It's Thursday morning back in Llanddeiniol, Mid Wales.
Firstly we would like to thank all those who have read and commented on the posts over the last two weeks. D uses an excellent App called TripRider which allows us to organise and then create a record of our trips and from the Diary section of the App it is easy to copy and paste to this excellent Forum.
The last night was memorable as for the first time D's sister and brother-in-law could join us (they are still in Pedi for the next two weeks and of course we are not envious
).
It was very kind of Neil & Toby to invite us for pre-drinks, drinks and nibbles in their new abode. What a stunning house. See you guys in October.
Yiannis then saw a bit of "musical chairs" as the rain started. Once again proud of a 100% attendance record
The day had started with a farewell breakfast in the Olive Tree - this will now be a regular treat for all future visits.
We wandered around the port saying our farewell's with an omelette lunch at Cafe Evios.
D&E climbed the Kali for the last time of the holiday but as P&H had stocked up on Metaxa they took a taxi.
After pre-drinks with Neil & Toby and then drinks in Yiannis we headed to Zoe's which was quite busy - clearly we are not alone in making this our traditional last night venue. A large mezes of calamari, bouryadi, tuna fish salad, beans gigantes, moussaka, beef stifados, Symi lamb, beetroot with skadalia was an excellent celebratory dinner to end another superb holiday in this magical place.
We returned to our apartment in the rain with the wind getting up, thunder rumbling in the hills and lightening somewhere towards Rodos.
Not much sleep as we were being picked up next morning at 05:30 for the 06:30 ferry departure. The Symi Tours bus was very promt to pick us up on the Pedi Road (where we had been dropped off on arrival). No longer do the bags go down on their own and you walk to the ferry. The mini-bus takes you and your bags - which was quite welcome in view of the weather. Katja did give us the option of just leaving the bags to be picked up and for us to walk down but we took the lazy option.
Everything was coved in the red Sahara dust that rainstorms often bring.
The crossing on the big Dodek ferry was fine but we did learn from D's sister that the hydrofoil due later in the day was delayed. We had breakfast near the International Hotel and made it to Socrates Garden in Rhodes Old Town for a final small Mythos.
The check-in at Diagoras was particularly slow but then there was not that much sitting around before we boarded and everything run to time. We cleared Manchester Airport by 7pm and with quiet roads were home by 10pm.
To reflect on our two weeks in paradise we would firstly thank all those people on Symi who make us so welcome : you know who you are as you have done this regularly over the last twenty years. Your generosity even in difficult times is amazing.
The island was very quiet and many seem to agree that scaremongering in the foreign press about there being no food on the shelves and money not being available from ATMs may be impacting. The press should be ashamed. We do hope that things pick up during June to September as the people on Symi work very long hours each and every day during the summer heat and deserve success.
The food was as ever of the highest quality - we are vowing to ourselves that we will spread our net wider than our usual favourites in October when we will be living "down". Should keep us fit if we try and replicate our 100% attendance record at the wonderful Yiannis but perhaps Elpida's will have to provide interim support.
The taxi boats from Yialos seemed to us to have started later than usual so we did not make it out on one of those but that was to George and St.Nick's benefit.
Circumstances and our own procrastination saw us miss out on the Posseidon trips but will rectify that in October - definite.
So there ends another wonderful two weeks on Symi.
Now to get on the scales and just see how much "damage" has been done
And then to get the amazing Greyam (the cat) from the cattery.
Yasou,
D&E