Normal Service Is Resumed

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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Gemma1 » 21 May 2018, 07:33

D and E wrote:
Gemma1 wrote:What a wonderful start :D Who is the Olympic Symi rep this year? Glad to hear that Anastasia is doing well and looking forward to seeing her again in 4 months time :) Really looking forward to your next instalment.


Hi Gemma,

This is the Olympic Symi Rep this year - Nancy.

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Thank you, I'll look forward to meeting Nancy in September :)
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Gemma1 » 21 May 2018, 07:36

D and E wrote:
Andy W wrote:The taverna at Nimborio has always been called Metapontis, as far back as I can remember (over 20 years). There was and probably still is a painted sign on the wall. Looks like this year they are actually promoting the name. It may be a changing generations thing, or that nowadays there are far more self-catering apartments in Nimborio than ever before, or both I suppose.


We need to take more notice and stop “christening” places with names of our choice :?
We always referred to it as Maria’s.
But you are right Andy - we see more and more people staying out that way.


I always thought it was called Maria's too.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 21 May 2018, 07:47

Sunday 20th

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Outside the Appartment


Sun and blue skies at 08:30 and 32 C on the balcony. As the baker in Chorio doesn’t open on a Sunday it gives us good reason to visit the Olive Tree for our usual breakfast which Tina knows off by heart now. The only thing that changes is D’s choice of juice and this time it is the blush - and very refreshing it is too.

We had planned to head down early and have breakfast in Cafe Aiglios and then catch a taxi boat to St. Nicks but as we were a bit late rising, and as is often the way on Symi as Silverfox pointed out, the thought is “avrio”.

So we pick up a pack of water from the supermarket and return to Anastasia’s and pack the beach bag. As we head out, that cloudiness has returned but it remains warm and humid. We take the path through the valley to Pedi and pass all the small holdings which are full of livestock including one that has a cow. On this route you pass the football pitch which was devastated by the floods.

We reach Katsaras and have a small beer which is gone in seconds so we have another and are surprised and delighted to see the Symi Bus come along. Clearly the rumours about parts from Athens, etc. are unfounded and the repairs have been completed. This throws us into complete disarray and we need to reconsider our plans for the evening. We find a suitable sun bed for a few hours and E has a dip whilst D snoozes.

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From Katsaras Beach Bar


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Our Swedish Friends ? Alas No


As there is not a 15:30 bus we walk up and find our leaving instructions under the door. This new Rep is ultra efficient and we have to be at the bins at 04:30 on Wednesday morning for the 05:50 Blue Star sailing.

We are ready to head to Yannis at 6pm - an hour earlier than usual as we plan to head down to Trata.

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Cheesy Popcorn a la Yannis - big hit with D


We wander down the Kali Strata and notice a darkening of the skies. With the very humid weather and cloudiness we could be done with something to clear the air. We decide to have an ouzo & retsina in Cafe Aiglios which is quite busy. D being bald has an early warning system and feels a drop of rain first. It is followed by what we counted to be around at least another 20 to 25 drops yet as a precaution the cafe owner had the canopy up in seconds. As expected these few drops of moisture came to nothing but this did not prevent another ouzo & retsina appear as if by magic. Symi generosity.

We walk the short distance to Trata where they have extended into what was the cafe next door and there is a whole new look and feel due to the colour coordinated tables and chairs and even the new menus have the same tones. Our waiter, who have we see heading off for work from his house just below our apartments for many years, takes our order and we catch up on his winter. This very traditional and well established restaurant never fails to deliver on taste and so it was when we started with imam and the stuffed mushrooms. Imam is one of those dishes that varies from cook to cook and so even though we order it quite often the different herbs and spices can make the dish quite unique to the restaurant. The stuffed mushrooms are a firm favourite and are always on the “must have” list. We followed this with liver for D and moussaka for E and shared portion of horta which we always describe as a vegetable that is somewhere between spinach and a spring green. With a complimentary plate of water melon to end on we are in plenty of time for the last bus up.

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Imam a la Trata


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Stuffed Mushrooms a la Trata


We get off at the windmills and pick our way carefully through the back lanes which can be steep in places so having the torch on the iPhone is always handy. For once we don’t hear the eleven bells.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Pollychops » 21 May 2018, 20:15

Reading this made me laugh so much this morning. You have a temp,wind and humidity gauge now you have your own personal rain early warning system. Fantastic, it doesn't get any better than this.
Can you please point out were the path is to walk through the Pedi valley, we normally just walk down the road. We would be leaving Taxiarchis if this helps.

I cant believe its Monday already and looking forward to checking in for the next installment tomorrow.

Great blog
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 22 May 2018, 06:38

Monday 21st

The plan is Nos for lunch and an afternoon swim.

D is woken by the cheerful sound of bells announcing a Name Day and sets off on his bread run. It is a clear morning and the temperature on the balcony at 26.5 C is far more like the May we are used to. That is until around 08:30 when the briefest showers of rain passes down the Pedi Valley.

After a leisurely breakfast that more or less wipes out our fridge stocks (it will have to be the Olive Tree on our last full day on the island) we head down the School / Lazy steps and are in Yialos just after 10 am where it is bright and the chemist clock shows 29 C. We have a frappe and fresh orange juice and then move to the Corner Cafe as we have been slightly remiss in not visiting. Papa has headed over to Rhodes on the first Monday Blue Star service so the lads and mama are holding the fort. We catch up on their news over a couple of small beers and then head for Nos - amazingly the plan is happening.

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A View From The Corner Cafe


We pass an empty Odyssia Restaurant and have a brief chat with Manolis and Katholiki who will see much more of us when we visit in September and stay down.

Nos Beach is quite quiet, for a short while, although the restaurant area is doing a brisk trade. Beds are €5. A pump needs to be put into the sea to get water into the waterfall system for the decorative gardens that have been so well developed over the years. The poor guy sent to do the job does not meet the owners high standards so there is one of his legendary outburst but it only lasts a few minutes, he is getting on a bit, and Natasha restores peace and order - Nos would not be Nos without this.

We have lunch in the restaurant and the same cook is there which is always reassuring as in our opinion she makes the best keftedes on the island. We have tuna salad which is quite different here. Although it is quite creamy the infusion of fresh herbs and capers balances this out. We of course have the keftedes which are served plain with a squeeze of lemon and also the grilled vegetables with skordalia. We are so pleased to be given the complimentary semolina cake. The spare bread is tossed into the sea and we watch the young silver bream devour it - we regard this as an investment for our September / October trip.

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Tuna Salad & Olive Paste for Bread a la Nos


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Grilled Veg & Skordalia a la Nos


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Complimentary Cake a la Nos


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Feed The Fish At Nos


The sea at Nos is even warmer than at Pedi which is again very unusual in our experience but it is wonderful to swim in.

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“Ships” That Pass In The Day


We are quite nervous having been invited for early evening drinks to a local house to celebrate the Name Day of someone who we have known since our very early visits. There are many traditions and we would hate to detract from his special day but we regard ourselves as honoured by being invited. We therefore make our way back round via Patisserie Nicholas to buy some cakes and chocolates as a small gift. We were 30 minutes early for the bus and there was a taxi waiting we jumped in. At €4 from Yialos to the Village Hotel this is only 60 cents more than the bus when there is two of you - three or four people and the taxi is cheaper.

Whilst E has a siesta D is now in the habit of sitting out on the balcony drafting the day section of the blog and then completes the evening session & photos next morning. It has clouded over and a light breeze has developed and it would not be surprising if we encounter another few drops of precipitation this evening - the house opposite has taken in her washing !!

But the weather does not change until later when there is a pleasant cooling breeze. We rendezvous at 7pm as requested and are taken through the back lanes to the house where the warmest of welcomes really puts us at ease. The family’s perfect English and the international language of football makes for a very pleasant early evening. We are given drinks accompanied by spinach, sausage and cheese pies and a superb piece of cake. Greek hospitality is heartfelt and generous but not wishing to outstay our welcome and to give the family and their local friends time to enjoy their evening we head off.

Where to ? Yannis of course - we need to keep up the 100% attendance record. Both Yannis and Lefteris are almost empty at around 8:30pm with just the few locals who sit with Yannis each evening enjoying their usual putting the world to right. A few people start arriving presumably post dinner and we head to Giorgios where we are the only two people eating. For once we skip the starters and decide against a mezes as we had been well fed earlier. D had a plain and simple spaghetti bolognese whilst E had the meatballs in tomato sauce and she could hardly make inroads into the perfect chips that come with that.

We headed home after quite a day and our heads hit the pillow just as eleven bells sounded.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 22 May 2018, 07:13

Pollychops wrote:Reading this made me laugh so much this morning. You have a temp,wind and humidity gauge now you have your own personal rain early warning system. Fantastic, it doesn't get any better than this.
Can you please point out were the path is to walk through the Pedi valley, we normally just walk down the road. We would be leaving Taxiarchis if this helps.

I cant believe its Monday already and looking forward to checking in for the next installment tomorrow.

Great blog


Thanks for the very kind comments Pollychops.

I have just popped down to the Pedi Road and take these two pics so hope this helps.

Take your normal route from Frank’s and go past the turning in the main road that the bus takes to the port and just beyond that turning on the Pedi Road you will see this church on your left -

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Directly opposite you will see this path heading off to your right -

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Pedi Valley Walk


Now just follow that keeping left mostly until you reach the football stadium on your left and head right and then left - there was a blue dot there. It is difficult to go wrong as you know you are heading towards the sea.

It’s a very pleasant way of getting to Pedi.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Gemma1 » 22 May 2018, 08:03

I can't believe that today is your last day :( - a week on Symi just isn't long enough (but better than no Symi ;) )

Those stuffed mushrooms do look delicious. Another thing to try in September - I need to make a list ;)

Hope you have a wonderful last day on Symi and thanks for another great blog :)
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Lisa B » 22 May 2018, 17:51

:o How long do we have to wait til we can follow your antics again?? :D
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Fina » 22 May 2018, 18:57

Hope you have a lovely evening Dand E, thanks for the alternative route to Pedi, we are also staying at the Taxicharis. Don't know if we will be there the same time as Pollychops. We are there for 3 weeks from 20th June 'till 11th July. 1st visit to Symi and really looking forward to it.

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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Pollychops » 23 May 2018, 08:34

Hi D&E, thanks for the info on the walk to Pedi we will seek that one out when we visit in September.
Another great blog and it goes so quick.

Hi Fina, our visit is in September, you will have a great stay at Taxiarchis, Frank and Eva are great hosts. Being your first visit to Symi it won't be your last.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 23 May 2018, 19:06

Gemma1 wrote:I can't believe that today is your last day :( - a week on Symi just isn't long enough (but better than no Symi ;) )

Those stuffed mushrooms do look delicious. Another thing to try in September - I need to make a list ;)

Hope you have a wonderful last day on Symi and thanks for another great blog :)


Many thanks for the very kind comments - I am about to post about our “wonderful” last day as we have just landed back in the UK.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 23 May 2018, 19:07

Lisa B wrote::o How long do we have to wait til we can follow your antics again?? :D


We will be back on Symi being our usual daft and greedy selves on 20th September :D
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Lisa B » 23 May 2018, 19:11

That'll be odd we'll be reading your stories whilst being there too!! :D
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 23 May 2018, 19:28

Tuesday 22nd - Last Full Day on Symi

The plan was to have breakfast in the Olive Tree, pop down into Yialos and then back to the apartment and go down to Pedi for a final swim.

All started out well and we had an excellent breakfast. We walked down the School / Lazy Steps and had our usual frappe in Cafe Aiglios. E wanted a wander around the shops so D sat himself down in the Katoi Bar where one small beer became two and then when E returned there was an ouzo & retsina which became a second as just sitting watching the world go by was so enjoyable.

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Olive Tree Breakfast E


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Olive Tree Breakfast D


With the ATM beside the chemist it was too easy to then spot a ring in the jeweller next to the ATM. Deliberations were required so an adjournment to Cafe Alegrito was required where several further ouzo & retsina’s and a Mojito were had before we caught a taxi up. Oh and the ring was purchased.

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Mojitos Alegrito


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The Result of Mojitos


It’s amazing how quickly packing goes after a day like that. The cases were packed and we were in Yannis for the evening ouzos & retsinas before thanking him for his hospitality over the last week and a fond farewell until September. We say farewell to A at the boutique and then to J who we will see again later in the year and then we head to Zoë’s for our final dinner. D had asked Zoë to consider making her delicious fish soup so he knew what he was having for mains and E chose the equally delectable beef stiffado. To start we had the bouryadi which is perfect for dipping the bread in and the tuna fish salad. We respectfully said no to the complimentary wine as it had been a bit of day on that front ! But yes to the yoghurt with cherries again. We said farewell to D&G who still have another week and then to Zoë and her wonderful family.

We were home around 11:30 which was much later than planned as we had to be up around 3:30 to put the last few things in the cases.


Wednesday 23rd - The Voyage Home

Never was an alarm on the phone less welcome !

Lesson learned - go swimming in the sea rather than in ouzo & retsina on the last day !!!

So at the unearthly hour of 4am D pops down the stairs to help S with her case. There is a light on and “Sam” is already up so comes out to bid us kalo taxidi. We head to the bins and the bus picks us up at 4:30. It’s then up to Sevastis, down to Pedi Beach Hotel and we are at the clock tower by 4:50 where Nancy, the Olympic Rep gives us our boat tickets and we wait as the sun starts to rise and the Blue Star arrives spot on time at 5:50.

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Waiting For The Very Early Morning Ferry


A very pleasant crossing and the Transfer Bus takes us to a very friendly hotel in Ixia by 8am. Not one we have been to before - it is on the opposite side of the road to where the bus drops us. The staff are excellent and we have coffee and bacon rolls whilst spending a very entertaining and pleasant few hours exchanging stories with S and N, who is a Symi legend. We are picked up at 12:40 and ease through check-in and security as there is no passport control but there is a brand new duty free area.

The incoming flight has just landed at 14:20 as we wait in the departure lounge and D writes up the blog.

An uneventful flight but they did manage two bar services - still cash only. Unlike Rhodes, Manchester Airport seem to have only one set of steps so it took a while to disembark the aircraft. Bags were the usual 20 minutes later than the target time they give themselves.

So now for a G&T and a another visit to Sampans.

We will not bore you with the rail journey home tomorrow - we understand there may be a strike.

Reflecting on our short visit we would say that Symi just gets better and better. For quite a while things didn’t change much on Symi but over last year and this some of our more familiar shops, businesses and a couple of favourite restaurants have disappeared but Symi is a living island that needs to adapt to a changing and difficult economic climate. It could certainly be done with more staying visitors so spread the word.

Thank you to everyone who has read this short blog and for the many kind comments.

We will return on 20th September with our Pedi and Nos adventures over a three week period.

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Home For The Last Week


Yasou.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Fina » 23 May 2018, 20:15

Thank you D and E, very informative for us newbies to Symi. 4 weeks today I will be reading through names of Tavernas and bars you have mentioned...Then trying to find them. I am sure we will love Symi as much as you do. I will report back.

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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby D and E » 23 May 2018, 21:54

Fina wrote:Thank you D and E, very informative for us newbies to Symi. 4 weeks today I will be reading through names of Tavernas and bars you have mentioned...Then trying to find them. I am sure we will love Symi as much as you do. I will report back.

Fina


Each person will want to discover Symi in their own way and that is part of the magic.

But we have always found that this Forum is full of extremely helpful people so if there is anything you want to ask just jump in and post.

Have a wonderful time.
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby silverfox » 23 May 2018, 22:04

So many thanks D&E for your sterling efforts!

You are legends for your blogs and this visit has been no different. Sharing your time on this magical island is great for visitors and the locals alike.

I hope anyone visiting does try to share their holiday too even if a few snippets!

We will take up the baton yet again in 4 weeks time and try to eat as much as we can!

:D
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Gemma1 » 24 May 2018, 06:31

Lisa B wrote:That'll be odd we'll be reading your stories whilst being there too!! :D


Me too Lisa, though I don't arrive on Symi until the 23rd :D
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Gemma1 » 24 May 2018, 06:41

I love the ring - though thing I would struggle to pack after drinking all that ouzo and retsina - not forgetting the Mojito ;)
What a stunning sunrise for your last morning on Symi, I'm sad that your holiday - with all the fabulous photos and food descriptions - is over so quickly but at least you've got another wonderful Symi holiday to look forward to in September :D

Safe onward travels for today :)
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Re: Normal Service Is Resumed

Postby Lisa B » 24 May 2018, 08:27

We'll still be there :)
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