by Robert » 26 Aug 2017, 09:41
The day of a thousand steps……….
Tuesday, too much sun on Monday suggested a day in Symi town so off we went down 150 steps across the harbour and slowly up the 370 steps to the Olive Tree. Orange juice, a shared fruit salad and then poached eggs restored us and after the usual gossip with the ladies it was time to walk down again. Another 370 steps, beers in Pachinos and then up 150 steps home. An afternoon rest and then down the 150 steps and across the harbour for a bit of shopping at Blu. Blu is at the bottom of the Kalistrata opposite Kaludakis and is a wonderful boutique where Sam has bought things the last two years. And today was no exception another top has been purchased – not cheap and hence another evening at the Trawler! This time stuffed mushrooms, the stuffed pepper with feta (again), an aubergine imam and sea bream and chips! House wine and then the most delicious and huge baklava and ice cream! Oh yes and house wine too.
Then it was back up the steps …. Total steps 1350 rather too many really.
Wednesday – Agia Marina again the fried courgettes with yoghurt are especially delicious! Plus a cheese omelette and scallops and a portion of chips with house wine.
Fashion note: White shorts for ladies - short shorts are definitely in! Also whereas in years back it was bare boobs that were in, it is now, and I have thought about how to describe this for a while, it is bare cheeks! Even bathing costumes as opposed to bikinis have the obligatory cut that exposes max cheek! Whatever next I wonder??
Literary note: Sam is in a panic by now as she thinks we will run out of books before the end of the holiday – every year before we come away we go to Hatchards in Piccadilly and buy our holiday books (followed by dinner at Shampers in Kingly Street, Soho). This year we set off with nine, but she has already read 4. For the curious the books are: Simon Sebag Montifiore ‘A Night in Winter’ (well written but grim and not holiday reading! My fault!); Freeman Wills Crofts ‘The Twelve Thirty from Croydon’; Imogen Robertson ‘Instruments of Darkness’; Bruce Holsinger ‘The Invention of Fire’; E. F. Benson ‘The Luck of the Vails’; John le Carre ‘The Looking Glass War’; John Wray ‘The Lost Time Accidents’; Chris Pavone ‘The Travellers’ and Ken Follett ‘On Wings of Eagles’.
Anyway, I digress, the one advantage of August is the Symi Festival and various events – we have heard some great music – especially Konstantina live in the square on our first night and it’s good to see things returning to normal and attracting visitors but Wednesday was the Feast of Nimos and 8.30 found us on a taxi boat again this time heading out to the island which we had not visited before. As we arrived we could hear the sounds of traditional music and there in the lovely setting in front of the tiny church we were treated at an evening of Greek music and dancing which is put on by the locals for the locals and is not at all touristy. Our highlight was what we now discover is the fisherman’s dance involving a stick and some virtuoso dancing which tells the story of a fisherman being restored to full health (we think). An amazing buffet catering for hundreds was also a highlight and it seemed to us that by 10.30 the whole of Symi had arrived! It goes on till 2am but we decided to head back and up the stairs once again, but it was a truly memorable evening.