Symi Chat

Hello,

Quick question whether day trips to Datca will be running this July? Also, does anyone have more info or photos of the markets?

Thanks

Seems unlikely to be running in 2013 as they didn't run in 2012. There were new regulations about inspections and equipment used on boats carrying more than 12 passengers on international journeys and it became uneconomic for the island excursion boats to comply for one journey a week. While the Dodekanisos Express ferry does comply and has made the journey before there wasn't enough traffic to cover the fuel and crew costs.
The Greek Customs service has much more of a presence on Symi these days and has been known to enforce import restrictions on foodstuffs as well as obviously high value items.
However it is possible to privately charter a smaller boat carrying no more than 12 passengers and I'm sure someone will be able to suggest contacts on the island who would help - I have ideas but others may have actually done it.
Market day in Datcha is Saturday, many/most of the stallholders speak some English. Photos aren't too easy because the market area is crowded and often shaded by awnings to keep the sun off the stock

The Saturday market is more more commercialised than it used to be. The old cutom of haggling and having your hands sprinkled with lemon water is fast dying out. If you do go, be very careful when buying herbs, spices however. I bought some red dried peppercorns on my last visit. when I opened the bag at home they were moving!

As Andy said, it isn't easy to get pictures of the market in Datca with the crowds in there. These are the only ones I have and they date from 2005. They were taken when the market was relatively quiet because of a spectacular thunderstorm.

[img]http://www.symi.eu.com/images/datca1.jpg[/img]



[img]http://www.symi.eu.com/images/datca2.jpg[/img]



[img]http://www.symi.eu.com/images/datca3.jpg[/img]

Hi, Alloftheetc, and welcome to SV!

We looked into a day visit last year. Seems that a round trip would be a total of �500, shared between all passengers. But none of the boats seemed to be actively promoting/selling this.

It makes it an expensive day out now and really, if you've seen the market several times before then the bargains aren't a bargain.