Symi holiday blog

Archived trip reports

Symi holiday blog

Postby RockHopper » 27 Sep 2013, 12:22

Hi D and E and thanks for your journal that involves so many familiar places where my wife and I have eaten and also knowing the familiar and well known faces of our Symi pals!

Enjoy our shared experience of Symi doing what Symi does best!
User avatar
RockHopper
Regular Visitor
Regular Visitor
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 27 Sep 2013, 01:00
Location: -

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 27 Sep 2013, 22:41

Well that Tollis lunch became a reality and the Daphne Salad with a Symi honey and balsamic dressing was superb. There were six of us so we had the archetypal Greek lunch in the sun with Greek salad, small fish, calamaris, saganaki, tzatziki, meatballs, courgette balls, and the Daphne salad - every dish a winner and with superb company it was a memorable lunch. Nice to see Tollis busy today. After the evening ouzo in a very busy Elpida's we had a second in the Corner Bar. After such a lunch we had a small but exquisite Mezes in Vasilis Restaurant by the bridge at the harbour. The man himself gave us the usual warm welcome and we were seated next to a Greek family welcoming one of their own off the Blue Star ferry. We had baked aubergine with sweet onions, mushrooms saut�ed in garlic and lemon and a bowl of lemon goat which is without doubt one of the standout dishes anywhere on the island. Sometimes the restaurant is quiet and this plus perhaps the location put some tourists off but if you are after traditional Symiot cooking and an honest welcome this is the best in our opinion. We had grapes and a superb carrot cake as a complimentary sweet. A wander back to the apartment and the end of another magical day on Symi.
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby Gemma1 » 28 Sep 2013, 09:26

I had the Daphne Salad when I went to Tolis. Great to share with others accompanying something but not the best choice when that's all you're having lol. It was huge, maybe I should have asked what it consisted of before ordering ;)

I'll have to try Vasilis when I'm back in Symi next year. Being on my own I prefer restaurants that aren't always busy as it can feel a bit intimidating walking into a full restaurant on your own. I really fancy trying a meze meal. Wanted to try one on Halki last week but the meze restaurant had closed for the season.
User avatar
Gemma1
Persistent Visitor
Persistent Visitor
 
Posts: 835
Joined: 22 Jul 2009, 01:00
Location: United Kingdom

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 28 Sep 2013, 23:20

After such an adventurous day yesterday, today we ventured all of 50 metres to Nos Beach ! It became very busy with people off the day boats but his did not put off Dimitris and his loyal workforce of one who continued to dig large stones out of the water to extend his jetty at the restaurant end and replace these stones with barrow loads of beach material. However this only lasted until his labourer changed Tshirt and became sun bed collector. He later became "wine waiter" and before the afternoon was over part-time photographer for the occasional tourist group - quite a guy, from Bangladesh he tells us. We had lunch at Nos which has to be one of the best venues on the waterfront - with voracious fish that love the spare bread. We had tuna salad, village sausage and fried courgette with skordalia and we can never fault this restaurant. Today it was full on and with two waiters and the cook with one assistant they just got on with it - anyone saying the Greeks don't work hard should have lunch here on a busy Saturday. Spent the afternoon on the beach and the water was perfect as it is this time of year. Then we set off for Chorio with a Swedish couple we have befriended over the years - well that's what happens on Symi doesn't it ? Taxi up driven by the old bus driver and dropped us at the Village Hotel so a short stroll to Yannis Rainbow Bar for a couple of ouzo's and then to The Windmills where we had the carrot and white cabbage salad, the mushrooms, the pork in Metaxa, and the Moroccan lamb - all divine. For anyone who wants something beautifully spiced you cannot beat The Windmills. Between Yiannis and The Windmills E found time to visit the smallest of shops just opposite Yannis where a young Symiot girl is just starting up her local craft business - we visited her in May and tonight saw another splurge ! We also talked to Toby and Neil who were looking quite frazzled but excited about The Judas Curse project. After TheWindmills we walked down the Kali Strata and round the harbour but could not resist a nightcap in Elpida's - well who can ?
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby JuliaB » 29 Sep 2013, 16:22

Loving all your descriptions, D and E, especially those of the food and drink! Haven't managed a second trip to Symi this year but we'll be back sometime in the future. Enjoy the rest of your stay. Jx
User avatar
JuliaB
Senior Visitor
Senior Visitor
 
Posts: 181
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: United Kingdom

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 29 Sep 2013, 21:40

Cheers Julia B : somehow Chorio isn't the same without you and Mr Julia B sitting close by us. Hope our visits cross again sometime soon. We are already booked for 16th May staying somewhere different again - Thea Apartments just next to the Old Market hotel near the bottom of the Kali - handy for a taxi !
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 29 Sep 2013, 22:25

Sunday and after a frappe in Cafe Aigialos we headed for Pedi on Lakis 11:00 bus which sounds a bit sick after a busy high season - think it needs a new rear shock absorber. After a beer in Katsaras where Neil arrived with his intrepid photograph tour we walked up and had a beer stop at Yannis in Chorio. Took the route down past Kaladoukas George apartments and had a light lunch in Cafe Evoi Evav on the square where their pita bread sandwich with chicken, pesto and salad is a steal at �4. The mushroom omelette was as light as a feather. After a bank stop - there has been too many of those but hey ho - we visited this tin workshop near the museum on the square where this Symi guy had been making things out of tin and other metals for the last coupe of months. We bought a boat with a goats horn hull and metal sails. This shop is well worth a visit. A stop in Stella Bar to watch the day trippers depart saw E detour to Takis only to return with a very nice leather bag. Home, change and Elpidas for ouzo whilst the 19:50 Dodek ferry arrived and then to Odyseus for the baked feta to start followed by seafood spaghetti and the pork loin. An early start tomorrow as we aim to catch the 09:00 bus and get Gerge's boat from Pedi to St.Nicks. Admittedly it would be easier to catch Lucas and Irini's from Yialos but having never missed "a George" trip in 17 years we won't start now so Kalanihta.
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 30 Sep 2013, 23:02

Monday and an early bread run as going to St.Nicks by catching the 09:00 bus to Pedi and getting George's boat over. Lovely day on our fav beach. Bit of drama as some old guy who decided to walk over took a bit of a tumble on his way down to the beach - resulted in the family who run St.Nicks taking him back to Pedi in the speed boat. Unlikely ever to happen to D as his lazy disposition and love of boats will always mean we never walk over nowadays. A lovely lunch of sardines, chicken souvlaki and tzatziki before we headed back on the 16:00 boat and 16:30 bus from Pedi to Yialos. A group of Yanks off the boats became perturbed when the bus decided that an older Greek lady needed taken further up than Chorio for church duties. Wonderful views of he Pedi Valley seemed to have little effect - you gotta luv 'em !
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 30 Sep 2013, 23:12

Monday (cont. - oops) a beer stop at the Corner Bar and then back to the apartment, changed and a taxi up to Chorio for ouzo and retsina in Yannis Rainbow Bar - a few "faces" around. Then to Zoe's for our last time "up" this holiday and beef stifados (simply the best) and D had the special - king prawns in a sauce of tomato, feta and Metaxa - very special. Walked down the Kali and home to the apartments - tomorrow is another day (and our last).
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby Gemma1 » 30 Sep 2013, 23:39

Sorry your holiday is coming to an end, enjoy your last day tomorrow :)
User avatar
Gemma1
Persistent Visitor
Persistent Visitor
 
Posts: 835
Joined: 22 Jul 2009, 01:00
Location: United Kingdom

Symi holiday blog

Postby D and E » 01 Oct 2013, 07:50

Last day and the unusual sight of cloud and a bit of wind - the weather not D ! Symi doing its best to acclimatise us to returning to UK tomorrow perhaps. Anyway a good kind of day to wander round Yialos, even walk up to Chorio for one final Yannis beer, and say our good winters. Run out of provisions so perhaps a breakfast stop first.
User avatar
D and E
Inveterate Visitor
Inveterate Visitor
 
Posts: 1038
Joined: 15 Jun 2006, 01:00
Location: Wales

Symi holiday blog

Postby Sweet Soo » 01 Oct 2013, 10:00

Hi D and E. Enjoy your last day! If you make it up to Yiannis' please pass on our very best wishes to him! Mmmm ... wonder where you'll be eating your last dinner tonight??? I've loved your blog! xxx
Sweet Soo
Symi Visitor
Symi Visitor
 
Posts: 38
Joined: 09 Sep 2008, 01:00
Location: United Kingdom

Symi holiday blog

Postby Sweet Soo » 02 Oct 2013, 08:38

D and E ... wishing you both a safe journey home! x
Sweet Soo
Symi Visitor
Symi Visitor
 
Posts: 38
Joined: 09 Sep 2008, 01:00
Location: United Kingdom

Previous

Return to Trip Reports



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests

cron