Month: October 2024

Some Sunday Thoughts

Monday is Ochi Day, a big national public holiday in Greece which conveniently makes a three day long weekend this year, just when everyone is wrapping up for the season. The ferry strike ended just in time for holiday plans to continue more or else without disruption. The weather is still unnervingly perfect, with calm seas and mild temperatures. The water taxis and excursion boats are preparing for their winter haulouts, the beach operators are dismantling umbrellas and sunbeds and everyone is looking forward to the Panormitis festival on 8 November.

The ferry timetables are changing to their winter schedules so there are fewer connections between Symi and the outside world. The Sebeco no longer overnights in Symi so there’s no early morning boat to Rhodes. Their timetable finishes on 31 October. Dodecanese Seaways have also reduced the Panagia Skiadeni’s service.

Some photos I took in Nimborio early on Friday morning.

Autumn in the Air

After many months of searing heat and drought Symi is finally slipping into cooler days, mist and drenching dewfalls. By cooler I mean in the high twenties, even up to 30 at midday, but after months in the danger zone above blood heat, it is still a relief.

This post is something of an experiment in that I am writing it on my new phone. My phone and camera were early casualties of the heat and my laptop isn’t happy either. I am sure sales of electronics must have soared this summer as anyone working outside an air conditioned environment was using them at the top extreme of their operating range.

Now if I can work out how to add some photos I shall endeavour to post is and see what happens.

The Pedi valley from the terrace of Villa Flora, my temporary office this summer.

Early morning mist rolling over the hilltops.

A heat-stressed pomegranate in the lanes near the museum