Monday and the Symi Tours trip.
After a frappe, at 10:00am the Symi Tours minibus picked us up just opposite where Posseidon berths in the harbour. The trip was fully subscribed but being only a minibus you are part of a small group. We had a short detour to pick up two people from the Pedi Beach Hotel so this is something for anyone staying in Pedi to note. We headed up the Vigla and stopped for 10-15 minutes to allow photos to be taken of the stunning panorama from Nimborio to Pedi with Yialos and Chorio set out way below you it is an unforgettable image (photo is going on Twitter @rutakingthep once I finish this post).
You are given a map and are accompanied by a driver and a guide who points out places of interest. Another 10-15 minute stop allows for a photo opportunity looking down into Panormitis. Seeing the monastery and the bay from this height was a first and I will post the image on Twitter.
You arrive in Panormitis at 11am and have an hour. The day boats (2 were in when we arrived) are there until about 11:30 so we had a beer first and waited for the monastery and museum to quieten down before having a look round.
We then had the 10mins journey to Marathounda and had until 2pm to swim and have a leisurely lunch. The taverna at Marathounda is excellent (as is the swimming in the crystal clear waters). We had the lightest zucchini balls we have tasted with a Greek salad, Symi cheese (goats we think) and tuna salad and with a complementary sweet of plump sultanas in syrup we were replete. Marathounda should not be missed either by taxi boat or by this new means of visiting. The goats will provide you with all the entertainment you need (photos on Twitter).
The bus returned directly to Yialos (via Pedi Beach Hotel to return our fellow passengers that we had picked up) and we were back by 3:30pm. There appeared to be universal appreciation of the trip and we understand that this may be extended to three times a week and may incorporate Toli Bay where there is another excellent taverna. This is great news as normally only walkers, car / scooter hirers or, like D and E experienced, the kindness of a Symiot takes you to this place.
This trip is an opportunity to head inland and see Symi from another angle. Well worth it and we wish Symi Tours every success with this.
Evening saw us return to Odyseus, round from the Hanari boatyard, after an ouzo stop in the Corner Bar, Elpida's and cocktails on the the jetty at the Nireus Hotel. As described in an earlier post Manolis has got himself a chef that is providing a very different dining experience and we cannot commend this highly enough : any "foodies" visiting Symi this year should walk round : we do not think you will be disappointed but would love to hear what you think.
We had a Mezes of an amazingly fresh salad of lettuce with walnuts, crumbled Roquefort cheese, orange, cherry tomato, cucumber with a Symi honey and balsamic dressing (outstanding); a fresh whole grilled squid with tartare sauce (memorable); the feta parcels in honey; spetzafia (the sausage with onions and peppers) - both repeat dishes from our earlier visit so that says it all; and one of the most prefectly grilled pieces of chicken. We finished with a complementary plate of the lightest tiramisu accompanied by sliced orange and apple. A truly excellent dinner.
The menu extends way beyond what we have experienced and includes seafood based pasta dishes; fresh fish at fixed price as well as priced by weight; grilled meats and a range of very interesting salads and the prices are comparable with all the other restaurants we have visited which average out around €55 including water, retsina and bread and that is for the four of us NOT per head.
It really has been wonderful being able to mix this new style menu into the equally good and more traditional places that we frequent.
Sorry for the slightly longer post but yesterday was a wonderful day and we felt it was worth sharing.
Today (Tuesday) is our last night on Symi although we do have until the 16:30 ferry tomorrow so as is now the norm, the skies are blue, the sun is coming up and the plan of the day needs discussion over an espresso fredo to kick the brain into gear.
Kalimera.