay where a few intrepid visitors were spending the day. With no sunbeds or taverna you need to be self-sufficient to spend a day below the vast sheer cliffs but you are rewarded with the most turquoise of sea to swim in.

Let’s Go To Nanou

We all trooped off the boat and along the boardwalk. We grabbed a sunbed within easy reach of the taverna and soon after our €3 each was collected.

Kalimera Nanou

Nanou

The taverna doesn’t start serving food until 12:30 but it is of course open for drinks so E fetched two small Mythos that had the cooling effect. The temperature has returned or what we regard as the September norm.

After another swim and Mythos, this time cut with Fanta, and an hour in the sun it seemed like a good time for lunch.

The Important Stuff

Like Marathounda, Nanou has its own small herd of goats that provide constant entertainment, especially if you sit at the front of the taverna as we did.

How Do You Resist

We ordered Greek salad, kefedes that came with a few real chips, and tuna salad that was presented very nicely as three balls with an olive on the middle one. The food was very good and the menu had many more substantial dishes that we might have indulged in had we the self-control not to dine out in the evenings.

Greek Salad Nanou

Lunch took us to 3pm so after another hours of sun we decided to take the 16:00 boat back. There was also a 17:00 and even an 18:00 as there seems to be no sign of a let up in the number of people wanting to go to the various beaches each day.

On the return journey we picked up at St.Nicks and Ag.Marina and had a full boat as we arrived back into Yialos. We decided to let the crowds subside - any excuse really - and took a seat in Cafe Aiglios for two cold draught ones.

Then it was home changed and out again and no siesta !

Visitors Arrive Outside Our Apartment

The View From Our Balcony

We decided on Elpida’s for our ouzo & retsina and as always something interesting was happening in the port with the White Shark super yacht docking right outside. Even more impressive than that (for us) was the arrival of Frank (Taxiarchis] and Eva. Frank & Eva were the first people we ever stayed with on Symi and their hospitality and friendship has played a huge part in why we keep returning year after year.

The ouzo and retsina came with a lovely mezes. It was then time to head to Odyssia as we had booked a table on the way past. Manolis and Katholiki have always made us so welcome and it was heartwarming to see them open again with every table taken. They have found a great chef and are back to their best. We are so pleased for them.

As the menus arrived D went to take his phone out to start taking the pics and of course the silly old fool had left it in Elpida’s. That speedy walk back to recover it certainly worked up his appetite not that it needs much work

View From Odyssia Over Dinner

We decided to share a grilled octopus as a starter and that proved to be a good decision. Perfectly grilled in a lemony butter - this was a hit.

Grilled Octopus In Lemon Odyssia

For mains E went with pork fillet in a Gorgonzola sauce and that came with real chips. The pork was cooked perfectly and the sauce was a knock out. D thanked the gods he believes in for the couple of morsels E could not handle. D had gone for the amberjack - fish he has had before at Odyssia and sticks in his memory. It comes as a steak on the bone with a lovely dressing and is a lighter version of tuna. He loved every mouthful. It came with real chips or a couscous salad and he went with the couscous. Knock out dish.

Pork In Gorgonzola

Amberjack Odyssia

The retsina flowed to welcome us back and added to that came a complimentary baclava that was the biggest sugar hit we have had in a long time - beautiful.

This was a splendid evening (apart from D’s phone hiccup) and we parted company with a selfie with Katholiki who is doing such a great job running Odyssia.

Kali Nichta Katholiki

[silverfox]

All the food looks great as usual.

Great blog which many will be following so thanks for the updates.

[D and E]

Day 10 : Tuesday - Time To Climb Again Day

After fetching the bread and having a swim we decided over breakfast that having had a beach day the day before we would have a walking day.

The first leg was the familiar walk round to “Comfy Chairs” just as the King Saron started depositing its passengers at the clock tower. They just keep coming over - sensible people.

After frappes and a shared fresh orange juice D suggested that we take what we christened the “Donkey Steps” up to Chorio. It had been a few years since we last took this route up and at 11:00am in full sun it was quite a trek. We think the Kali Strata is a much easier route but as an alternative way to reach Chorio it does provide a different perspective.

Starting Up “The Donkey Steps”

Once we reached the top with a few stops along the way we turned left and headed along the road that affords great views down into Yialos and beyond. And of course this takes you out at Yiannis Rainbow Bar and the pot of gold - golden lager in a chilled glass.

Getting There …..

Still A Bit To Go

Made It

Worth The Climb

Should Have Hired These

As we finished our first small beer Jb&M arrived having walked up the Kali Strata. We chatted over our second small beer before they headed off for lunch and we descended the Kali but cutting off at the bend and weaving our way down to come out at Pantelis Restaurant that was doing great business with the lunch crowd.

Yiannis

That View From Rainbow Bar

E went for a short shopping trip and we agreed to rendezvous in Stella Bar where D often likes to go. From there we had one last taverna stop in Elpida’s and then back to the apartment.

From Stella Bar

We had decided to return to Trata for dinner and went for our pre-dinner drinks to Cafe Aiglios. As we sat out front we finally met, in person, Sými legends who have been visiting regularly for years, who E interacts with through social media, and who despite all this we had never talked to face to face. So lovely to meet for this first time.

D noticed E texting more than usual and on enquiring discovered that our accommodation for next September has been negotiated and booked. We are returning to a property that we haven’t been in for many years! We’ll keep that information under wraps until one of next year’s blogs.

Jb&M had also chosen Cafe Aiglios to start or continue their evening.

As we were thinking about ordering a second ouzo and retsina it was like the owner of Cafe Aiglios had read our minds and the drinks magically appeared “from him”.

Then a regular contributor to the Sými Chat forum stopped for a chat. We first met Rockbottom (V&N) when we both stayed in Anastasia’s several years ago and this was the first time since then that we had spoken. Great to catch up.

And so to Trata ….. no ! We went to Vasilis instead. A restaurant we hadn’t visited for several years but one that we always look back on with fondness and the knowledge that the traditional menu will serve up excellent food. We are never put off by how quiet a restaurant is and whilst only a few tables were taken when we arrived, they all appeared to be Greek families.

Vasilis

We started with garlic mushrooms which was a straightforward generous plate of mushrooms sautéed in garlic. With that we had very good dolmades with yoghurt. To follow E went with the stifado and this was prepared as it should be with the small onions and plenty of herbs and spices to flavour the melt in the mouth beef. E gave this a huge thumbs up.

Garlic Mushrooms Vasilis

Dolmades Vasilis

Beef Stifado Vasilis

D went for the roast lamb. Several slices of perfectly cooked lamb with waxy potatoes. Plain, simply and totally satisfying.

Lamb Vasilis

The welcome was as if we were regular customers and the retsina was on the house - another act of Sými generosity that we experience that evening.

We were offered watermelon as a complimentary sweet but turned this down and walked along the waterside to our apartment to rest the weary legs


PS. It’s Wednesday morning as we finalise this episode and there has been a shower of rain which is quite an exciting thing to report. It lasted all of 10 minutes and now the sun is out again.

Wednesday Morning Rain Clouds

[Oor Willie]

It was great to finally meet you, only sorry we could not chat a bit longer as we had been out on the Poseidon all day then spent to long having farewell drinks with friends who were leaving and we were running out of time to go home, shower and get out to eat before everything started to close down. We also Love Vasilis and eat there at least once every holiday.

[D and E]

Day 11 : Wednesday - An Agia Marina Day

After the shower that came to nothing D finalised the blog and zipped up the every-ready beach bag.

Without breakfast supplies we were “forced” to have a spinach pie and sausage pie breakfast from the bakery as we walked round to the taxi boats

The 10am taxi boat was once again full but saying that it was going to stop at Ag.Marina, St.Nicks, St.George’s and Nanou so things are slowing down but only slightly. Next door to us the Poseidon was loading up with many “weel kent Sými faces” as D would say.

Only about 10 of us got off at Ag.Marina where the new sunbed regime was in play. The big comfortable ones at the water’s edge were €8 each and so we plonked ourselves down and D got things sorted whilst E went to the pagoda bar for frappes.

Agia Marina

The Bar

Although under new ownership many familiar staff from our last visit are still working there and they seem a very happy team that are only too willing to help visitors. A girl that used to work in “Comfy Chairs” and who always looked after us for our morning frappes now works at Ag.Marina and it was so nice to meet up with her again and hear how she had been doing.

The 11am boat brought a bigger crowd and George’s boat from Pedi made several visits so by noon there was a decent number of people but it did not feel crowded.

After a swim it was beer time and we always like to have that in the area beside the bar looking out through the restaurant to the sea.

Small Beers In The Morning

Sitting Out In “The Bar”

Then an hours sun and time for lunch. As expected the food continues to impress. As it had been a few years since our last visit D reverted to his usual choice which is the pesto linguini. E chose the calamari and of course we shared. The setting of this restaurant is outstanding and so is the cooking. The calamari batter was almost tempura in its consistency and the pesto was light and almost creamy. The food is served in very nice plates and bowls and the service is so cheerful. With two glasses of chilled white wine this was the perfect lunch.

Pesto Linguini Ag.Marina

Calamari Ag.Marina

Contentment Personified

Hint : whilst all tables have a good view if you want a table that is closest to the sea then reserve when you arrive.

By the time we finished lunch we had an hour of reading (for D that included snoring) and then the 4pm boat was there to return us to Yialos. We noticed from the ticket that the last return journey would be 5pm so another example of things slowing down a little.

Stunning Ag.Marina

We walked back to the apartment picking up water from the kiosk as we have done almost every day. On the way E spotted a baseball cap and knowing D’s liking of such hats, and him never having had a Sými one, she popped in to the shop and discovered a cornucopia of clothes and other things and this gave D time to catch up with Takis.

As we left the apartment in the evening a large but not full moon was starting to rise about the hills opposite and by the time we were sitting in Cafe Aiglios with our evening drinks it was producing quite a dramatic effect.

Moon Over Sými

Moon Over Yialos

Poseidon Booking Office

Once again we encountered Rockbottom (V&N) and JuliaB (Jb&M) and as one does compared what we had been up to during the day. The Trata idea from the previous night became reality and once again we sat down in a busy restaurant. V&N had had the same idea and were on an adjoining table and soon after Jb&M sat a table a bit further away.

We started with the imam again and also had the stuffed mushrooms that are a favourite and didn’t disappoint. Then E had the chicken souvlaki that came with chips and rice and a yoghurt dip and D finally got his fix of liver again with chips and rice.

Stuffed Mushrooms Trata

We left and returned home seeing Elpida’s doing well and as ever seeing Odyssia and Tholos having a busy evening.


PS. During the night there was quite a storm - D only noticed when his beloved aircon stopped working and even then just rolled over as the thunder rumbled and quite heavy rain descended. Whilst the electrics are all back up this morning the water-pump for the property has not, so running water is delayed.

However this has cleared the air and as the blog is being written the sun has come up and this mighty cruise liner has dropped anchor outside the property and is now ferrying guests into Yialos.

Cruise Liner

[Thomasdk]

Please, can I have some more?

[KN9700]

Back in Denmark we still enjoy reading your blog D and E.
We were happy to meet you personally and thanking you for your brilliant texts and photos from Symi.
It´s nice to hear that you´re already planning one or two holidays on Symi next year.
We have also booked at Taxiarchis for next september.

Inge and Karl-Johan

[D and E]

Day 12 : Thursday - A St.Nicks Day

The day started sunny with blue skies so we decided we would not break our habit of a Sými lifetime and miss out on a George’s Boat to St.Nicks. His was the first taxi boat we ever went on and we do not believe we have missed him once in all our visits.

So it was ATM time again. This wasn’t the first visit by a long way but we haven’t mentioned it as nothing has changed. We would say that card is widely accepted and we see it being used more and more.

As D did the ATM E walked on to the bakery and got us two croissants as either through laziness or perhaps design we still had no breakfast provisions.

On Our Way To Catch A Taxi Boat

We were a bit early for the 10am bus over to Pedi and a taxi was waiting. We therefore decided as we come towards the end of our visit that the €3 difference in price was worth it and we were in Pedi in no time at all.

In fact we had time to have a frappe from the cafe that used to be be the supermarket opposite where George berths. It wasn’t long before George returned from a trip and we jumped on the front of the boat and set off for St.Nicks. George reported that 45 refugees had landed during the night and were now being taken care of by the authorities.

As were we’re reaching St.Nicks there were clouds coming over from Rhodes. They started off as fluffy white but before long they had darkened. We did not get any rain but the beach was in shade until around 2:30pm.

The sunbeds on the far side from where you land with the taxi-boat are no longer which is a pity as that is where we always preferred to sit. We didn’t like to pry in case it was upsetting for the great family that have run this beach for as far back as we can remember. Someone we know and who goes there all the time said it was due to the proximity to the sea with the wall that runs along the front. It’s not just in the UK that the Nanny State exists it seems.

The Missing Sunbeds

Bira Time St.Nicks

We had lunch as we always do in the taverna and had Greek Salad, tzatziki and kefedes which we find to be just right in terms of a light lunch. Once upon a time we would have had “the works” fresh fish, moussaka, stifado, you name it we would have had it And then we would have gone out for dinner at night. We are lightweights nowadays - if only we were a bit lighter !

Light Lunch St.Nicks

We decided to catch the 3pm boat back to Pedi knowing full well there wouldn’t be a bus until 4:30. We walked along to Kamares cafe in perfect sunshine ! The cafe is where the bus turns and we had a couple of ouzos and retsina’s and watched the boats come and go and E walked along to the little church to take a few (more) photos. There was a very chilled playlist on the speakers and time went by in a flash.

Waiting For The Bus Kamares Cafe Pedi

Pedi

Pedi

Pedi Stroll

Pedi Small Church

As we were about to leave D&G came past having just arrived yesterday. It’s years since we last saw them and like Sými itself they haven’t changed a bit. We wish we had had more time to catch up but the bus was coming.

We thought we were the last two that could fit on a very busy bus but there was room for a small one and our friend J squeezed on at the first stop. The trip from Pedi to the village was hardly long enough for us to catch up but always lovely to see this girl who loves Sými so much.

We arrived in sunny Yialos and made our way back to a sunny apartment. Was it only St.Nicks that was in the shade

Being blessed with three great restaurants close to the apartment our last three dinners are just a matter of what order we do them in.

We had to decide so where better than over a pina colada at the Nireus. We sat and watched a short, mild lightning storm over in Turkey with the moon coming up over Sými and decided on Odyssia.

Nireus Jetty View

Nireus Jetty View

Looking Up To Chorio

We thought that as we had tried the prawns in Tholos and Kaboz we should make the comparison and of course we love seafood. Like Kaboz these prawns (described as shrimp on the menu but Katholiki clarified for us) were well prepared with only the head and tail left to be removed. They were smaller than at the other two restaurants but then you get 6 medium sized prawns for only €13 in Odyssia which is excellent value. They came with a lovely charring from the grill and finished in the pan with a herby butter - delicious.

View From Odyssia

“Shrimps” Odyssia

After sharing these E went with the chicken in a Mastic sauce that she regarded highly. D went for the sea bass that was a generous whole fish cooked on the bbq. Skin perfectly crispy and beautiful white flesh. There is a good choice of fixed price fish at Odyssia.

Chicken In Mastica Sauce Odyssia

Sea Bass Odyssia

Despite Katholiki’s best efforts of plying us with more retsina and claiming it was “zero alcohol” we capped our complimentary bottle and took it home but only after she insisted we had the complimentary baclava with angel hair pastry that was just divine.

Only two whole days to go and as we walked the short journey back to the apartment we wondered where the time had gone.

[D and E]

Back in Denmark we still enjoy reading your blog D and E.
We were happy to meet you personally and thanking you for your brilliant texts and photos from Symi.
It´s nice to hear that you´re already planning one or two holidays on Symi next year.
We have also booked at Taxiarchis for next september.

Inge and Karl-Johan

Good to hear you are home safe and sound.
It is our pleasure to do the daily blog when it is received so well and of course we like to read them when they are archived and we can look back on our visits.
We may see you again next September which would be nice.
Take care both.

[D and E]

Day 13 : Friday - Poseidon Day (At Last)

We have been watching a very busy Poseidon depart each day and always preferring a quiet boat have kept putting off our Round The Island trip.

With the slight change in weather over the previous couple of days we did wander what Friday would hold but we woke to sunshine and clear blue skies and with us heading to Rhodes on Sunday we decided to go.

As well as liking a quiet boat we also like to be on the upper deck (when the canopy is up as it was) and if we can be at the front all the better.

We walked round to Cafe Aiglios where we had frappe and shared a cheese & ham omelette. Whilst that was being prepared D went to the ATM, paid for the day trip, booked the ferry for Sunday and got our bags on board the Poseidon. He can move when he has to

We set sail at 10:30 with 30 people on board and 8 of us on the upper deck. This seemed a perfect number to us although we do recognise the economics !

We had three lovely swim stops before reaching Sasklia. We even had a lady who had joined her school diving club in 1951 who was showing how it was done, diving off the top rung of the ladder - an amazing woman indeed.

Swim Stop

Lunch was as perfect as it always is.

Poseidon BBQ Lunch

Waiter Service

Leftovers

Final stop for swimming under the vast cliffs of St.George’s Bay and back in Yialos at 17:30.

We had excellent company on the upper desk and have met so many nice people over the years and this was no exception.

This is always a highlight of our visit and anyone who encounters us and asks about what to do in Sými gets told about it.

Perfect Symi

We had a small beer in Cafe Aiglios and then a Mojito in Alegrito before returning to the apartment for a quick turnaround and back to the Nireus booking a seaside table in Kaboz on the way.

Are You Looking At Us ?

We once again shared the perfectly prepared garlic prawns and D followed this with seafood pasta. A generous portion of linguini came with two large prawns about a half dozen mussels and a load of pieces of squid - enough to share with the very friendly cat who visited our table and looked in need of a few morsels of squid.

Kaboz

Seafood Pasta

E had to have her favourite again and the chicken and prunes were just as delicious as our earlier visit.

The family who run the place had the night off and it showed a bit but not to the point where it affected us. We were given a complimentary portion of watermelon and were on our way home by 10:30 contemplating that we have one more dinner date on Sými.

[D and E]

Day 14 : Saturday - A Port Day

It is always the same for us, after the “exertions” of the Round The Island trip and all the swimming, that the following day sees us taking it easy.

After a slow start catching up with two days blogging it was time for frappes, and still being without breakfast provisions, a shared cheese and ham omelette and the freshest of fresh orange juice at Cafe Aiglios. “Comfy Chairs” has become such a part of our daily routine that our departing wave is accompanied with a shout of “avrio”

We sauntered over to Cafe Axinos next door to the pharmacy where we sat with two small beers in ice chilled glasses watching all the day trippers who were arriving on that side of the harbour. Sými was going to have another busy Saturday.

A pipe had burst and there was about six inches of water in the area from the corner of the harbour along to the pharmacy so that proved entertaining as scooters and vehicles were reluctant to go through the water. This, when mixed with the arriving day boat people, resulted in much consternation and a lot of hand waving and gesturing but all in good spirit it seemed.

From there E was going for a proper look at the shops and D went to Stella Bar another great place to people watch and have a chat with the owner and his staff.

By now it was around 2pm so we decided to go to Elpida’s and have an ouzo, retsina and the lovely mezes. We so much enjoy just watching the hustle and bustle of daily life that another small carafe of retsina was called for and two hours just vanished.

Lunch At Elpida’s

Mezes Elpida

We walked back to the apartment and had a short siesta as we were heading out earlier than usual. E had bought D one of those wrist bands that he likes and it needed a slight adjustment and when in Niki’s shop had spotted some jewellery that she liked. He has such lovely unique pieces that we often buy something as a reminder of our visit.

D fancied a last Nireus pina colada that he has become very fond of. They are not the usual creamy drink and are much more limey and very refreshing. We had that on the jetty and then walked round the harbour.

Pina Colada Time Nireus

A few super yachts had berthed and the one nearest the tower took the breath away. It even had a jacuzzi on the rear deck area. As one of the guests came off his sandal - probably worth as much as our holiday cost fell off his foot into the harbour and a fishing net had to be sought to try and rescue it but it looked to be sinking fast. Mina to the rescue possibly !!??

Super Yacht With Jacuzzi

After a successful shopping expedition we sat and had our last evening Sými retsina and ouzo in Cafe Aiglios before walking back round to Tholos for dinner where many Symiots were having dinner.

The Amazing Tholos

Our starter was already written on the pad and we followed this with what E pronounced to be the stand out dish of the visit - chicken in an almond and white wine sauce with lemon potatoes. D had to have a forkful and agreed that it was a sumptuous dish worthy of E’s accolade.

Prawns (Again) Tholos

The Standout Chicken In White Wine And Almonds

D was in the unheard of position of not having had moussaka during the visit so he rectified that and a very generous portion of the best moussaka arrived.

Moussaka Tholos

We finished with a complimentary fruit salad.

Fruit Salad Tholos

The perfect last dinner on Sými - who needs a boat with a jacuzzi anyway ?

The Walk Home

[silverfox]

I really loved the food comment that you have become "lightweights"

You are having a laugh!

[D and E]

I really loved the food comment that you have become "lightweights"

You are having a laugh!

You are so correct Silverfox : the putting on of the long trousers for the return journey proved just how “light” we are not.

[D and E]

Day 15 : Sunday - Farewell To Sými Day

And in no time at all there we were waking up to our last day on the rock.

We walked round to the Nireus for breakfast. It was quite busy with what looked like weekend visitors. The staff were doing their best to replenish the buffet.

Breakfast View From Nireus

After the lovely breakfast, that is highly recommended, and a bit of a photoshoot for our Sými bears, we walked back to the apartment. D did the blog and E did her packing.

Bears At Breakfast

There was quite a breeze and from the balcony we could see that Poseidon, instead of taking its usual line to Nimos, headed round the headland towards Pedi. Soon after the Maria boat did the same. The Sebeco also took quite a wide route into port so it may be more than a light breeze out there. We would see later.

We returned to the apartment and did the packing and said farewell to Christina who had kept our apartment spick and span over the last two weeks. Margarita popped down to wish us a safe journey and give us some preserved olives.

We had noticed the night before that the King Saron, that regularly departed Sými around 18:00, was full of passengers but was still in port around 19:30. Margarita, whose husband works on the taxi boats, explained that this was due to high winds in Rhodes and the port authority not allowing them to set sail. They did finally get away around 20:00.

With us all ready to go we took a walk to Cafe Aiglios for a last small beer and then returned for the Sými Tours van that took us and our cases to the Sebeco departure point. We were advised that due to the wind only the Sebeco II was running and even it would stay in Rhodes overnight instead of returning to Symi as it normally does.

Last Mythos Cafe Aiglios

Farewell Margaritas

Farewell Sými Till The Next Time

We boarded a very busy boat and were soon on our way. Due to the winds the usual route that goes close to Turkey was avoided and we headed to a point well down the coast of Rhodes and then followed the coast up to the harbour.

We were last to get off the boat and then walked the short distance to the taxi station just outside the port gates and across the road. Taxis were just arriving and our man got the short straw as so many people were heading to the airport and we were only going as far as the Best Western Plaza for the night.

We could have stayed on Sými one more night and crossed on the early Sebeco but as we get older these early starts are less and less attractive.

We had a drink in the hotel bar that was busy with locals watching Sunday night Greek League Football.

Plaza Cocktails

Having dined in the hotel in June we decided to venture out and see what we would find. We headed in the direction of Koukos where we have stayed before and eaten before and hardly recognised the place. We recall it being popular but it has expanded to both sides of the walkway and plays quite load music attracting the trendy set. The place was full. We walked on, past all the restaurants and bars with the garish signs and waiting staff trying to entice us in, until we came upon a quiet looking place called Restaurant Alexandra.

We liked the fact that it looked subdued and took our chance. Turned out to be very good indeed. We shared a starter of a variety of different mushrooms in garlic that was well cooked. E went for pork souvlaki that came with a tzatziki dip, pita bread, tomatoes and chips (not real chips). The pork was nicely charred and moist.

Pork Souvlaki Alexandra

D chose the house pasta dish that was Rigatoni Alexandra. An abundance of sliced perfectly cooked fillet steak with a rich tomato sauce and “Pastahead” was well pleased.

Pasta Alexandra

We walked back past the crowded bars, that were probably just getting going, resisting all the invites to sample two-for-one exotic cocktails.

The Best Western provides a very comfortable room and it wasn’t long before we were asleep.

[D and E]

Day 16 : Return Home & Reflections Day

As we have reported before the buffet breakfast at The Plaza is extensive and most enjoyable.

Plaza Breakfast D Style

We spotted a couple of Sými regulars who we hadn’t seen for years but they didn’t recognise us - our desire to be low key and forgettable is working

After a hearty breakfast we took a walk along the harbour front, returned to the hotel, checked out and got a taxi to the airport.

Rhodes Harbour

Rhodes Harbour

The bag drop wasn’t busy nor was security or passport control and we were sitting at Gate 6 in no time at all.

D tracked the incoming flight which landed bang on time. The Speedy Boarding got going quickly but the bus taking us the 100 meters to the aircraft didn’t; it was most pleasant however waiting in the sun. The flight was fully boarded by 13:15 for a 13:30 departure but then the pilot announced an air traffic control at Luton issue and a delay of 50 minutes. He then announced, as if he had undertaken some Herculean task, that we would get off the ground in 20 minutes and so we took off at 13:50, some 20 minutes late.

D had to curtail his normal onboard routine as there was no stop-over on our return ! E was sitting by a Greek girl called Irene who had been home in Athens for over 2 months (Uni Lecturer in Bristol and worked from home) and had spent the last week of her Summer holiday in Symi. She gave E a few pointers on how to go about learning the language over Winter. We’ll see how that goes. She told us that the Greek equivalent of our names are Freedom and Peace so we all agreed that was a fine starting point.

For the first time in our experience we were asked to switch off fully our mobile and computer devices on the approach to Bristol. This was explained as being due to low cloud and presumably the plane needing to be flown on instruments. This appeared to result in a high landing speed and quite a bit of braking. The flight from Bordeaux half an hour or so before us had attempted landing a few times and, after a few rough goes, aborted and had to land in Cardiff where they refuelled and flew back to Bristol an hour later. All very alarming for E !

We landed about 15 minutes late. D was guided to the staffed Border Control and was through in seconds whilst E ended up at the automated gates and took about 5 minutes to get through. Progress we think they call it.

About 20 minutes after landing the bags started to appear on the carousel and we were soon in the queue outside the terminal building awaiting the bendy bus to take us to the Silver Parking Zone. Thankfully despite dark skies it was dry but had it been raining we would have been soaked as there is no shelter.

We didn’t think our position in the queue would see us get on the bus and there seemed to be only one bus ferrying back and forth. But it is quite amazing how many people with luggage can be squeezed onto one of these. The return of car keys at the Silver Parking Zone Reception was very slick and we were on the road by 17:30 and home by 22:00 with one stop for a McDonalds which was quite a shock to the system after Sými dining

As we drove along we reflected on yet another wonderful visit to Sými. We relish the fact that nothing much changes on the island. We were surprised how busy things were during our visit measured by the number of day visitors we witnessed every day and how busy the taxi boats were. So often in the past the business owners that we know and chat to say how bad things are but everyone was saying what a busy year they have had which was great to hear especially after the lean covid years. We couldn’t remember there being quite as much traffic around the harbour before however - walking around by Harani we had to give way to a car almost every few minutes during the day.

It was great to meet again so many Symi regulars that we had met before and some for the first time.

Beautiful Sými gave us her unconditional love as usual and we basked in it. The generosity shown to us has never changed and like so many others we will now spend our winter nights thinking and planning where we might stay next May / June and how we might get to Sými for our already booked September visit.

As usual, we thank everyone who has read this account of our visit and hope that it inspires everyone to visit again if they can. When it’s lashing down in Wales (like today) we’ll probably have another read of it to remind ourselves of those warm nights and lemon potatoes.

Have a good winter.

Yamas

[silverfox]

After a difficult year without the chance to have a holiday on Symi can we just thank you both for another awesome blog of your precious time on the rock.

I do understand the time it takes, but as you know, looking back during the dark days of winter and re-tracing the steps and remembering the views and food is like giving you/us a second Symi fix which is so good for the soul.

Once again thank you so much!

You two take care and we hope to meet again soon.

Love and best wishes.

[D and E]

After a difficult year without the chance to have a holiday on Symi can we just thank you both for another awesome blog of your precious time on the rock.

I do understand the time it takes, but as you know, looking back during the dark days of winter and re-tracing the steps and remembering the views and food is like giving you/us a second Symi fix which is so good for the soul.

Once again thank you so much!

You two take care and we hope to meet again soon.

Love and best wishes.

We hope that 2024 can be less difficult. We really do count ourselves very lucky to be able to visit Sými and it is so gratifying to know that the blog gives you so much pleasure. We are sure we will meet up again and in the meantime take care of each other and keep in touch with us.

[rockbottom]

We echo silver fox's words, and it was good to catch up with you both! Hopefully we'll enjoy your June blog and maybe we'll see you in September.
Silver fox, hope 2024 is a better year for you too.